A few weeks back we went to Houston, TX and there among other places we went to Swaminarayan Temple.
The Swaminarayan Temple there is really beautiful and is one of the best temples i have visited in the US. Very grand and very nicely illuminated with lights also.
Here are some pictures with description.
This is the entrance to the temple. There is a large rectangular pool between entrance and the temple. On either sides of the pool there are fountains (not seen in the photo).
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This is US standing in front of the temple. The temple idols are also very grand and beautifully decorated.
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In evening, they turn on the decorative lights on the roof as well as within the temple. This may have been due to Diwali and may not be there always (not sure).
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The Swaminarayan temple has a huge community hall and a snack shop as well in its complex. The space opposite to the temple is empty and a housing colony is coming up there. I would guess that housing colony would be an ideal location for many devotees to stay.
All in all its worth visiting the Swaminarayan temple in Houston if you are nearby.
We have also visited the Swaminarayan temple in Valsad (india) and that is also beautiful with the beach being closeby. Do you know of any other Swaminarayan temples that are beautifully constructed ?
The Swaminarayan temple near London is also very beautiful.
Akshardham in Gandhi Nagar (Gujarat) is also huge and beautiful.
Welcome back Samir and Amisha. We missed you on KV website.
The best so far is the one in Noida (Delhi)……attracts huge crowds everyday, including buses full of Japanese tourists…..
Very intricately done carvings all through out and they have shows telling stories about Neelkanth all done by disney (in the amusement park style) and a huge movie hall amongst other things like live musical fountains in the evening etc! It is well worth spending a day there if in Delhi.
Just found out that Akshardham Delhi is in the Guiness Book for being the largest hindu temple in the world…..and even has its wiki page!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshardham_(Delhi)