A whopping budget of Rs 6500 crore. 450 million devotees. A vast area of 4,000 hectares. 45-day spiritual marathon. 67,000 LED street lights. 1.6 lakh temporary tents. 37000 police personnel for fool-proof security. India is all set to leave the world in awe of the astronomical enormity of Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Three times bigger than the 2013 Kumbh, the Mahakumbh 2025 is the largest human congregation on the planet.

Incorporated on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage from India, Maha Kumbh is a monumental celebration of faith, culture, traditions, and spirituality. With the cultural makeover of each street leading to the Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 is a divine Disneyland of flamboyant murals, life-like sculptures, laser light shows, grand archways, motley faces (behrupiya), mass chanting of hymns, and hot air balloons.

Check out the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 guide for new attractions and facilities before you visit Prayagraj, the destination for spiritual redemption and rejuvenation, for a sacred bath at the revered confluence of Ganga, Januma, and mystical Saraswati rivers.

Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025: New Attractions

After a ceremonial plunge into the confluence of Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati at Prayagraj Sangam, you can explore new attractions that have come up for Mahakumbh. Shivalaya Park on Arail Road, among the newly built religious attractions in Prayagraj, features colossal replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas and 5 Shiva temples across the country. Designed like a miniature map of India spanning 12 acres, Shivalaya Park near the Mahakumbh mela is a one-stop place for pilgrims to visit the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Interestingly, 400 tons of recycled waste material was used to construct the replicas of Kedarnath Temple, Somnath Temple, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ramnathaswamy Temple, Trimbakeshwar Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Omkareshwar Temple, Baidyanath Temple, Bhimashankar Temple, Nageshwar Temple, and Ghrishneshwar Temple. Waste to wonder is the theme of the park built at a cost of Rs 14 crore. The place is landscaped with lush greenery providing a serene space for meditative reflection.

A giant replica of the Samudra Manthan scene unfolding the mythological story behind the origin of Kumbh makes Shivalaya Park a must visit in Prayagraj this Mahakumbh 2025. An artificial water body has been created around the park to offer boating. You can hop from one temple to the other while boating in the stream. The park also houses five temples modelled after Lingaraj Temple, Bhuvaneshwar; Veerbhadra Temple, Andhra Pradesh; Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram; Baijnath Temple, Himachal Pradesh, and Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal.

A 51-foot statue of Sri Ram embracing Nishadraj is among the new attractions of Prayagraj this Maha Kumbh. The statue is a part of the 10-acre Nishadraj Park in Shringverpur Dham which has recently been adjudged as a pilgrimage site in the “Ram Van Gaman Path” circuit under construction for a whopping Rs 4200 crore, from Ayodhya to Chitrakoot. Ayodhya-like developments have been planned for Shringverpur where Sri Ram is believed to have crossed the Ganga River while going for 14-year vanvaas.

Some scenes from the Ramayana have come alive through larger-than-life sculptures in Nishadraj Park, Prayagraj. A light and sound system projecting the anecdote of how Nishadraj welcomed and offered night shelter to Lord Ram, Devi Sita and Laxman will give you a rich visual experience of Indian mythology.

Mahakumbh 2025 is out and out a visual extravaganza with spectacular drone shows that have been planned to take visitors on thrilling rides through the history of Prayagraj and the spiritual heritage of Bharat. A fleet of 2000 drones will spectacularly depict popular mythological events like Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) and the emergence of Amrit Kalash (nectar pot) on the vast canvas of the evening skies.

Prayagraj Mahakumbh Infrastructure and Connectivity:

•  14 road overbridges are built to facilitate the movement of visitors to take holy dips at nine concrete bathing ghats, in addition to the extension of temporary ghats from 8 km to 12 km.
• With massive 100-foot entrance gates featuring symbols of India’s spiritual heritage, Prayagraj Mahakumbh is illuminated by 67,000 LED street lights, 2,000 solar hybrid lights, 100 digital signboards, and 80 VMDs, all powered by two new substations.
• 7,000 eco-friendly electric buses, 550 shuttle buses, 20,000 e-rickshaws, and seven new bus stands will operate across Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh 2025 for 45 days.
• 1,850 hectares are reserved for parking, divided into 101 parking sites with a total capacity to accommodate 5 lakh vehicles.
• Across 25 sectors of Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Gram, more than 4,600 organizations have set up over 1.5 lakh pandals, tents, and lavish VIP accommodations inspired by regal themes for both domestic and international visitors.
• Special arrangements like spacious changing rooms are in place for female devotees, ensuring safety and privacy at Prayagraj.

