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Swaminarayan Akshardham

The largest Hindu temple in the Western Hemisphere, hand-carved stone on a vast scale, opened in 2023 in Robbinsville, New Jersey, between New York and Philadelphia.

Photo: BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha · CC BY-SA 4.0

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, is the largest Hindu temple in the Western Hemisphere. Its central shrine, the Mahamandir, was carved by hand from stone by thousands of artisans in India, shipped in pieces and assembled here by volunteers over eight years, opening in 2023.

Every surface is carved: deities, dancers, animals and flowers in white marble and pink stone, under domes that glow at dusk. It's a working place of worship, and visitors of every background are welcome to walk its grounds and halls for free.

Worth a Detour in Mid-Atlantic If You're Nearby in United States

Best Time: Spring and fall; evenings for the lit temple
Time Needed: 3 hours
Cost Level: $$$$
Open: Most days; check usa.akshardham.org for hours
Getting There: In Robbinsville, central New Jersey: about an hour from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York City by car. Trains run to Hamilton or Princeton Junction, then take a taxi.

What to See

3 of 3 are free

Free1 hour

The Mahamandir

The great carved central shrine. Look up: the domes and pillars inside are as intricately carved as the outside.

Free20 minutes

Brahma Kund

A traditional Indian stepwell pool whose waters were drawn from more than 300 rivers and lakes around the world.

Free30 minutes

Evening Aarti

The evening worship ceremony, with lamps, bells and chanting, which visitors may watch respectfully.

Know Before You Go

Dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered. Wraps are available if needed.
Shoes come off in the shrine. Photography is not allowed in some areas; follow the signs.
Weekends and Hindu festivals bring large crowds; weekdays are calmer.