BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha)
Organisation · Shahibaug, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
BAPS was founded by Shastriji Maharaj, who consecrated the murtis at Bochasan in 1907. It runs mandirs in India and abroad, from village shrines to the large Akshardham complexes at Gandhinagar (1992) and New Delhi (2005). Its early shikharbaddha mandirs at Bochasan, Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra and Gadhada are still major pilgrimage centres. Its headquarters is the Shahibaug mandir in Ahmedabad.
How it is run
A Hindu devotional organisation of the Swaminarayan tradition, led by its guru and president, Mahant Swami Maharaj (since August 2016). It is run by sadhus and volunteers.
Tips for pilgrims
- Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi is open Tuesday–Sunday (closed Mondays). Entry runs 10 am to 6:30 pm, and mandir entry is free.
- Phones, cameras and electronics are not allowed inside Akshardham. Use the free cloakroom before the security check.
- Akshardham has a dress code: shoulders and knees covered. Sarongs can be bought on site.
Temples it runs
- Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi – Near Akshardham Metro, New Delhi
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Akshar Deri), Gondal – Gondal, Rajkot district
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atladra – Atladra, Vadodara
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bochasan – Bochasan, Anand district
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada – Gadhada, Botad district
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Sarangpur – Sarangpur, Botad district
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Shahibaug – Shahibaug, Ahmedabad
- Swaminarayan Akshardham, Gandhinagar – Sector 20, Gandhinagar