Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kalupur

The oldest of all Swaminarayan temples, the Swaminarayan temple at Kalupur is an attractive ensemble of buildings.

The founder of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, Sahajanand Swami was an ascetic who brought about the revival of ancient Hindu philosophies and traditions. He was responsible for many reforms.

Swaminarayan constructed his first temple at Ahmedabad in 1822, with the land for construction given by the British Imperial Government.

The temple complex is entered through an opulent Baroque-style gateway. The temple stands in a courtyard together with a large building that has rooms, halls and guesthouses.

The complex is eclectic with Corinthian capitals, Marathi and Rajasthani folk iconography, painted woodcarvings, and Hindu elements. The brackets and arches are colourful, and a profusion of carved teakwood is seen here.

The temple has a large mandapa with carvings of dancing maidens and toranas. The shrine contains images of Swaminarayan and his parents on one side, and Radha, Krishna, Nar and Narayan on the other. The shrine is covered with shikharas.