The Largest Hindu Temple Outside of Asia is in… New Jersey???
Would you believe it if I told you that the largest Hindu Temple located outside of Asia is in New Jersey?
I didn’t believe it myself when I first heard about it. I thought it was the classic example of “don’t believe everything you see online.”
So, after months of traveling around Asia and visiting Hindu Temples along the way, I returned home to the states and headed to New Jersey to see this new temple with my own eyes.
BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham
In the unsuspecting township of Robbinsville, New Jersey, the largest Hindu Temple outside of Asia appears seemingly out of nowhere. I set out on the 45 minute drive from Pennsylvania and found myself on familiar small town New Jersey roads when suddenly, my GPS tells me to veer left. From the near nothingness of suburban NJ explodes the grounds of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham.
More Than a Decade of Construction
The Temple officially opened in early October of this year after more than 12 years of construction and thanks to 12,500 volunteers from every corner of the world. I visited just a few weeks after during the weekend of Diwali after returning home from five months in Southeast Asia. Despite visiting all kinds of incredible temples in Asia, I was completely blown away by the site and maybe even more blown away by the story of how it came to be.
When I visited I was among very few non Hindus, however, everyone was incredibly welcoming and embraced us as we explored and learned more about Hinduism and Diwali. To make the experience even better, entry is completely free!
Visiting Nilkanth Varni: The Ideal Yogi Statue
Upon arriving at BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, you’ll make the short walk from the parking lot to the first stop of your visit. Directly in front of the lot is an outdoor area and it is here that you’ll first see the the enormous golden murti {statue of a diety or God} pictured below. This is the depiction of Nilkanth Varni: The Ideal Yogi. You will read about how this murti “is a tribute to the purity, vitality, and strength of reunification.”
Wandering through this area, you will find plaques filled with information about Hinduism. It is here that I learned about Varni’s years of transformational travel and his journey towards simplicity, discovery, conservation and the mastering of mind and body. This area is the best place to start in order to gain a deeper understanding before venturing into the complex to explore the temple and the rest of the grounds.
Stepping Indoors
After exploring more about Hinduism and the life of Nilkanth Varni, you’ll enter the complex and be guided towards the first indoor area. Here you are only allowed to take photographs before passing the entrance pictured below. Once past this area, the lights dim and you’re engulfed in solid white architecture. Contrasting the pure white is the the colorful light and perfectly lain flowers and candles. As you slowly pass through the area, you’ll pause at a number of shrines with bits of information to read about each one.
The Temple and Its Construction Controversy
The third stop brings you back outside to experience the main event: the sprawling white temple with more attention to detail than you could possibly imagine.
You can walk around the perimeter of the outside before heading in to learn more about the story of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham construction. The hallways are lined with photographs of the construction process and quotes from the volunteers who made this site what it is today.
Nearly everyone involved in the process was there as part of the religious volunteer service known as Seva. However, the 12 years it took the volunteers to construct the site were not met without controversy about the long hours, difficult nature, and trivial compensation. BAPS itself has stated that volunteers (a large number of them coming over from India) were properly looked after throughout their stay. The controversy is complex and concerns are raised about the construction and its impact on the caste system in India as many of the volunteers came from the lower castes.
You can read more about the alleged working conditions here.
Inside The Temple
After passing through the hallway of the construction story, you walk up a set of stairs and enter the temple area. Once again, photography is prohibited inside the temple.
It’s difficult to describe just how captivating the space is (although the exterior certainly gives an idea of what to expect). As I slowly made my way through the halls, I paid close attention to the intricate details on every surface. Thinking about the fact that the site was largely constructed thanks to the volunteers is nothing short of mind blowing.
The Ganesha Statue and The Final Stop
Upon exiting the temple, you’re met with a stunning gold and bronze statue of the Hindu Elephant God Ganesha: the elephant with four arms who represents good fortune, prosperity, and health.
The Ganesha statue is the last site you’ll encounter before entering the final stop of your visit. The last indoor space is where you will find a food hall filled with both buffet style and prepackaged Indian food, a small Indian supermarket, and the gift shop. I highly recommend stopping for a bite to eat. The food is delicious and quite inexpensive. The hall is a nice way to conclude your visit to the temple and further immerse yourself into the culture.
Being a Guest at a Religious Site
I hope it goes without saying that it is imperative to be a respective guest when visiting a religious site. As I mentioned earlier, I was one of very few non Hindus at BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. I also happened to visit during Diwali: a Hindu festival of lights that represents the “victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.”
So, How Can You Be a Respectful Tourist?
- Dress Appropriately (covered knees, shoulders, and chest)
- Refrain From Taking Photos When It Is Prohibited
- Remain Quiet in Places of Worship
- Take Time to Educate Yourself on Hinduism and Typical Customs
- Defer to Following the Lead of Others and Tread with Caution
My experience as an outsider visiting BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham was phenomenal. I was welcomed with open arms I did my best to be as respectful as possible.
There were people welcoming visitors at every entrance and wishing us all a Happy Diwali. My best advice is to follow the lead of those around you. When people bowed and wished me a Happy Diwali, I bowed back and did the same. When people stopped to pay respects to individual shrines, I followed suit.
The best way to be a good tourist is to try your best to not stick out like a sore thumb. Wear proper attire, follow all of the rules of the site, and just be a kind and grateful human being. You’re being welcomed into a culture that is not your own… show gratitude and be a positive addition to the environment!
Why Visit BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham?
Let’s be honest: New Jersey doesn’t have a WHOLE lot going on (I think I can say this as a PA local 20 minutes outside of NJ).
They have the Jersey beaches I grew up visiting every year, a plethora of nice casinos, and some locals even have the unique ability to claim they are “from New York” (they’re not).
I am a traveler who has had the opportunity to visit religious sites like the Hagia Sofia in Turkey, St. Peters Basilica in The Vatican City, and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Thailand.
I can say with confidence that BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham ranks among the most impressive structures I have EVER seen.
To conceptualize that the site is located in the state that holds some of my best childhood memories of days at the beach and nights on the boardwalk is difficult. New Jersey is that “knockoff New York” state that is the home of Jersey Shore, Taylor Ham, and avid gamblers.
But now, “the Largest Temple Outside of Asia” gives this little state a whole new name.
I’ve built a life around traveling far and wide to experience new cultures, learn about different religions, and to immerse myself into unfamiliar lands. Now I, and so many others nearby, have the opportunity to do so in our very own backyard.