Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple, Ahmedabad - Timings, Festivals, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

About Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple

At a distance of 2 Km from Ahmedabad Junction, Swaminarayan Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Kalupur area of Ahmedabad. Dedicated to Lord NarNarayan, Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple is the first and foremost temple of the Swaminarayan Sect. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Gujarat and among the best places to visit as part of the Ahmedabad heritage packages. Swaminarayan Sampraday is categorized into two sections namely the NarNarayan Dev Gadi and the Lakshmi Narayan Dev Gadi. Swaminarayan Temple at Kalupur serves as the headquarters of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi.

History of Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple

According to history, the land for construction of Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple was given by the British Imperial Government in 1818 CE. The task of constructing this temple was hand over to Anandanand Swami by Swaminarayan (Sahajanand Swami), and the temple was inaugurated on 24th February 1822 by Swaminarayan in the presence of 50,000 people. The Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kalupur, Ahmedabad, is the first temple of the Swaminarayan sect, and was built on the instructions of the founder, Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan.

Architecture of Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple

The Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kalupur exhibits a diverse architectural style that harmoniously integrates Hindu, regional, and British elements. The temple complex is characterized by a Baroque-style entrance, Corinthian columns, and folk iconography from Marathi and Rajasthani traditions. Constructed primarily from Burma teak wood, it features elaborate carvings, particularly within the NarNarayan temple, which illustrates deities and significant cultural narratives of India. Both the interior and exterior of the temple are embellished with traditional Gujarati designs that reflect various facets of Gujarati culture and lifestyle.

At the center of the temple complex lies the NarNarayan Temple, and houses the idols of Narnarayan Dev at the center, Radhakrishna Dev to the right, and Dharmadev, Bhakti Mata, and Harikrishna to the left of the main hall. The temple is renowned for the exquisite garments that adorn the deities, with the attire for the central Narnarayan and RadhaKrishna images being changed seven times daily, ensuring that no outfit is ever repeated. In addition to the principal deities, a white marble idol of Ghanshyam Maharaj, depicted as a child, is located on the ground floor. Visitors can also view personal artifacts belonging to Swaminarayan on both the ground and first floors.

The complex features two Havelis: one located in the North and the other in the East. The North Haveli is a three-story mansion built by Acharya Keshavprasad Maharaj in 1871. This mansion is supported by octagonal and square wooden pillars, adorned with Ardh-murt relief sculptures of flowers and creepers. The Sabha mandap, a spacious Central Hall, is constructed on sixty pillars. Visitors are captivated by the impressive madal-shilp sculptures on twelve tall pillars in the front row, which support the portico of the first floor. These sculptures include a flying Hanuman lifting the Devgiri mountain, a pot-bellied Ghanesha in a South Indian-style scarlet turban, and miniature figures of soldiers in Marathi attire, along with herds of monkeys, reflecting religious traditions in the wooden carvings. Some sculptures also depict the 1857 uprising, featuring the Rani of Jhansi and other historical figures carved into the pillars. Additionally, the mansion houses a new residence for the saints, Vrajendraprasad Mahal, and a dining hall for devotees.

The East mansion is two stories high, with the first and second floors accommodating a Sanskrit and music school, as well as residences for saints. The backyard includes accommodations for celibate students and a well where Swaminarayan bathed, situated under a dome. A historic walk, organized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, begins at this revered Swaminarayan temple and traverses 20 historic sites, concluding at the Jama Masjid.

Festivals of Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple

The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Kalupur in Ahmedabad celebrates a variety of Hindu festivals. Diwali, and Fuldol Utsav, also known as NarNarayan Dev Jayanti are celebrated with great enthusiasm, drawing a large crowd to the temple. Other festivals celebrated include Annakut, Dhan Teras/Lakshmi Pujan, Dhanurmaas, Ganesh Chaturthi, Guru Poornima, Hanuman Jayanti, and Hindola Utsav.

Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple Dress Code & Other Restrictions

The Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad enforces a strict dress code, recommending that visitors wear modest clothing that adequately covers the upper arms and legs as a sign of respect. Men are encouraged to wear a dhoti or pajama paired with an upper garment, or alternatively, formal trousers and shirts. Women may opt for a saree, half saree, or chudidhars. It is advisable to refrain from wearing contemporary attire such as mini-skirts, torn jeans, shorts, and sleeveless tops while visiting the temple.

Non-Hindus are allowed to enter the Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad. The temple is a significant shrine for followers of the Swaminarayan faith and also attracts visitors to admire its architecture.

Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple Timings

Monday: 6 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6:15 PM, & 7 PM - 8 PM
Tuesday: 6 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6:15 PM, & 7 PM - 8 PM
Wednesday: 6 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6:15 PM, & 7 PM - 8 PM
Thursday: 6 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6:15 PM, & 7 PM - 8 PM
Friday: 6 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6:15 PM, & 7 PM - 8 PM
Saturday: 6 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6:15 PM, & 7 PM - 8 PM
Sunday: 6 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6:15 PM, & 7 PM - 8 PM

Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple Entry Fee

Entry is Free

Best Time to Visit Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple

The best time to visit Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple is between October and March, with the peak period occurring from November to February. It is advisable to steer clear of the summer months due to the intense heat and high temperatures, as well as the monsoon season, which frequently results in heavy rainfall and flooding of the Sabarmati River.

How to Reach Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is the nearest airport which is about 10 km from Ahmedabad. It has flights from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Lucknow. Ahmedabad Junction is well connected by trains with Mumbai, Allahabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Puri, Chandigarh, Tirunelveli, Kutch, New Delhi, Okha, Kolkata, Bangalore, Jodhpur, Lucknow, Rameswaram, Ajmer, Jaipur, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Dwarka, Bhavnagar, Vishakhapatnam, Bikaner, Mysore, Trivandrum, Kochi, Surat, Vadodara, and Jaisalmer. Ahmedabad Bus Stand is well connected with buses from New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Agra, Jaipur, Gandhinagar, Gandhidham, Amreli, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Mount Abu, Udaipur, Surat, Jamnagar, Bhuj, Porbandar, Anand, and Vadodara. Travelers can reach the Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple by taking a bus or hiring an auto-rickshaw or cab from all parts of the city.