Security arrangements at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

A seven-tier security plan has been implemented with over 37,000 police personnel, including 22,953 officers stationed at the fairgrounds, and 6,887 in other parts of Prayagraj. Furthermore, the Parishad Armed Constabulary and water police will be available to survey water bodies, ensuring the safety of the area.

As part of the security system, the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 ground has been divided into 10 zones, 25 sectors, 56 police stations, and 155 posts for maximum surveillance and quick response to any emergencies.

A specialized force of 1400 women police officers has been stationed to address gender-specific security concerns.

2700 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, and a Central Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) have been set up to monitor and analyze real-time data, ensuring a safe environment for the pilgrims.

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Navi Mumbai International Airport, one of the two world-class airports coming up in India, proved its readiness for operations through the first commercial flight validation test conducted on 29 December. With Terminal 1 and the first runway, the airport named after late D B Patil will be operational in May 2025. A Rs 17,000-cr ambitious project of Mumbai, the City of Dreams, Navi Mumbai Airport will be progressively completed by 2032. The second terminal will be completed by 2028, and Terminal 3 before or by 2032 if things go as planned. Below are some interesting facts about D B Patil International Airport in Navi Mumbai.

PC: Adani Group

Navi Mumbai Airport Project Cost

INR 17,000 crore is the total cost estimate for the construction of Navi Mumbai International Airport. The ongoing construction of the first phase of the NMI airport would cost INR 6000 crore, which is anticipated to be completed and functional by mid-2025. The City & Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) allocated INR 3,420 crore for the pre-construction work. The compensation package for rehabilitation of nearly 3500 families in ten villages in and around Navi Mumbai, which have been affected due to the land acquisition, is estimated at INR 520 crore.

Navi Mumbai Airport Infrastructure

Unlike Mumbai CSI Airport, the second Mumbai International Airport will have two parallel runways measuring 3810m x 60m each. The runways will be 1550 meters apart from each other and have full-length taxiways on both sides. The terminal building of Navi Mumbai Airport will be built over an area of 2,700,000 square feet. The cargo area of the airport will spread over 1,000,000 square feet. A 90-m tall hillock at the Navi Mumbai Airport site has been demolished to prepare the land for runways and terminals. Major international airlines’ new-gen aircraft, such as Emirates’ A380 with Premium Economy and Lufthansa’s A350, operating business flights to Mumbai will be able to land and take off here as per the Navi Mumbai Airport plan.

Navi Mumbai Airport Design and Architecture

Inspired by lotus, India’s national flower, the design of Navi Mumbai International Airport has taken the aviation world by storm since the first look was unveiled on social media. Reportedly, a water terminal is being planned with high-speed ferry service from the Gateway of India, among the stunning features of the upcoming multimodal travel facility. The airport will be as eco-friendly as Cochin International Airport, the world’s first aviation facility powered by solar energy. Navi Mumbai Airport will be running on solar power.

PC: Adani Group

Navi Mumbai Airport: Traffic-handling Capacity 

Unlike Mumbai CSI Airport (BOM) which handles over 900 flights a day, the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport is supposed to handle 80 flights an hour and nearly 1900 flights in 24 hours. Currently, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which is the main gateway for flights to Mumbai from USA and other countries, is the world’s busiest single-runway facility.  

