Akshardham in Delhi?

ruins_explorer · Dec 25th, 2005, 09:13

Anyone been here yet? It looks interesting.

Swaminarayan Akshardham
http://www.akshardham.com/whatisakdm/index.htm

randomviolins · Dec 26th, 2005, 03:54

I was there last weekend. No words for it really. Awesome, magnificent, don't do the experience justice. I had stopped in Paris on the way to India and seen the Sacre Coeur church for the first time; and looking up at all the intricate carvings on the ceilings of the domes at Arkshardam reminded me of the artwork on the ceiling at Sacre Coeur. How humbling to think what people can accomplish working together for something they all believe in. But Akshardham is on a far larger scale than Sacre Coeur; the whole Akshardham temple complex is massive.

I wish I could have also have seen it at night because from the images I saw on google, it seems that it may be even more powerful when illuminated at night.

One of the special things about the experience for me was the thought that I was privileged to be one of the first human beings to experience the majesty of a monument that will fascinate Indians and visitors to India for hundreds or thousands of years (if some wackos don't blow it up before then - the security to get in is pretty tight, metal detectors and all ...). I understand the temple was just opened to the public last month. In fact, workers are still working on some of the carvings on the outside.

randomviolins · Dec 26th, 2005, 03:56

Btw, it's no more than a 30 minute drive (taxi or autorickshaw) from central Delhi, at least on Sunday morning.

ruins_explorer · Dec 26th, 2005, 04:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomviolins

I was there last weekend. No words for it really. Awesome, magnificent, don't do the experience justice. I had stopped in Paris on the way to India and seen the Sacre Coeur church for the first time; and looking up at all the intricate carvings on the ceilings of the domes at Arkshardam reminded me of the artwork on the ceiling at Sacre Coeur. How humbling to think what people can accomplish working together for something they all believe in. But Akshardham is on a far larger scale than Sacre Coeur; the whole Akshardham temple complex is massive.

I wish I could have also have seen it at night because from the images I saw on google, it seems that it may be even more powerful when illuminated at night.

One of the special things about the experience for me was the thought that I was privileged to be one of the first human beings to experience the majesty of a monument that will fascinate Indians and visitors to India for hundreds or thousands of years (if some wackos don't blow it up before then - the security to get in is pretty tight, metal detectors and all ...). I understand the temple was just opened to the public last month. In fact, workers are still working on some of the carvings on the outside.

Thanks for the review. I can't wait to see it now.

Is it really true that you can't take cameras inside?

randomviolins · Dec 26th, 2005, 07:46

No cameras, no wallets/purses, no cellphones, no leather materials of anykind (obviously). No kidding.

attitudemyown · Dec 26th, 2005, 08:42

seen the monument on 17/11/2005.............is really magnificient.........but how long before it starts decaying under the feet of tramping millions?.....

great work of art...............but somewhere i think money sould have been spent on providing subsistence to poor......... rather than spending it on creating a visual treat for the privileged.............. in a country like india....
in Paris it may be fine....

yes security is very tight....no cameras,no leather wallets no bags could be taken inside.....

ruins_explorer · Dec 26th, 2005, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomviolins

No cameras, no wallets/purses, no cellphones, no leather materials of anykind (obviously). No kidding.

Huh, how do you pay to get in? I guess you j ust have to leave your wallet at the door. That unnerves me. Didn't see Ho Chin Minh's tomb for that reason.

you guys just made me think of a valid point - I need to bring a pair of shoes that isn't máde of leather.

It makes sense - the security - isn't this temple a bigger and better replacement of one that was attacked in Gujurat or did Google just confuse me on that one?

Tapestry · Dec 26th, 2005, 13:34

It will take a while to see the temple, so if you go in late afternoon when it is light you will see it through dusk and then when it is illuminated in the dark. If you do not speak Hindi I recommend skipping the official program they have for seeing the monument. It takes you through a long series of brief films and these diorama-like dramatizations that last for almost two hours, all of it in Hindi. By then end you may be too exhausted to walk the temple grounds.

But it is beautiful and worth seeing, and they definitely mean it when they say no bags, no cameras, no leather, etc.

FYI there's a veg restaurant inside the complex.

randomviolins · Dec 26th, 2005, 21:40

Don't worry, Ruins Explorer. There is a "cloak room" in the antecourt where they hold your belongings for you. I am pretty sure your things will be more than safe there (although I would probably leave expensive jewelry etc at home/at the hotel). There is also a shoe room, where everyone leaves their shoes. No one is allowed inside with shoes. Most people enter barefoot; a few wear socks.

