This temple is the largest Hindu temple in New Jersey, and also the largest outside Asia

Akshardham is among the most well-known Hindu temple complexes in the world. For the unaware, a massive Hindu temple complex in Robbinsville, New Jersey, is attracting visitors from around the world. Besides being famous as a spiritual and religious site, the temple is garnering attention for its impressive size and architectural design.This temple complex, known as BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, is described by the Associated Press as the largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era. The complex is spread over an area of 183 acres, comprising a Hindu temple along with many other community areas. The site officially opened in October 2023 after years of planning and construction.A temple built on a grand scaleIn the middle of the campus lies the Mahamandir, which is the main temple building. According to the official BAPS fact sheet, it is 191 feet high, 255 feet wide, and 345 feet long.This temple was built using concepts derived from ancient Hindu texts and the traditional methods of Indian temple construction. According to BAPS, there are nine shikhars, or temple spires, along with the largest elliptical dome ever constructed in traditional stone mandir architecture.One of the most popular features of the temple is the sculptures found inside. According to BAPS, the mandir contains over 10,000 sculpted statues representing various aspects of Hindu philosophy, music, dance, and spiritualism.A project years in the makingThe idea behind building the temple was given by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who was a spiritual leader at BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. According to the organisation, construction activity began in stages after the land was purchased in 2008, with major temple work beginning in 2015.As per BAPS, there were more than 12,500 volunteers who worked on the project. BAPS further stated that almost 2 million cubic feet of stone were carved and assembled to build the temple complex.The Associated Press reported that the temple was built over 4.7 million hours of work by volunteers and artisans. The temple complex also has the Nilkanth Plaza, where there is a 49-foot bronze statue of Nilkanth Varni, which is the teenage version of Swaminarayan. In addition to the statue, the plaza also features a traditional Indian-style stepwell.Apart from the positive reception of its architecture, the temple project was also involved in some controversies when it was under construction. According to reports, a lawsuit was filed against the contractors of the temple, claiming that they had exploited the Indian workers who had come to the United States through religious visas.However, BAPS reportedly denied any wrongdoing and claimed that it does not engage in any misconduct. What visitors should knowThe Akshardham campus is open every day except Tuesdays, according to the official visitors page. Visitors need to abide by the dress code guidelines since the temple continues to serve the purpose of worship. Visitors can take photos only in certain permitted parts of the campus.Currently, the temple not only serves its religious purpose, but is also one of the grand structures based on traditional stone architectural styles of India created outside of Asia. For many individuals, it is now considered a spiritual and cultural monument that reflects the growing presence of Indians in America.