Visiting Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 am to 8:45 pm

Significance:
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Houston is the first traditional Hindu Mandir of stone and marble to be constructed in the United States. Created entirely according to ancient Hindu architectural manuscripts known as the Shilpa-Shastras and meeting all the modern regulations of today, it was constructed in a mere 16 months starting from the day its first stone was laid. Limestone from Turkey and marble from Italy was shipped to India where it was hand-carved. More than 33,000 carved pieces were shipped from India to Houston to build such a beautiful Mandir. The Mandir opened to devotees, well-wishers, and visitors after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony performed by His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj on July 25, 2004.


Mandir Facts:

· Stones:

Outside: Turkish limestone (29,000 cu. ft.)
Inside: Italian marble from Italy (22,000 cu. ft.)
Total: 3826 tonnes
Size: Smallest stone 15 gm to largest stone of 5.2 tonnes.
Features:

5 Pinnacles (Shikhar)
1 Central Dome (22 ft. in diameter)
11 Small Domes
136 Pillars ( 7 Unique designs)
70 ceilings (24 Unique designs)
4 Small Pinnacles (Saamran)
11 Garba Gruha
122 Arches (Kamaan)

· Infrastructure:

Approximately 33,000 stone pieces
51,000 cu. ft total stone structure
No iron or steel used
Fiber optic lighting
General Guidelines:
The Mandir is a house of God. It is very sacred; hence all visitors are required to abide by the following rules and regulations applicable to all areas including the Mandir and the Exhibition