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| Shree Swaminarayan Temple |
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History
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir is a new temple complex in Bhuj, which is around 333 km from the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The new Swaminarayan Temple was built to replace the old Swaminarayan Temple that was built by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in 1824 but was destroyed in the 2001 earthquake that ravaged the city.
The new temple was built on the banks of Hamirsar Lake, a short distance from the old temple. The Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj, is an architectural marvel and attracts devotees from not only India but the world. The temple standing on a grand podium and facing east has been completely built of marble and gold. It is spread over an area of 35000 sq feet and has 7 sikharas along with a main dome. The temple also has 25 minor domes and 258 pillars all made of marble of highest quality mainly Makrana and Ambaji. Each and every pillar has some sort of engravings done on them, the main theme being Hindu Gods which adds to the beauty and divinity of the place.
The throne for the idol of Swaminarayan, the temple domes and doors are made of gold while the pillars and ceilings are made of marble. The idols kept in the temple are the same ones that were kept in the old temple but miraculously survived the earthquake.
Besides the main temple, several other tourist attractions are located in the complex. There is a temple for ladies that allows up to 1000 females to sit and pray at the same time. The complex also houses the Sant Nivaas that was built as a place for mediation for 200+ saints and also provides them with residence. The Bhojan Hall allows for 300 VIP’s and over 2000 commoners to sit and have food. Then there is the Sabha Mandap that permits around 1500 people to sit and listen to religious discourses throughout the day.
The temple provides a relief from the hustle bustle of the world and is a must visit for any tourist visiting Bhuj.
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Best time to visit
The summer months last from March to May and can be avoided due to the extreme temperatures witnessed in Bhuj during the time. The maximum temperatures reach a level of 40 degrees during these months. The monsoon enters the city in June and the rainy season lasts till September. The winters last from November to February and are very pleasant. The best time therefore to visit Shree Swaminarayan temple and Bhuj is during the winter months of October to March.
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Trivia
600 sculptors and thousands of devotees spent in total over 15 million hours over a period of 7 years to complete the temple. The temple was built for an estimated humongous amount of 1 billion Indian rupees.
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Timing
The timings of the temple are from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
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Travel Tools
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