Tuesday, February 9 - Our next stop was at another temple we've frequently passed when driving around the area. It is the first tradional Hindu Mandir of its kind in North America. It is called BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – Houston. There are only four Mandir Temples in the United States.
(Note: To see some of the intricate carvings, please click on the photo to enlarge it.)
All 33,000 pieces of intricate carvings are made in Italian marble and Turkish limestone were hand- carved by skilled craftsmen, shipped to Houston and then assembled by volunteers in just 11 months.
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha was established in 1907. The Mandir opened to all after the Murti-Pratishtha ceremony was performed by His Holiness Prmukh Swami Maharaj on July 25, 2004. The Mandir serves individuals spiritually and nurtures the community through its activities, festivals, cultural programs, and religious cermonies. It is open daily from 9:00 am till 8:00 pm. There is no charge for the self-guided tour.
Remember…everything is handcarved. Just amazing.
Stairway up to the Temple.
Entrance gate.
An exhibition and educational building is also located on the grounds along with a gift and book shop. We found the exhibition hall very interesting and informative.
Sahajanand Exhibition Hall
Again, there was no charge to tour the temple but no pictures are permitted inside the building. Again, you are required to remove you shoes before entering. No shorts or bare shoulders are permitted. Shawls are provided to cover up if necessary.
All shoes must be removed before climbing the steps to the Temple.
The Mandir is a house of God, open to all. This is a great culture experience.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!