On completion of all four phases of the Navi Mumbai Airport project by 2032, the airport’s traffic-handling capacity will be more than 90 million passengers. With one runway and one terminal building which will be operationalized in May 2025, the airport will handle 20-million air passenger traffic which will go up to 40 million at the second phase in 2023 and 40 million at the third phase in 2027 and 60 million in 2031. Mumbai International Airport (BOM) has been handling over 40 million passengers per annum (beyond its capacity) since 2016.

Navi Mumbai International Airport: Location

The area around mainland Navi Mumbai across the Mumbai Harbor is the location of Mumbai’s second international airport (NMIA). Deemed as a Greenfield airport, Navi Mumbai Airport will spread over nearly 2900 hectares (7200 acres), including an area of 1160 hectares for the construction of airport terminals. Navi Mumbai Airport’s distance from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is 35kms along the National Highway 4B which will facilitate primary access to the airport in the east. There is supposed to be a 10-lane road to the new airport terminal building. The Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (MTHL), a 22-km 6-lane road bridge under construction, will connect the new airport in Navi Mumbai with the mainland of Mumbai City.

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In July 2022, Ford that linked Detroit to Chennai for 25 years shut down its production unit in India for having accumulated operating losses of over $2bn since 2012. But the Ford scion, Ambarish Das – the great grandson of legendary Henry Ford – is still in India, not as a corporate honcho but a disciple of Srila Prabhupada Maharaj, the founder of ISKCON. He is busy shaping up his guru’s vision of the world’s largest Radha-Krishna temple – the Temple of Vedic Planetarium – in Mayapur, the ultimate destination for divine love in rural Bengal.

Alfred Brush Ford, who is the chairman of the $100M project and donated over $30 million for it, took up the Hindu name, Ambarish Das, after being initiated by Swami Prabhupada on their first meeting in Dallas, Texas in 1974. He accompanied Swami Prabhupada on his first trip to India from the US in 1975, which led the course of his life towards the ocean of devotion and spirituality. He took a plunge into the deepest recess of Krishna consciousness and came out wearing a chandan tilak on his forehead, like millions of ISKCON devotees.

PC: TOVP.org

Located on the Ganges whose holy water seems to be washing the feet of Krishna, the Temple of Vedic Planetarium is on the verge of completion under Alfred Ford’s supervision, though the mighty construction began in 2008. Spread over more than a half of the ISKCON Mayapur campus, the Vedic Temple – also known as Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – is bigger than the Taj Mahal, London’s St Paul Cathedral, and the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul.

Inspired by the design of the US Capitol building, India’s first religious monument of Vedic science and culture can accommodate 10,000 people together in its main prayer hall sprawling 1.5 acres. The 113-m high dome over the main temple hall is the second tallest in the world, next to the dome of St Peter’s Basilica Church in the Vatican. The dome features a grand chandelier depicting a rotating 3-dimensional model of the universe as described in the Vedic scriptures, including the Srimad Bhagavatam. The cosmic chandelier is designed in a way so as to show the hierarchy of the universe from different levels of escalators.

Not only Ambarish Das, but also his Indian American wife, Sharmila Bhattacharya from Bengal, and their two daughters who live in Florida are invested in the construction of the ISKCON Temple of Vedic Planetarium. The couple made a whopping donation from their personal wealth and collected funds from different parts of India for the temple. Anisha Ford, one of their two daughters, received a gift of $1 million from her grandmother after having earned a master’s degree from Harvard University. She donated the gift money for the construction of Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir.

Alfred Ford aka Ambarish Das and his Indian-origin wife Sharmila Bhattacharya in the middle

The meticulous use of Bolivian blue marble sourced from Vietnam and South America has lent pristine blue luster to the three domes of temple. The planetarium wing on the east side of the world’s biggest religious monument in Bengal will house a state-of-the-art theatre with seating capacity for 200 viewers. The large domed screen of the theatre will demonstrate India’s Vedic science of the cosmos. Exhibits to be displayed across the four floors of the planetarium wing will give an educational experience of Vedic Cosmology.

