Open to one and all, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Atlanta was inaugurated in August of 2007 after only 17 months of construction time utilizing 1.3 million volunteer hours.
The Mandir is comprised of 3 types of stone — Turkish Limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink sandstone. There are many traditional Hindu mandir temples in the United States, but this one in Lilburn, Georgia, is special. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Atlanta.
BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR ATLANTA
More than 34,000 individual pieces were carved by hand in India, shipped to the USA, and assembled in Lilburn like a giant 3-D puzzle. It’s truly a sight to behold. We absolutely loved our visit here, and learned so much along the way. (Read more about our visit below.)
You can enjoy hours of beauty, peace, and discovery at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a masterpiece of exquisite Indian design and workmanship. Marvel at the intricate marble carvings, participate in Hindu rituals, or learn about the world’s oldest living faith – Hinduism.
VISITS AND TOURS
The Nilkanth Varni Abhishek Mandapam is located on the ground floor of the Mandir. This sacred part of the Mandir welcomes all visitors to participate in the ‘Abhishek’ ritual amidst the chanting of prayers and mantras.
Mandir is open to all and entry is free. Individuals and families are not required to book their visits in advance. Visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. The best time to come and see is from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
A guided tour of the Mandir is provided to groups of 10+ people with advanced reservations Monday thru Saturday. For more information on guided tours for groups, visit their Tour Reservations webpage.
WHO IS PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJ
Pramukh Swami Maharaj was Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s fifth spiritual successor. He led by example; his humility, faith in Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and compassion inspired millions of devotees and over 1000 sadhus to maintain moral and spiritual lifestyles. His success is not measured by the awards he received nor by the recognition he accumulated. Rather, it is measured by the number of lives he transformed.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj steered the reins of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha for many decades, effectively administering its spiritual, cultural, personal development and humanitarian activities.
VISITING BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR ATLANTA WITH OUR BOYS
“Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.” This is a mantra we embrace with both arms. We do our best to teach the boys about everything we can that is different than we are…religion, culture, food, race, lifestyle….if we generate curiosity, then they learn…when they learn about other people then there is no room for fear, only for love.
We do not practice the Hindu religion, and we don’t know anyone who does (that we are aware of), so back in January we spent some time learning about Hinduism (in so much as a 2- and 6-year-old can understand). We ended our focused exploration with a trip to the largest Hindu temple outside of India…in Lilburn.
So…#keepingitreal here….I did not feel comfortable taking my rowdy, crazy, loud boys inside. It is open to the public, and I have heard the inside is magnificent (no photography allowed inside). Audio tours are available, also. And while we were exploring the outside, many people came and welcomed us to come inside; two people even offered to walk around with us. I hope that the boys will be ready in maybe two years.
So whether your littles are ready for an inside tour or not, I still encourage a visit. One other thing I did not know about in time…next door (you’ll see it when you enter the gates) is Baps Shayona. They sell yummy treats like samosas and pistachio ice cream! It’s inside the gates…when you go through, just tell them you want to visit the temple or grab a bite, and they will welcome you inside.
Note, that there is a dress code. All clothing must cover shoulders and knees (wraps provided). Please leave all personal belongings /backpacks inside your vehicle.
MORE PHOTOS OF BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR ATLANTA
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO GEORGIA
- YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
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WHERE TO STAY IN LILBURN
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