Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple New Jersey: Opening, Timings, Address, Photos, and More

Akshardham Temples are not just present in India but are spanned across the world in different locations; one such temple is the Akshardham Temple, New Jersey. 

Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey is the largest Hindu temple in the United States and the second-largest Hindu Mandir in the world. The construction of the temple was initiated in 2011 and completed in 2023. 

So if you’re visiting New Jersey, take your New Jersey travel guide with you and include this new Hindu temple in your itinerary. 

About Akshardham Temple: Overview 

The Akshardham in New Jersey is a Hindu place of worship built by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and located about 60 miles (ca. 97 km) south of Times Square in New York. The temple was constructed by over 12,500 volunteers from across the US. 

This is the biggest Hindu temple in New Jersey and is constructed with granite from India, sandstone from Rajasthan, teak wood from Myanmar, marble from Greece, Turkey, and Italy, and Limestone from Bulgaria and Turkey. 

Spread over an area of 184 acres and at a height of 191 feet (ca. 58 m), the temple mesmerizes visitors with its awe-inspiring architecture and serene ambiance, showcasing traditional Indian craftsmanship. But what’s more amazing is the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata carved on the stones of the temple.  

Here is some important information about this New Jersey Temple:

The total length of the temple	255 feet (ca. 78 m)
The total width of the temple	345 feet (0.11 km)
The total height of the temple	191 feet (ca. 58 m)
Time taken for its completion	12 years
Statues and statuettes	10,000
Shrines	13

Akshardham Tickets and Timings 

Most temples in India offer free entry to visitors, like Sri Venkateswara temple and Guruvayur Temple, and the same goes for Akshardham in New Jersey. 

Here are the Baps New Jersey Akshardham opening times:

Day	Akshardham Timings
Monday	9:00 am — 7:30 pm
Tuesday	Closed/Holiday
Wednesday	9:00 am — 7:30 pm
Thursday	9:00 am — 7:30 pm
Friday	9:00 am — 7:30 pm
Saturday	9:00 am — 7:30 pm
Sunday	9:00 am — 7:30 pm

Here are the timings of the sacred shrine open for Murti darshan:

Timings for Sacred Shrine

9:00 am — 10:30 am

11:15 am — 12:00 pm

4:00 pm — 6:30 pm

7:00 pm — 7:30 pm

Here are the Aarti Timings: 

Aarti	Timings
Rajbhog Aarti	11:15 am
Sandhya Aarti	7:00 pm

Here are the timings for Ghanshyam Maharaj Abhishek:

Timings

9:00 am — 10:30 am

11:15 am — 12:00 pm

4:00 pm — 6:30 pm

7:00 pm — 7:30 pm

Akshardham Temple Attractions 

Here are some major attractions of the Akshardham Temple in New Jersey:

1. The Mandir is enclosed in a colossal mandap for external protection of the main temple from other environmental and social elements. This 135 ft wide and 55 ft tall mandap is itself a piece of art adorned with delicate carvings of 236 sculptures, including peacocks, elephants, monks, and devotees out of marble. 

   

2. The grand prayer hall in the mandap is so spacious it can accommodate at least 1000 people at a time. India’s unique traditional stone architecture adores the complex and is made to last a thousand years. Not only that, but the complex consists of one main shrine, 12 sub-shrines, 9 Shikhars, and 9 pyramidal Shikhars.

   

3. The more we talk about the architectural design of this BAPS temple New Jersey, the less it seems. You can notice the engravings of a whopping 10,000 sculptures of figures of India’s old-age musical instruments, classical dance forms, and epic characters on pillars, panels, walls, and ceilings. And if you look closely, you can see that every sculpture depicts a different story. 

   

4. This is not a simple Hindu Temple in New Jersey along with its great architecture, lake, and humongous size, the complex also has a world-class research institute. The institute is the “first such center of learning and research of Indian Languages and Hindu scripture in the Swaminarayan tradition in the United States.” 

   

5. The temple also contains a sacred stepwell and interestingly the water from the kund has been collected from more than 300 natural sources of water from around the world including the water bodies in 50 US states. 

   

6. You can buy beautiful souvenirs like books, postcards, CDs, and DVDs at the shop in the Activity Center wing of the complex. 