The west side of the Mayapur Temple of Vedic Planetarium houses a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Narsimha. The five levels of the Narsimha Temple will be adorned with marvelous artworks depicting the stories of Bhakta Prahalad and Lord Narsimha. The ceiling of the Narsimha temple dome will feature nearly 450 diamond-like coffer panels with gold leaves. The divine spectacle of this wing will be complemented by ten 7-meter tall ‘deva murtis’ which will be placed in such a way so as to bow to the Lord, with their hands folded in reverence. Reportedly, the gates to the Narsimha wing will open in October 2023.

80 miles from Kolkata, Mayapur – the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 15^th century Vaishnava saint – will become a spiritual Disneyland with various facilities for devotees of different age-groups after the grand opening of the temple early in 2024. The world’s largest temple with the biggest dome in Bengal will house a Vedic science center, an institute for science and spirituality, a world-class research center, and an institute for higher studies.

PC: TOVP.org

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The United States is long-haul flights away from India, but the Statue of Liberty is a short domestic flight from any corner in India. You need not apply for a US visa or take a donkey (dunki) route to visit the place where replicas of the world-famous Lady Liberty holding a torch are coming up as rooftop sculptures in India. The Statue of Liberty, ideally a universal symbol of freedom, has come over the years to symbolize aspirations, dreams, opportunities, but also an escape from poverty for the people of rural Punjab.

“In ‘Dunki’ movie starring Shah Rukh and Taapsee Pannu, a family living in some Punjab village erected a replica of the Lady Liberty atop the house to celebrate their daughter’s NRI status. However, we are talking about the real, not reel. Interestingly, the Statue of Liberty is the latest manifestation of the success and prosperity that Punjabi NRIs have achieved in America or Canada. Their fancy to replicating the statue in their native villages gained momentum after the Netflix premier of Dunki,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a leading portal for Indian Diaspora in the US.

PC: Alok Jain @weekendinvesting

Recently, a towering replica of the statue atop a house under construction in rural Punjab has become a social media sensation. Made from fibre glass, the 18-foot tall replica is Gurmeet Singh Brar’s tribute to America where he found a better way of living. Currently settled in the state of Indiana, he had moved to the US in 2006 believing that the grass is greener there. The rooftop statue not only makes the house stand tall in the neighborhood but also signifies the US connection that his extended family boasts of in the village under Punjab’s Moga district.

Another NRI made headlines for spending a whopping INR 3 lakh on installing a 20-foot tall replica of New York’s Lady Liberty atop his village house in Jalandhar district of Punjab. Identified as Dalbir Singh, he moved to Canada after a few years of stay in the US. Visible from paddy fields at a distance, the rooftop sculpture helps to connect his NRI status with his roots. It is a matter of pride for his father and the village too. Precisely, this is the third replica of the Statue of Liberty in Punjab. The very first rooftop version of the iconic statue was installed a decade ago.

Many Punjab villages are open-air galleries with larger-than-life rooftop sculptures modelled on airplanes, military tanks, farming vehicles, and various mundane objects like pressure cooker. Those who make it big at home or abroad choose to manifest their profession, prosperity, achievement, and identity in those concrete shapes. Most of such rooftop models are not mere brick-and-mortar structures, but fully-functional water tanks.

Among the landmarks in Beas, a riverfront town in Punjab is a house with its water tank modelled on an Air India plane. Aircraft-like structures perched atop the roof continue to serve as a statement of their family members’ first international flights to America, Canada, Europe, or Australia. In some cases, it acts as a constant reminder to the young members who grow up with the ambition to fly to a ‘greener’ land of opportunity and opulence. Punjab has houses with rooftop water tank models inspired by Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and other airlines.

PC: Architecturaldigest.in

In rural Punjab, households with agricultural prosperity have a tractor built atop the roof. Houses with massive sculptures inspired by sports or athletic figures are identified as residences of those who have made it big in national or international sports events. Rooftop water tanks built in the shape of a military tank belong to the houses whose male members have worked in the army. The house with a pressure cooker-shaped water tank is the native residence of a Punjabi NRI who owns a restaurant chain in New Zealand.

