About Akshardham Temple
Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple and cultural campus in East Delhi, dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781–1830) and opened on 6 November 2005. Picture a palace of rose-pink sandstone and white marble rising beside the Yamuna, every surface alive with carved gods, dancers, musicians and animals, and you're close. The name says it all: akshar translates as "eternal" and dham as "home", so Akshardham is the eternal home of God.
Quick answer: Akshardham Temple in Delhi is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 8 PM, and closed on Mondays. Entry and darshan are free; the three exhibitions cost ₹260 for adults and the evening water show ₹110. Phones, cameras and bags aren't allowed inside, so plan about 1½ hours for the temple, or 4 to 5 hours with the shows.
- Location
- NH 24, near Akshardham Setu, East Delhi 110092
- Built by
- BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
- Opened
- 6 November 2005
- Dedicated to
- Bhagwan Swaminarayan
- Timings
- Tue–Sun, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Closed
- Every Monday
- Entry fee
- Free (mandir and complex)
- Exhibitions
- ₹260 adult · last entry 6:30 PM
- Water show
- ₹110 adult · evenings after sunset
- Not allowed
- Phones, cameras, bags, food, electronics
- Time needed
- 1½ hours · 4–5 hours with the shows
- Nearest metro
- Akshardham station (Blue Line)
Akshardham in numbers
- 148life-size stone elephants carry the temple on their backs
- 0steel beams: it's built entirely of stone, the traditional way
- 151rivers and lakes gave water to the Narayan Sarovar
- 234hand-carved pillars, under 9 ornate domes
- 2,870steps around India's largest stepwell
- 300M+volunteer hours went into building it
Akshardham History: How It Was Built
Akshardham began as a dream. In 1968, Yogiji Maharaj, then spiritual head of BAPS, wished for a grand mandir on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi. His successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, turned that wish into stone, and astonishingly quickly: the whole complex was finished in about five years.
Yogiji Maharaj shares his vision of a mandir on the Yamuna.
Land is granted and construction begins on 8 November.
The first carved stone is laid on 2 July.
Opened on 6 November, with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh among 25,000 guests.
Guinness World Records names it the World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple.
Around 11,000 artisans and more than 8,000 volunteers from across the world worked on it, giving over 300 million volunteer hours. Thousands of tonnes of pink sandstone came from Rajasthan; machines made the first cuts, but every fine detail was carved by hand.
The Akshardham Mandir and Its Architecture
The mandir at the centre of the complex is 43 m (141 ft) high, 96 m (316 ft) wide and 109 m (356 ft) long. It's made of Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble and, following the ancient building texts, uses no steel or iron at all. The style draws on the Māru-Gurjara tradition of western India.
Look down: the Gajendra Pith
The temple's base is a plinth of 148 life-size stone elephants, weighing around 3,000 tonnes in all. Each one acts out a story from Indian legend, which makes it one of the most fun parts of the visit with children.
Look up: pillars, domes and murtis
Inside, 234 carved pillars and 9 domes frame more than 200 murtis. Under the central dome sits an 11-foot (3.4 m) murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, made of five metals, alongside Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati and Lakshmi-Narayana.
Look around: the Narayan Sarovar
A lake wraps around the mandir, filled with water gathered from 151 rivers and lakes across India, with 108 gaumukhs (cow-head spouts) pouring into it, one for each of 108 names of God.
Things to See and Do at Akshardham
Akshardham Mandir
The heart of it all. Walk the carved halls slowly: the detail is extraordinary. Free.
Nilkanth Varni Abhishek
Pour holy water over the murti of the young yogi Nilkanth and pray for peace. ₹50 per person.
Hall of Values (50 min)
Robotic and animatronic shows on non-violence, honesty and family harmony. Exhibition ticket.
Giant Screen Film (40 min)
The journey of Nilkanth, an 11-year-old yogi, across India, on a screen about 85 × 65 ft. Exhibition ticket.
Cultural Boat Ride (15 min)
Float through 10,000 years of Indian heritage, from Vedic villages to the ancient university of Takshashila. Exhibition ticket.
Sahaj Anand Water Show
At sunset, the Yagnapurush Kund, India's largest stepwell, comes alive with fountains, lights and fire, telling a story from the Kena Upanishad. ₹110.
Garden of India
Lawns lined with bronze statues of India's child heroes, warriors, freedom fighters and great women. Free.