7. Shayona Sweet and Snack Center serves delicious all-vegetarian cuisine.

Dos and Don’ts at The Akshardham Temple New Jersey

Akshardham temple usually has a strict set of rules for behavior and dress code. Let’s take a look at what you should and shouldn’t do inside the temple. 

Must-Try Foods Near Akshardham Temple New Jersey

Outside food is not allowed inside the temple, but there’s a food court to cater to the visitors. But in case you want to eat somewhere else, here are the top restaurants near the New Hindu temple in New Jersey. 

Location — 1392 US Highway 130, Hightstown, NJ 08561-3203

Location — 1412 Route 130 Bldg B, East Windsor, NJ 08520

Location — 1240 US Highway 130, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1008

Location — 110 Mercer St, Hightstown, NJ 08520-3714

Location — 173 Mercer St, Hightstown, NJ 08520-3702

Akshardham Temple New Jersey Photos

Here are some Swaminarayan Akshardham New Jersey temple photos.  

Rules and Regulations at Akshardham Temple New Jersey

Here are some rules and regulations that you need to keep in mind before visiting Swaminarayan Akshardham New Jersey. 

• Adhere to the dress code within the complex, tops must cover the shoulders, back, chest, navel, and upper arms. Legs must be covered below the knees. 

• Those who show up in clothes that don’t follow the dress code will be provided with wraps to wear. 

• Remove all footwear before entering the Mandir building. 

• You can capture videos and photos throughout the campus except in areas of worship such as the main mandir area. 

• The use of tripods and drones is strictly prohibited. 

• Switch off or put your mobile phones on silent before entering the premises. 

• Smoking and drinking are strictly prohibited inside the campus. 

• Do not touch the delicate objects and the holy sculptures. 

• Maintain the spiritual atmosphere and silence inside the Mandir. 

• Visitors aged 16 or under must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. 

• The nursing Pod which can be locked for privacy is located near the restroom. Breastfeeding mothers are requested to use the nursing pod.

• Pets are not allowed inside the complex. 

• Because of the many special services throughout the year, timings and access for the Mandir are subject to change, sometimes unavoidably without notice.

• The Management reserves the right to refuse admission to those who do not follow the guidelines and to those who may be inappropriately dressed.

• No outside food or drink is allowed inside the campus. 

• No sharp, or dangerous objects are allowed. 

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit this Hindu Temple New Jersey completely depends on your convenience. The best time to visit New Jersey is from January to July.

Make sure you adhere to the timings of the temple and the mandapam which are in intervals from 9:00 am — 10:00 am; 11:115 am — 12:00 pm; 4:00 pm — 6:30 pm. 

Make sure to visit the temple as soon as it opens to avoid the crowd and visit the temple in peace. 

How to Reach Akshardham Temple New Jersey

Here is the Swaminarayan Temple Robbinsville, NJ address

• By Train — Take the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Rail Line from New York Penn Station to Princeton Junction Station.

• By Bus — From New York’s Port Authority Bus Terminal, take the Coach USA (Suburban Transit) Line 300 Bus to the Hightstown, NJ station.

• By Car — From I-95 North.

• By Taxi — A taxi from Manhattan to Shri Swaminarayan Mandir takes about 34 minutes and costs around $150–$180.

• By Air — Flying from New York to Swaminarayan Akshardham takes about 17 hours and 48 minutes and costs around $340–$750. 

Temple Contact Details

For further information and queries, you can contact the temple authorities.

📍Address — 112 N Main Street, Robbinsville, NJ 08561 USA

📞Phone — (609) 918 1212

📧 Email — info.rbv@usa.baps.org 

🌐 Official Website — Akshardham Temple New Jersey

Famous Places Near Akshardham Temple New Jersey

Here are some great places to visit near Akshardham Temple New Jersey.

1. Princeton University Art Museum 

2. Six Flags Great Adventure

3. Grounds For Sculpture

4. Sesame Place

To know more about the temple watch this YouTube video by ANI News on Akshardham Temple in New Jersey. 

Conclusion

The newly opened Akshardham Temple in New Jersey is the epitome of peace and breathtaking architecture. This is the second-largest temple built outside India with material brought from all over the world inspiring millions of people from around the world to seek solace and enlightenment within its sacred walls.