BAPS Shri Swaminaryan Mandir 

Akshardham (New Jersey)

Enjoy hours of beauty, peace and discovery at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir(temple), Robbinsville, NJ – a masterpiece of exquisite Indian design and workmanship. Marvel at the intricate marble carvings among the best in world

The temple’s construction commenced in 2010. The mandir was built in the Nagaradi style using 68,000 cubic feet of Italian Carrara marble. The marble obtained from quarries in Europe was shipped to Rajasthan, India where hundreds of artisans carved the stones. After the finished pieces of stone were assembled in workshops, engineers sequentially numbered the pieces and shipped them to Robbinsville. Upon their arrival, the pieces were organized using the numbering system to facilitate the mandir’s construction.^[10]

A decorative mandap, or enclosure, was built around the mandir to shield the it from harsh weather and facilitate its year-round use. The structure is 87 feet wide, 133 feet long and 42 feet high.^[11] The entrance to the mandap, called the Mayur Dwar, contains carvings depicting peacocks, elephants, and celebrated Hindu devotees of past eras.

The mandir was constructed primarily through the efforts of artisans and volunteers who provided an estimated 4.7 million human hours.^[10] Volunteers engaged in various tasks during the construction process, including design & engineering, carving coordination & stone shipping, site preparation, lighting & electrical wiring, polishing, cleaning the assembled marble, tent-building, meal preparation, and offering medical services.^[11]

KSHARPITH (BOOK & SOUVENIR SHOP)

The Souvenir Shop is located in the Activity Center wing of the complex.  It is filled with a wide selection of books, postcards, CDs, DVDs, herbal health products and gifts for all ages, tastes, and budgets.

SHAYONA SWEETS AND SNACK CENTER

Why not complete your visit with a meal at the Shayona food center?  With its all-vegetarian cuisine, Shayona is the perfect way to experience some traditional and authentic tastes of India.  You can select from various menu options for sit-down or to-go, including a wide selection of sweets and snacks. 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

To remember your visit, please take a photo of yourself or your group with the Mandir as a background. 

Please note that photography or filming inside the mandir is strictly prohibited. Postcards and photographs showing the interior of the Mandir and can be purchased from the Souvenir Shop.

Edison – 

Oak Tree Road 

Middlesex County has become home to one of the largest South Asian populations in the region. Today, nearly 30 percent of Edison residents and almost 40 percent of neighboring Iselin residents have roots on the Subcontinent. As a result, the towns boast some of the most delicious and wide-ranging Indian and Pakistani restaurants in the United States.

The lifeline of the community is Oak Tree Road, a one-mile commercial stretch that cuts through both towns. Among its groceries, jewelry stores and sari shops are nearly 60 eating places. The food is fresh, affordable and stirringly authentic. Here are your essential stops, arranged from south to north.