Lotus Garden & food court
A lotus-shaped garden of quotes from thinkers and leaders, then lunch at Premvati, the vegetarian food court styled on the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Akshardham Timings and Ticket Prices
Entry to the complex and darshan in the mandir are free. You only buy tickets for the exhibitions and the water show.
| What | Timing |
|---|---|
| Complex & mandir | Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Exhibitions | Last entry 6:30 PM |
| Water show | Evenings, after sunset |
| Closed | Every Monday |
| Ticket | Adult | Senior (60+) | Child 4–11 | Under 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibitions (all 3 halls) | ₹260 | ₹210 | ₹160 | Free |
| Water show | ₹110 | ₹110 | ₹80 | Free |
| Abhishek | ₹50 per person | |||
| Mandir & gardens | Free for everyone | |||
Prices and timings from akshardham.com, October 2026. They can change, especially around festivals, so check the official site before you go.
Akshardham Rules, Security and Dress Code
- No phones, cameras or electronics. They aren't allowed inside, and neither is photography.
- No bags, luggage or food. Everything goes through a security check at the entrance.
- Cloakroom queues can be long, especially at weekends. With a private car, simply leave everything locked in the car.
- Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and wear comfortable shoes: the complex is huge.
Is Akshardham Worth Visiting? Our Driver's Take
Our office is in West Vinod Nagar, just a few minutes from Akshardham, so our drivers know it better than almost anywhere in Delhi. Here's their advice:
Absolutely worth it, even if you're not religious. The carving is unbelievable, and the water show is the best evening out in Delhi.
The secret is to arrive with nothing. Leave your phone, camera and bag locked in the car and you'll walk straight past the cloakroom queue to the security check. Come on a weekday morning, take your time in the mandir, and stay for the show at sunset. Your driver will be waiting at the gate when you come out.
India Tourist Driver chauffeur
Worth it for
- Some of India's finest modern stone carving
- The sunset water show
- Families: elephants, boat ride, robots
- Peaceful gardens in the middle of Delhi
Good to know
- No photos at all inside the complex
- Weekend crowds and security queues
- Closed every Monday
How Much Time You Need, and the Best Time to Visit
Allow about 1½ hours for the mandir and gardens, or 4 to 5 hours to see the three exhibitions (about 1¾ hours of shows) and the water show. A weekday is calmer than a weekend. A relaxed plan for the full experience:
Arrive at opening; go through security with nothing but your wallet.
The mandir and the Gajendra Pith elephants, then the abhishek.
Vegetarian lunch at the Premvati food court.
The three exhibitions: Hall of Values, giant-screen film and boat ride (last entry 6:30 PM).
Stroll the Garden of India and the Lotus Garden.
The Sahaj Anand water show at the stepwell, then your driver takes you back to your hotel.
How to Reach Akshardham Temple
Akshardham is on NH 24 in East Delhi, close to the Noida border.
- By metro: Akshardham station on the Blue Line is right beside the complex.
- From the airport: about an hour by car, depending on traffic.
- By private car: the easiest way, especially if you're seeing more of Delhi the same day. Our full-day Delhi car and driver starts from ₹1,400 (sedan, 8 hours / 80 km); see our online car rental rates. Your driver drops you at the entrance, keeps your bags safe and is waiting when you come out.
Book your own private car and driver in Delhi and pair Akshardham with Delhi's other great sights. Heading further? Akshardham is on the way out of Delhi towards Agra, so it fits neatly before or after our Same Day Taj Mahal Tour, a 2 Nights 3 Days Agra Tour or our Golden Triangle tour packages. For more travel ideas, browse our travel blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Akshardham Temple timings?
Is there an entry fee for Akshardham Temple?
How much are the Akshardham exhibition tickets?
How much is the Akshardham water show ticket?
Is Akshardham closed on Monday?
Can I take my phone or camera inside Akshardham?
How much time do you need at Akshardham?
What is the dress code at Akshardham?
Is Akshardham the largest Hindu temple in the world?
Who built Akshardham Temple?
Is photography allowed at Akshardham?
How do I reach Akshardham Temple?
What is the best time to visit Akshardham?
Is there food at Akshardham?
Sources
Facts, timings and prices in this guide were checked against the official Swaminarayan Akshardham website, India's Ministry of Tourism (Incredible India) and Wikipedia, plus our drivers' own experience of taking guests there. Timings and ticket prices can change, so check the official website before you go.