Interestingly, some households in Punjab are so high on patriotism that their rooftops feature a statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh with pride. It is said that the idea of decorating the rooftop with specific sculptures emerged in the 1970s when immigrants from Punjab, India began building homes in their villages.

The post NRIs are Building Replicas of Planes and Statue of Liberty atop Their Houses as a Tribute to USA and Canada appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The palatial Patel House would have been the shooting location if Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani had been filmed in the United States. Spread over 17 acres, the majestic residence – Surya Kiran Palace – is either a dream or envy of every Indian-origin billionaire. Home to three generations of an Indian American billionaire family, the Patel House is worth a visit (by invitation only) in the southeast US.

PC: Malviyacraft.com

Surya Kiran Palace is a most prized possession of Dr Kiran Patel and Dr Pallavi Patel who call Tampa their home in Florida. Their newly-built Carrollwood residence is, apparently, the largest in Hillsborough County. It took 10 years to be complete in 2023 following the ground-breaking ceremony in 2013. This is where the Patel couple hosted their golden marriage anniversary amid fun, feasts and fireworks 9 months ago.

With Mughal-style arches, towering columns, and pink-hued sandstone, the multimillion-dollar Patel House features traditional architecture (an eclectic mix of Indian, Persian and Italian styles) from outside. The grand interior is very much American and exudes contemporary elegance, from 22-ft floor to ceiling windows to the exclusive collection of handpicked artifacts for décor.

The residential part of the Patels’ 17-acre estate in Tampa Bay has two main wings over a total area of 63,000 square feet. Dr Kiran Patel resides in one wing with his wife Pallavi, and the other wing houses their son and his family. Each wing has a private entrance. They share the kitchen, the living area, the home theatre, and the indoor temple out of their adherence to the age-old Indian practice of keeping family members united.

Be it philanthropy or their personal space, the Patels are equally liberal with their wealth. The colossal entrance leading to the main hall faces a pool with fountains; a testimony to their king-size living. It is a square structure with shikharas and intricately designed arches on four sides, like the magnificent porch of mansions in the erstwhile Rajputana provinces of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Surprisingly, bigger than this is the outermost entrance built like a watchtower.

The central unit consists of a fully airconditioned, palatial edifice having 32,000-sqft space. The formal living area is as immensely spacious as over 15,000 square feet that can accommodate more than 500 guests at a time. What is more surprising is that the Patels’ Surya Estate in Tampa has a banquet hall sprawling 4,000 square feet and three guest houses. The residential area is meticulously landscaped with sprawling lawns, gardens, fountains, waterfalls, and an astounding 450m long swimming pool.

In Florida, the Patel House compound also has two small blocks, each having over 7500sqft space, where the Patels’ two physician daughters will gradually move in with their spouses. “I am very fortunate that all my three children decided to stay in Tampa, which is unusual in this day and age,” the Tampa Bay Times quoted Dr Patel saying in an article. There is dedicated space for yoga and meditation, and a beautiful lotus blossom made of glass draws attention to this relaxing space.

The compound, on the inner side, is lined with cypress trees which were planted celebrating Dr Kiran C Patel’s 65^th birth anniversary. The 17-acre Surya Estate does also encompass a lake that adds to the serene ambience and scenic beauty of the palatial residence. If the richest Indian business family’s Antilia in Mumbai is a vertical wonder, the Indian-American pharma baron’s Surya Kiran Estate in Tampa is a marvel on ground.

Florida-based Dr Kiran Patel and Pallavi Patel are healthcare entrepreneurs with several philanthropic undertakings to their credit. In 2019, they made a whopping, nonprofit investment of $200 million to Nova Southeaster University for free medical education of meritorious students from India and other developing countries. Most recently, they inaugurated a new medical college of osteopathic medicine in Orlando, Florida, among their funded projects for the welfare of humankind.