Sama · Dec 26th, 2005, 21:55

Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace

I posted some pics of it in a previous thread.....

ruins_explorer · Dec 26th, 2005, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomviolins

Don't worry, Ruins Explorer. There is a "cloak room" in the antecourt where they hold your belongings for you. I am pretty sure your things will be more than safe there (although I would probably leave expensive jewelry etc at home/at the hotel). There is also a shoe room, where everyone leaves their shoes. No one is allowed inside with shoes. Most people enter barefoot; a few wear socks.

okay I get it - these rules all apply to the temple itself, but shoes must be allowed in the gardens. and the cloakroom - got it - I could keep cash in my bra (as usual), but I wouldn't mind handing over my other stuff.

ruins_explorer · Dec 26th, 2005, 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogagal60510

Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace

I posted some pics of it in a previous thread.....

that's funny - your post didn't come up when I did the search yesterday.

So, does that mean they allowed you to take pictures of the outside?

Sama · Dec 26th, 2005, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruins_explorer

that's funny - your post didn't come up when I did the search yesterday.

So, does that mean they allowed you to take pictures of the outside?

a friend sent me these pics....

Indojingai · Dec 27th, 2005, 01:25

If breathing in Delhi with one nostril or both is a question to a careful American traveller, they should perhaps only view the pictures, not the real thing. Less bacteria and pollution that way!

soulfood · Dec 27th, 2005, 01:56

LOL. Very quotable.

Dec 25th, 2005, 09:13	#1
ruins_explorer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 206	Akshardham in Delhi? Anyone been here yet? It looks interesting. Swaminarayan Akshardham http://www.akshardham.com/whatisakdm/index.htm

Dec 26th, 2005, 21:55	#10
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,454	pics here Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace I posted some pics of it in a previous thread..... __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* BE THE REVOLUTION

Dec 27th, 2005, 01:25	#14
Indojingai One in a billion member. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 996	If breathing in Delhi with one nostril or both is a question to a careful American traveller, they should perhaps only view the pictures, not the real thing. Less bacteria and pollution that way! __________________ I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.

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Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace	Sama	Delhi	11	Dec 27th, 2005 11:12

Dec 26th, 2005, 03:54	#2
randomviolins Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 113	I was there last weekend. No words for it really. Awesome, magnificent, don't do the experience justice. I had stopped in Paris on the way to India and seen the Sacre Coeur church for the first time; and looking up at all the intricate carvings on the ceilings of the domes at Arkshardam reminded me of the artwork on the ceiling at Sacre Coeur. How humbling to think what people can accomplish working together for something they all believe in. But Akshardham is on a far larger scale than Sacre Coeur; the whole Akshardham temple complex is massive. I wish I could have also have seen it at night because from the images I saw on google, it seems that it may be even more powerful when illuminated at night. One of the special things about the experience for me was the thought that I was privileged to be one of the first human beings to experience the majesty of a monument that will fascinate Indians and visitors to India for hundreds or thousands of years (if some wackos don't blow it up before then - the security to get in is pretty tight, metal detectors and all ...). I understand the temple was just opened to the public last month. In fact, workers are still working on some of the carvings on the outside.

Dec 26th, 2005, 03:56	#3
randomviolins Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 113	Btw, it's no more than a 30 minute drive (taxi or autorickshaw) from central Delhi, at least on Sunday morning.

Dec 26th, 2005, 07:46	#5
randomviolins Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 113	No cameras, no wallets/purses, no cellphones, no leather materials of anykind (obviously). No kidding.

Dec 26th, 2005, 08:42	#6
attitudemyown Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ludhiana,india Posts: 58	seen the monument on 17/11/2005.............is really magnificient.........but how long before it starts decaying under the feet of tramping millions?..... great work of art...............but somewhere i think money sould have been spent on providing subsistence to poor......... rather than spending it on creating a visual treat for the privileged.............. in a country like india.... in Paris it may be fine.... yes security is very tight....no cameras,no leather wallets no bags could be taken inside.....

Dec 26th, 2005, 13:34	#8
Tapestry Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 326	It will take a while to see the temple, so if you go in late afternoon when it is light you will see it through dusk and then when it is illuminated in the dark. If you do not speak Hindi I recommend skipping the official program they have for seeing the monument. It takes you through a long series of brief films and these diorama-like dramatizations that last for almost two hours, all of it in Hindi. By then end you may be too exhausted to walk the temple grounds. But it is beautiful and worth seeing, and they definitely mean it when they say no bags, no cameras, no leather, etc. FYI there's a veg restaurant inside the complex.

Dec 26th, 2005, 21:40	#9
randomviolins Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 113	Don't worry, Ruins Explorer. There is a "cloak room" in the antecourt where they hold your belongings for you. I am pretty sure your things will be more than safe there (although I would probably leave expensive jewelry etc at home/at the hotel). There is also a shoe room, where everyone leaves their shoes. No one is allowed inside with shoes. Most people enter barefoot; a few wear socks.

Dec 27th, 2005, 01:56	#15
soulfood Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Delhi Posts: 467	LOL. Very quotable.

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