BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Rajkot - Timings, Festivals, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

About BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

At a distance of 4 Km from Rajkot Junction, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple situated in Rajkot city of Gujarat. Located on Kalawad Road, this temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan and was built by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. It is one of the most celebrated temples in Gujarat and among the must visit places as part of the Rajkot tour packages. The temple seeks to spread the teachings and philosophies of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and is a center of devotion, education and unification of the society as a whole.

History of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir located in Rajkot was inaugurated in 1998. This temple is devoted to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and features elaborate carvings along with a fusion of traditional Indian architectural styles. It adheres to the Swaminarayan Sampradaya established by Bhagwan Swaminarayan and is part of the Vaishnava tradition. The temple acts as a spiritual center for its devotees and advocates the principles of Swaminarayan, highlighting the importance of service, devotion, and community.

Architecture of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir located in Rajkot has been constructed using the ancient techniques outlined in the Vedic Shilpa Shastra, without the incorporation of modern building materials. The temple is primarily made from Ambaji marble, Makrana marble, and Udaipur pink marble. The pink stone utilized in the construction was sourced from Bansipahadpur in Rajasthan and bears resemblance to the stone used in the Akshardham Temple situated in Gandhinagar.

The Mandir features three distinct shrines. The first shrine houses a Panchdhatu murti of Harikrishna Maharaj, crafted from an alloy of five metals, alongside marble idols of Lord Krishna and Radha. The central shrine contains marble representations of Lord Swaminarayan, Mul Akshar Gunatitanand Swami, and Gopalananda Swami, while the third shrine is dedicated to the marble idol of Ghanshyam Maharaj. Additionally, visitors can find the idols of Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj within the temple grounds.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir functions as a socio-spiritual organization, welcoming individuals from all faiths. It celebrates festivals from various religions with great enthusiasm, making it a year-round destination for visitors. Furthermore, the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Rajkot is globally recognized for its charitable initiatives and humanitarian efforts, operating a charitable trust that provides assistance to those affected by natural disasters worldwide.

Festivals of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Rajkot celebrates a variety of Hindu festivals. Diwali and Annakut are celebrated with great enthusiasm, drawing a large crowd to the temple. Other festivals celebrated include Janmashtami, Maha Shivratri, Holi and Hindola Utsav.

Dress Code & Other Restrictions of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

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

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Timings

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

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Entry Fee

Entry is Free

Best Time to Visit BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

The best time to visit BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Rajkot is from October to March, with the highest influx of visitors typically seen between November and February. Tourists can partake in the nine-day celebrations of the Navratri festival, generally held in October. It is recommended to avoid the summer months due to extreme heat and elevated temperatures, as well as the monsoon season, which often brings substantial rainfall that could disrupt travel arrangements.

How to Reach BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

About 3 Km from Rajkot Junction, Rajkot Airport is the nearest airport that has direct flights from Mumbai and New Delhi. Rajkot is well connected by trains with Okha, Mumbai, Somnath, Varanasi, Tirunelveli, Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Rameshwaram, Puri, Jaipur, Dwarka, Kochi, Trivandrum, Pune, Kolkata, Jabalpur, Indore, Bilaspur, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Surat, Guwahati, and Gorakhpur. Rajkot Bus station is the nearest bus station which is about 3 Km from Rajkot Junction. It has well road connectivity with Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Gandhidham, Bhuj, Amreli, Junagadh, Dwarka, Somnath, Vadodara, Porbandar, Okha, Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Jaipur, and Udaipur. Travelers can reach the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir by taking a bus or hiring an auto-rickshaw or cab from all parts of the city.