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OM, a most sacred symbol in Hinduism, embodies the essence of the cosmos and connects to the absolute Supreme. This monosyllabic sound is believed to reverberate at the core of the universe. Recently, India inaugurated a grand temple which resembles the Sanskrit version of OM from a certain height. Constructed over 29 years after its foundation was laid in 1995, the world’s first OM-shaped temple is a must visit in Rajasthan.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple may have incurred a total cost equal to or a little lesser than the cost of the Radhika-Anant Ambani wedding in India’s richest business family. The first-of-its-kind OM mandir is located in Pali near Jodhpur, the Blue City. It is also 140km away from Nathdwara that homes the Ambanis’ family deity, Shrinathji and the world’s tallest Shiva statue – the Statue of Belief.

PC: Omashram.com

The OM Temple of Rajasthan is an architectural masterpiece sprawling 250 acres of land in an idyllic village called Jadan. It houses as many as 1008 idols of Lord Shiva and 12 Shivlings resembling the 12 divya Jyotirlingas spread across India, thereby giving devotees a rare opportunity holy darshan of all the 12 Jyotirlingas at one place. The Shivling installed at the topmost part of the temple building is made of a special rhinestone.

India’s first OM-shaped temple layout and architecture         

The monumental temple supported by a whopping 2000 pillars stands tall at 135 feet. It comprises of 108 residential compartments laid out like the ॐ design with imposing structures at the end points. A serene crescent-shaped lake and a 108-ft tower make up the chandrabindu (diacritic sign) at the top of OM as written in the Devanagari script. The tower has 12 temples, one of which is dedicated to the Sun God.

Built in the Nagara style of architecture, the temple adheres to the age-old architectural traditions of the region, such as the use of iconic pink sandstone and hand-crafted sculptures. The pink sandstone construction of modern times beautifully echoes the architectural splendor of age-old monuments such as Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, City Palace, and Jaigarh Fort among the historical landmarks in Jaipur, a UNESCO World Heritage city.

The 108 compartments are symbolic of 108 rudraksha beads of a rosary thread (japamala) – this sacred number is believed to attract cosmic energy of the universe. The vastu-complaint temple complex houses a school, a college, a library, a star-shaped hospital, and a Swastika-shaped hostel to facilitate residential learning programs for students from different parts of the country and abroad. Also called OM Ashram in Pali, the temple is a monumental initiative for uplifting individuals and society at large to spiritual heights.

Other than the newly inaugurated OM Ashram, Pali is largely known for its beautiful Jain temples; the most prominent being Ranakpur Jain Temple, a significant pilgrimage site for Jains from across the world. Once part of the Marwar kingdom in the erstwhile princely state of Jodhpur, Pali has ancient forts standing tall to this day and narrating stories of the city’s glorious past. Interestingly, Kumbhalgarh Fort known for the Great Wall of India, where bravest Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap was born is an ideal road trip from Pali.

Pali is only a one-hour drive from Jodhpur Airport served by regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Jaipur airports. You can book your flight tickets to Delhi and then take a domestic flight or train to Jodhpur. Several other important landmarks such as Ranakpur Sun Temple, Parshuram Mahadev Temple, Nimbo ka Nath Temple are within the religious and spiritual circuit of Pali.

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Similar to the largest Akshardham Swaminarayan Temple in America, the Middle East’s first-ever stone temple is all set for a grand inauguration on February 14. Located near Zayed International Airport of Abu Dhabi, the BAPS Hindu Mandir resembles a lotus in the sprawling desert from high on. The temple, a monumental piece of architecture spread across 27 acres of land donated by the UAE government, is a beacon of global harmony, embodying the cultural legacy of both countries – India and the UAE.

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in UAE makes for an ideal detour for Indian travelers transiting through Dubai DXB Airport or Abu Dhabi (now Zayed International) Airport. This newest addition to a Dubai or Abu Dhabi stopover itinerary would turn your layover into a spiritual sojourn when you connect to India or USA via the UAE. Built for a whopping US$ 110 million, the temple with 410 pillars rises 108 feet above the golden sandscape of Abu Dhabi.

