Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi
The BAPS mandir complex near the Yamuna in East Delhi, opened in 2005. Entry and mandir darshan are free. The complex is open Tuesday to Sunday, with first entry at 10:00 AM and last entry at 6:30 PM, and closed every Monday. The rule that catches most visitors is at security: mobile phones, cameras and all electronic items are not allowed, so they go into the free cloakroom first.
Photo: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized
Akshardham Delhi timings in short
Six days a week, with entry closing at 18:30 but the mandir staying open until 20:00, and the water show after dark.
History of Akshardham Delhi
Swaminarayan Akshardham was built by BAPS under Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Construction began in November 2000 and took nearly five years, with about 7,000 carvers and 3,000 volunteers. Pramukh Swami Maharaj opened it on 6 November 2005, in the presence of President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and L. K. Advani.
The mandir is 43 metres high, 96 metres wide and 109 metres long, carved from Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble without ferrous metal, with 234 pillars and nine domes. Around its base the Gajendra Pith carries 148 life-sized elephants. In December 2007 Guinness World Records certified the complex as the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple.
- Opened
- 6 November 2005
- Height
- 43 metres
- Pillars
- 234, with nine domes
- Gajendra Pith
- 148 life-sized elephants
- Record
- Guinness World Record, 2007
- Entry
- Free; closed Mondays
Why Akshardham matters to Hindus
At the centre of the mandir stands an 11-foot murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in abhayamudra, with shrines to other deities in the mandapams around it. Visitors can offer water to Neelkanth Varni, the teenage-yogi form of Swaminarayan, at the Abhishek Mandap.
The complex is also designed to present Hindu and Indian culture to a wide public: the exhibitions include the Hall of Values, a large-format film and a cultural boat ride, and the evening water show tells a story from the Kena Upanishad.
More facts about Akshardham Delhi
- Deity
- Swaminarayan, an 11-foot murti at the centre of the mandir
- Where
- NH 24, Pramukh Swami Maharaj Marg, New Delhi, near the Yamuna
- Opened
- 6 November 2005
- Built by
- BAPS, with about 7,000 carvers and 3,000 volunteers
- Mandir
- 43 m high, 96 m wide, 109 m long; 234 pillars and nine domes
- Materials
- Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble
- Also known as
- Akshardham Temple Delhi, Akshardham Mandir, Swaminarayan Akshardham Delhi, Delhi Akshardham, BAPS Akshardham New Delhi
Entry rules at Akshardham Delhi
Security at Akshardham is mandated by government law enforcement agencies, and the list of prohibited items is long.
Not allowed
Mobile phones, cameras, USB and pen drives, music devices, electronic items, weapons, umbrellas, luggage, toys, pets, food and drink, tobacco, alcohol, drugs and drones.
Allowed
Wallet, shoes, belts, passport, money, ladies' purse, jewellery, baby food, water bottle and jackets.
Cloakroom
Free, before the security check; electronic items must be switched off before deposit.
Security
Everyone passes metal detectors and is frisked, and vehicles are searched.
Smoking and alcohol
Strictly prohibited in the parking and on the campus.
Akshardham Delhi dress code
Published on the official visitor page. Sarongs are sold at the entrance for anyone who needs to cover up.
- Upper wear must cover the shoulders, chest, back and upper arms; no sleeveless tops, tank tops or low-cut tops.
- Lower wear must extend below the knees; no shorts, skirts or dresses above knee length.
- Clothing with offensive language or imagery is not allowed.
- Sarongs are available for purchase at Rs. 100 if needed.
How to reach Akshardham Delhi
By air
Indira Gandhi International Airport is 21 km away; by metro, take the Orange Line to New Delhi, the Yellow Line to Rajiv Chowk and the Blue Line to Akshardham, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
By train
Hazrat Nizamuddin station is 6 km away. From New Delhi station, take the Yellow Line to Rajiv Chowk and the Blue Line to Akshardham, about 40 minutes.
Metro
Akshardham Metro station on the Blue Line is 350 metres from Gate 1: exit, turn right, walk 100 metres, turn right and walk 250 metres.
Best time to visit Akshardham Delhi
Akshardham is closed every Monday, and the official site warns that entry and security lines can be long at peak season and on holidays. A weekday from Tuesday to Friday is the easiest choice.
Within the day, entry closes at 18:30, but the mandir stays open until 20:00 and the water show runs after sunset, currently at 19:30. Arriving in the mid-afternoon lets you see the mandir, catch the 18:00 arti and stay for the water show.
Tips before you go
- Leave your phone at your hotel or deposit it, switched off, in the free cloakroom before security.
- Do not come on a Monday; the complex is closed.
- Cover shoulders and knees; sarongs are sold at Rs. 100 if needed.
- Arrive before 18:30, the last entry, if you want to stay for the water show.
- Use Akshardham Metro station; it is a 350-metre walk from Gate 1.
- Eat at the Premvati Food Court inside; outside food and drink are not allowed.
Not verified yet 4 items no official source publishes
- Opening hours on public holidays that fall on a Monday.
- Whether the water show runs every evening, including in the monsoon.
- Wheelchair availability and the accessible route through the mandir.
- The ticket price for the separate photo service.
Know one of these from an official notice? Send it to us and the page is updated with a new date.
Questions about visiting
Answered from what the temple publishes, with the gaps left as gaps.
What are the Akshardham Delhi timings?
Open Tuesday to Sunday: first entry at 10:00 AM and last entry at 6:30 PM. Mandir darshan runs from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with arti at 10:30 AM and 6:00 PM. Closed every Monday.
Is Akshardham Delhi closed on Monday?
Yes. The official site states the complex is closed every Monday.
Can I take my phone into Akshardham?
No. Mobile phones, cameras and all electronic items are not allowed in the complex. Deposit them, switched off, in the free cloakroom before the security queue.
Is there an entry fee at Akshardham?
No. Entry to the complex and mandir darshan are free and need no appointment. The exhibitions and the water show are ticketed.
How much are the Akshardham exhibition tickets?
Adults Rs. 260, seniors over 60 Rs. 210, children 4 to 11 Rs. 160, under 4 free. One ticket covers all three exhibitions; single exhibitions are not sold separately.
How much is the Akshardham water show?
Adults and seniors Rs. 110, children 4 to 11 Rs. 80, under 4 free. The show runs after sunset, currently at 7:30 PM.
What is the dress code at Akshardham?
Upper wear covering shoulders, chest, back and upper arms, and lower wear below the knees. No sleeveless or low-cut tops, shorts or short skirts. Sarongs are sold at Rs. 100.
What can I carry into Akshardham?
Wallet, shoes, belts, passport, money, a ladies' purse, jewellery, baby food, a water bottle and a jacket. Baby food and water bottles are checked further.
What is the nearest metro station?
Akshardham Metro station on the Blue Line, 350 metres from Gate 1 on foot.
How long does a visit take?
The official site does not give a figure. Allow time for the security check, which it warns can take a while at peak times and on holidays.
When was Akshardham Delhi built?
Construction began in November 2000 and the complex opened on 6 November 2005. In December 2007 it was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple.
Can I rely on these timings on the day?
They are the official standing hours. The water show time moves with sunset, so check the site for the current time.
Need the timings in full?
The timings page carries the whole published schedule, block by block, and what to check before you travel.