Kalupur Swaminarayan Mandir in Ahmedabad

The Shri Swaminarayan Temple, the first and oldest temple of the Sampraday in Ahmedabad, stands as a popular temple of Gujarat. Located in the bustling Kalupur area of Ahmedabad, the temple was constructed in 1822 AD with the generous donation of land by the British government. Initiated by saint Swaminarayan himself, the temple is dedicated to Nar Narayan Dev, Dharmadev, and Bhaktimata. Carved intricately in teak wood and adorned with vibrant colors, the temple draws crowds of up to 55,000 pilgrims during its idol installation ceremonies. Alongside the divine idols, the temple showcases the life and events of Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan. With facilities including affordable food at the Bhojanalay, guest houses, and medical clinics, this temple remains a cherished destination for devotees, especially during festivities like Diwali.

Fact

·         Address: East Kalupur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

·         Location: Near Kalupur in the eastern part of the Old City

·         Phone Number: 0792132170, 0792136818

·         Pin Code: 380001

·         Built In: 1822 AD

·         Creator: Swaminarayan

·         Dedicated to: Narnarayan Dev, Radha krishna Dev, Dharmadev, Bhakti Mata and Harikrishna

·         Signification: First temple of Ahmedabad created by Lord Swaminarayan

·         Main Attraction: Wooden carving and god idols, bright coloured carved sculptures of pillars

·         Famous As: This temple is the headquarters of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi.

·         Architecture: Hindu Temple Style

·         Celebrated festivals or Events: Shree Nar Narayan Dev Jayanti, Pholdolotsav

How to Reach

·         By Air: The closest airport to Kalupur is Ahmedabad International Airport, situated approximately 10 km away.

·         By Rail: Kalupur has its own railway station, with numerous trains connecting it to various parts of Gujarat.

·         By Bus or Road: Kalupur and Gita Mandir are the nearest bus stations. You can easily reach the Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur by taking local buses or hiring taxis and autos from anywhere in Gujarat.

The Swaminarayan temple of Kalupur was built on the gifted land by the British Government in East Kalupur area which is the Muslim dominated area. The British officer named Sir Dunlop was so impressed and fascinated by the activities and services of Swaminarayan and his followers so he gifted about 5000 acres land in Kalupur area. The temple is the headquarters of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi. The temple architecture is so much mesmerizing as it has Hindu gods and goddesses carving on pillars, walls and doors. The architecture style of the temple is a blend of Hindu and British. The temple Architecture has been divided into different parts called Central Gateway, which is having a Gujarati female carving with her child on waist, Nar Narayan Temple, which is the heart of the temple, Akshar Bhavan, Rang Mahal, Temple for women and Haveli. Haveli is a two-storied mention having animal heads and flower sculptures carved on the wooden pillars located on the ground floor.

Aarti and Darshan Timing at Kalupur Swaminarayan Mandir of Ahmedabad

·         Open Days: Open All Days

·         Visit Duration: 2 hours

·         Photography: Not Allowed Inside Temple

·         Best time to visit: You can visit this temple anytime during the year, but the best time is during festivals such as pholdolotsav.

·         Darshan Timing: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM

·         Aarti Timing: Mangla Arti at 6.00 AM and Sandhya Arti at 7.00 PM

·         Entry Fee: Free

Every year Swaminarayan Sampraday celebrates a number of festival and thousands of people come together at temples for an amazing celebration. The major festivals of temple are Hindola Utsav, Shree Krishna Janmashtami, Rishi Panchami, Annakut, Dhanurmaas, Shree Nar Narayan Dev Himself is Shree Hari, Phooldolotsav, Shree Nar Narayan Dev Jayanti, Guru Poornima and Rath Yatra. Many other common Hindu festivals are also celebrated by Swaminarayan Sampraday like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, uttarayan, Maha Shivratri and Holi with great spirit and joy. All the festivals are celebrated in the main complex. Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple also make people aware about Hindu customs and do many special annual celebrations. Indian people are prone for the festival and they don’t live without religious festival celebration. Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple provides many facilities and good arrangement during every festival celebration. Many self-volunteers work throughout the celebration and care for pilgrimages needs. Each celebration has some cultural performances and exhibitions about different art and interests.