A humble devotee’s guide
Welcome to Surat Akshardham
Where devotion is being carved in stone, a living chronicle of the mandir rising before our eyes.
The magnificent Prarthana Mandir at Surat Akshardham, featuring beautifully carved domes and Shikhar.
🙏 Jai Swaminarayan 🙏
This is an unofficial guide dedicated to the great Surat Akshardham Mandir. A heartfelt welcome to every visitor, devotee, and curious soul who has come here to know more about this divine temple being built in Surat, Gujarat.
As a humble follower of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, I created this blog to guide visitors, share updates, and answer every possible question about Surat Akshardham, so every devotee feels informed, safe, and spiritually connected when planning their visit.
When devotees come for darshan, they should already know: who is behind the creation of Surat Akshardham, how to reach the temple easily, what facilities and events to expect, and the spiritual significance of this grand mandir 🌸.
This blog is not official, but it is written with deep respect and devotion, keeping you updated on construction progress, upcoming mahotsav events, and practical visitor details. ✨ Together, let’s celebrate this divine gift to Surat.
A Glimpse of the Divine Shrine
Captured during my personal visit to the mandir.
Darshan of Swaminarayan Bhagwan and BAPS Gurus at the upcoming mandir, captured during my visit.
Divine darshan of Swaminarayan Bhagwan idols dressed in blue inside the golden shrine.
A Spiritual Landmark in the Making
Stone by Stone, Devotion Rises
When I first visited the site of the Surat Akshardham Mandir in Kanad, Jahangirpura, I was left speechless. Even under construction, the energy, devotion, and sheer scale of the project gave me goosebumps, the craftsmanship of the carvings, the vision of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, and the excitement of thousands of devotees awaiting the grand inauguration.
If you’ve visited Akshardham in Delhi or Gandhinagar, you already know the divine experience it brings, peaceful atmosphere, grand architecture, exhibitions, gardens, and spiritual vibes. Surat Akshardham is being built in the same tradition, destined to become a jewel in Gujarat’s cultural and spiritual map.
Kanad Akshardham, Surat: At a Glance
This divine and grand Akshardham will add to Surat’s grandeur and prestige. Construction is moving at great speed, and it is expected to become a new spectacle for people across the world.
- 🌏 Asia & India’s largest Akshardham
- 🏵️ BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s 4th largest Akshardham
- 🙏 Envisioned (sankalp) by Mahant Swami Maharaj
Boat Ride Journey
Sit in a boat and in just 12 minutes witness centuries of Indian culture and heritage.
Light & Sound Show
Up to 4,500 people can sit together to watch the light and sound spectacle.
Grand Sant Ashram
A spacious residence built for the saints who serve the mandir.
Mahant Swami’s Utaro
The largest and grandest residence prepared for Mahant Swami Maharaj’s stay.
Premvati Dining Hall
8,000 devotees can sit together at once to take the blessing of prasad.
Modern Mega Kitchen
A very large kitchen with full mechanised operations and large boiler plants for cooking.
Pillarless Central AC Hall
A 20,000-capacity pillarless central AC hall, evacuable in 7 minutes.
51 ft Neelkanth Varni Statue
A towering 51-foot murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan as Neelkanth Varni stands before the mandir.
Largest Guest House
Accommodation prepared for up to 1,500 visitors, the largest guest house on campus.
Staff Facilities
A dedicated staff room built to serve up to 1,200 personnel.
Massive Car Parking
Large-scale parking arrangements, planned to comfortably serve around 30,000 visitors.
Grand Prarthana Mandir
A vast and purposeful prayer hall built for bhajans, satsang, and devotion.
3 km Full Campus Round
The complex is so expansive that a full round of the Akshardham campus covers about 3 kilometres.
Grandest Garden
One of the largest ornamental gardens will be developed across the campus.
Restrooms & Drinking Water
Extensive restroom facilities and drinking water points planned for visitor comfort.
✨ Jai Swaminarayan, these figures are shared as publicly circulated by devotees and may be updated or officially confirmed by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in due course.
About Surat Akshardham
A Vision of Peace, Culture & Devotion
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) is globally known for creating spiritual and cultural marvels. Akshardham temples are not just places of worship, they are centers of peace, inspiration, and devotion.
