Akshardham, Gandhinagar

Akshardham, Gandhinagar was inaugurated in October 1992 by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and was the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple complex before the Delhi Akshardham opened in 2005. Constructed from pink Rajasthani sandstone, the monument stands 23 metres high and 73 metres wide.

The central monument is adorned with 6,000 sculptures, 97 intricately carved elephants, and features 24 carved gates. Exhibitions inside narrate the life of Swami Sahajanand (Swaminarayan) and the spiritual legacy of the sampraday. The complex spans 23 acres within the Gandhinagar government zone and draws over 5 million visitors annually. The craftsmanship is entirely hand-carved by traditional artisans (shilpis) without the use of any steel.