Shri Swaminarayan Temple / BAPS Mandir, Junagadh - Timings, Festivals, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

About Shri Swaminarayan Temple

At a distance of 4 Km from Junagadh Junction, Shri Swaminarayan Temple is a revered Hindu temple situated at the Dipanjali locality of Junagadh. Located on Jawahar Road, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, a Hindu saint, yogi, ascetic, and the founder of Swaminarayan Sampraday. Also known as the BAPS Mandir, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Gujarat and among the best places to visit as part of the Junagadh pilgrimage packages.

History of Shri Swaminarayan Temple

Located on Jawahar Road, Shri Swaminarayan Temple was ordered to be built by Lord Swaminarayan himself, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The land for this temple was gifted by Jinabhai, Darbar of Panchala of King Hemant Singh. The foundation stone for the temple was laid by Gunatitanand Swami in 1826 AD, and the temple was completed in 1828. Swaminarayan personally installed the deities, including Shri Ranchhodrai and Trikamrai in the inner sanctum, Radharaman Dev, and Harikrishna Maharaj in the eastern wing and Siddheswar Mahadev, Parvati, Ganesha, and Nandishwar in the western side. Swaminarayan appointed Gunatitanand Swami as the first mahant, who served in this role for over 40 years.

Architecture of Shri Swaminarayan Temple

The Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Junagadh is known for its traditional Hindu architectural style, featuring five spires and intricate sculptures. The temple is built with pink stone from Rajasthan and boasts a circumference of 278 feet. The ambiance of the Mandir is very serene and peaceful, surrounded by trees and lush greenery and hills add to the divinity of the Temple.

The exterior of the temple is adorned with numerous sculptures, depicting various scenes and figures from Hindu mythology. The main sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the idols of Shri Ranchhodrai and Trikamrai. One can also see the idols of Radharaman Dev, and Harikrishna Maharaj in the eastern wing and Siddheswar Mahadev, Parvati, Ganesha, and Nandishwar in the western side.

Festivals of Shri Swaminarayan Temple

The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Junagadh celebrates a variety of Hindu festivals. Diwali, Janmashtami, and Radhashtami are the main festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm, drawing a large crowd to the temple. The temple also observes Maha Shivratri and Hindola Utsav.

Dress Code & Other Restrictions of Junagadh Swaminarayan Temple

The Swaminarayan Temple in Junagadh 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 Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Junagadh. The temple is a significant shrine for followers of the Swaminarayan faith and also attracts visitors to admire its architecture.

Shri Swaminarayan Temple Timings

Monday: 7:30 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6 PM, & 7 PM - 8:15 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6 PM, & 7 PM - 8:15 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6 PM, & 7 PM - 8:15 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6 PM, & 7 PM - 8:15 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6 PM, & 7 PM - 8:15 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6 PM, & 7 PM - 8:15 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM - 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 6 PM, & 7 PM - 8:15 PM

Shri Swaminarayan Temple Entry Fee

Entry is Free

Best Time to Visit Shri Swaminarayan Temple

The best time to visit Swaminarayan Temple in Junagadh 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.

How to Reach Shri Swaminarayan Temple

Porbandar Airport (102 km) and Rajkot Airport (103 km) are the nearest airports to Junagadh. Both are well connected by flights with Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. Junagadh Junction has a well-connected rail network with Somnath, Mumbai, Okha, Rajkot, Porbandar, Amreli, Jhansi, Trivandrum, Pune, Mumbai, Jabalpur, Vadodara, Mangalore, Kochi, Indore, and Ahmedabad. Junagadh is well connected by bus with all major cities and towns of Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Bhavnagar, Surat, Gandhidham, Vadodara, Dwarka, Somnath, and Rajkot along with Mumbai, Indore, and Nashik. Travelers can reach the Shri Swaminarayan Temple by taking a bus or hiring an auto-rickshaw or cab from all parts of the city.