- To serve as a place of worship for devotees of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
- To showcase India’s ancient architectural and cultural heritage
- To provide a spiritual retreat for visitors from across the world
What makes this temple truly special is the contribution of thousands of volunteers and artisans shaping it stone by stone. Even during construction, one can feel the divine aura standing near the site.
Surat Akshardham Location
📍 7QCW+WMF BAPS Akshardham Mandir, Jahangirpura-Karamala Rd, Kanad, Gujarat 394520
The temple is located in Kanad, Jahangirpura, a rapidly growing area of Surat, well connected by road and public transport.
- 🚉 Distance from Surat Railway Station: Approx. 10–12 km
- ✈️ Distance from Surat Airport: Approx. 22 km
The Question Everyone Asks
When Will Surat Akshardham Open?
As of now, the temple is under construction. The official opening date (pratishtha mahotsav) will be announced by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, with a grand celebration including kirtans, discourses, cultural events, and blessings.
Many believe the opening will happen in the coming year(s), depending on construction progress. Devotees from across India and abroad are eagerly waiting to attend the Surat Akshardham Mahotsav, marking the official inauguration.
Surat Akshardham Mahotsav
A multi-day festival of devotion, music, spiritual discourses, and cultural programs, thousands of devotees expected to attend.
If you have ever attended Akshardham Mahotsav in Gandhinagar or Delhi, you already know how grand these events are. Surat will soon witness the same divine celebration.
How big is Surat Akshardham Mandir?
The total area is approximately 127 acres. Project engineers Multi Project Consulting Engineers (MPCE), who are involved in the construction, list the campus area as 127 acres on their official website. What we know for certain: this vast campus in Jahangirpura is set to become Asia and India’s largest Akshardham Temple, and BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s 4th largest Akshardham Temple.
Design & Architecture
Following the traditional Hindu temple architecture seen in Delhi and Gandhinagar Akshardham.
Carved Pillars
Every pillar bears unique stone carvings depicting stories of devotion, dharma, and culture.
Grand Shikhars
Beautifully carved domes rising skyward, visible from far across Jahangirpura.
Divine Murtis
The central shrine houses murtis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and other deities.
Cultural Complex
Gardens, exhibition halls, and spaces dedicated to cultural education.
Peaceful Atmosphere
Away from city traffic, offering a spiritual retreat for meditation and darshan.
My Personal Experience
February
When Mahant Swami Maharaj himself came to Surat to review the construction work and bless the upcoming Murti Pratishtha Samaroh, I was fortunate enough to be there in person.
It was truly an unforgettable experience. ✨ Hundreds of devotees had gathered, and the atmosphere was filled with devotion, joy, and divine energy. The presence of so many BAPS sadhus, along with the chanting, made it feel like a grand festival, even with the mandir still under construction.
As I walked around, I could see the progress closely, workers chiseling stone, artisans carving intricate designs, massive structures already standing tall. Looking at the pace of work, I personally feel that within few years this temple will be officially open to the public.
From 4 PM to 9 PM, the entire site was glowing with lights, bhajans, and the excitement of devotees. Honestly, it felt less like a construction site and more like a spiritual celebration.
That day remains one of the most beautiful and divine experiences of my life, and it makes me even more certain that Surat Akshardham will soon be a landmark of devotion for the whole world.
Official Contact & Social Media
This website is an unofficial visitor guide. For official announcements, please refer to the details and links below.
- 📍 Jahangirpura-Karamala Rd, Kanad, Surat, Gujarat 394520
- 📞 +91 261 279 6344
- 📱 +91 99989 92000
Google Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the largest Akshardham in the world?
Largest Hindu temple by building floor area (Guinness World Record): Akshardham Delhi, India. Guinness World Records recognizes it as the Largest Hindu Temple, based on the temple building’s internal floor area of 8,021.43 sq. m (86,342 sq. ft), when it was inaugurated on 6 November 2005. The main monument measures 356 ft long, 316 ft wide, and 141 ft high.
Largest Akshardham by total campus/land area: BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, Robbinsville, New Jersey, USA. Opened in 2023, it spans approximately 185 acres of campus land, making it the largest Hindu temple complex in the Western Hemisphere and one of the largest by total land area in the world.
In short: Delhi holds the record for the temple building itself, while Robbinsville is larger by overall campus land.