Swaminarayan Temple Kalupur

Getting there

• By air

  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport serves Ahmedabad and connects all major Indian cities, and key cities abroad, to the state.

• By train

  The main railway station of Ahmedabad is in the Kalupur area, the same area as the temple.

• By road

  Ahmedabad is well connected by road to major cities and towns.

Why devotees come here

The first temple of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, a Hindu sect, stands in Kalupur, Ahmedabad. It was built in 1822 and is the headquarters of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi. Kalupur is in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat.

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kalupur is the first temple of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, a Hindu sect. It is also the headquarters of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi. The main deities are Nar Narayan Dev, Radha Krishna Dev, Dharmabhaktimata and Hari Krushna Maharaj. Shree Bal Swarup Ghanshyam Maharaj and Shree Ranghmohal Ghanshyam Maharaj are also main deities.

Swaminarayan opened the temple on 24 February 1822 before a crowd of 50,000. He gave the building work to his disciple Anandanand Swami. The British Imperial Government gave the land for the first temple.

The temple was built with carvings in pure Burma teak, as scriptural norms require. The complex is eclectic. It mixes Corinthian capitals with Marathi and Rajasthani folk iconography and painted woodcarvings. The large mandapa has carvings of dancing maidens and toranas. One writer compares the temple to a fairytale for its colours and carvings.

Tips for your visit

• The daily Heritage Walk starts at the temple at 8 AM, usually when worship is taking place.
• The Heritage Walk starts in the Kalupur area, tours 18 sites in the city and ends at the Jama Masjid.

Questions people ask