PC: DDnews.gov.in

A spiritual oasis for global harmony in the Gulf

With its foundation laid in 2017, the temple is a beautiful artwork in stone that evokes wonder and admiration for thousands of skilled artisans, engineers and volunteers from India, the UAE, the US and other countries. “A Muslim king donated for a Hindu mandir, where the lead architect is a Catholic Christian, the project manger is a Sikh, the foundational designer is a Buddhist, the director is from the Jain community, and the construction company is a Paris group,” said a BAPS spokesperson. Indeed, the temple is a tangible emblem of communal harmony in the Gulf.

Massive construction and 700,000 volunteering hours     

The construction of Abu Dhabi’s BAPS Hindu Temple had been a huge logistic undertaking over the past four years. 180,000 cubic feet of sandstone from Rajasthan and 40,000 cubic feet of marble from Italy have gone into the making of this spiritual Xanadu. More than 25,000 hand-carved pieces of stone from India were assembled on site as per the preconceived digital model. It demanded more than 690,000 hours of over 200 volunteers from different walks of life.

The temple construction commanded strict adherence to the principles of Shilpa Shastra. The use of iron and steel was completely avoided in the construction of the Middle East’s first BAPS mandir, just like Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir. Fly ash was predominantly used in the concrete mix for the foundation to make the temple sustain 1000 years in extreme temperatures of Abu Dhabi. Interestingly, 100 sensors have been embedded in the foundation and 350 sensors throughout the temple structure to receive data on seismic activity, pressure changes and temperature volatility in the area surrounding the temple.

Design, architecture, sculpture, facilities, attractions

BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi is a spiritual Xanadu with a waterfall, a Varanasi-like ghat, a pillar of pillars, and the Dome of Harmony. Despite being a modern structure, the temple exudes the age-old charm of ancient Indian stone shrines in its every inch from the splendid sandstone exterior to the majestic marble interior. The intricate carvings on the pillars, domes, walls and arches bring to life timeless tales of the Indian epics and teachings of the Hindu scriptures – which walk the followers of various faiths through the cultural heritage of Bharat.

The temple pays homage to its geographical host by integrating some elements of the Arabian heritage into its traditional design. The seven shikaras (spires) with beautiful figurines of Hindu gods and goddesses carved onto them, represent the seven emirates of the UAE. The temple walls feature carvings of horses, camels and falcons among the animal-centric motifs found in the Emirati sculpture, alongside engravings of classical dancers and musicians from the history of India. The Sun, the Moon, and other objects of celestial importance have also been sculpted to connect the temple with the cosmos.

BAPS Mandir of Abu Dhabi, open to all, is a congregation of the most worshiped deities from all over India. the temple has shrines dedicated to Radha Krishna, Ram Sita, Hanuman, Shiva Parvati, Lakshmi Narayana, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Jagannath, Ayyappa Swami, and Padmavati Venkateswara. It also houses lifelike idols of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Akshar-Purushottam. With a capacity to accommodate 10,000 people at a time, the temple has earned the distinction of being the largest temple in West Asia

Among the attractions within the  temple complex are thematic gardens, an amphitheater, and a waterfall feature symbolic of the confluence of three holy rivers – the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati. The amphitheater designed like a ghat on the Ganga River in Varanasi boasts of serene ambience. The temple complex also houses an exhibition hall, a meditation hall, a library, a food court, a visitor center, a gift shop, children’s playgrounds and several other facilities.

The Dome of Harmony, one of the architectural highlights of the temple, features exquisite carvings of the pancha bhutas – air, water, fire, earth and space – signifying the harmonious coexistence of these basic elements in the universe. Among other attractions are 96 bells adorning the path leading to the main temple. These bells collectively signifies Pramukh Swami Maharaja’s 96 years of mortal life on earth.

The post BAPS Mandir, UAE’s First Hindu Temple Built for $110M, is a Lotus in the Desert and a Beacon of Global Harmony appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

North America homes not only the largest Akshardham Temple in New Jersey, but also the temple with the tallest gopuram in stark contrast to the skyline of North Carolina dotted with modern high-rises. GOPURAM, a most distinctive feature of South Indian temple architecture, is more than a majestic structure at the main entrance of a temple. Rising to the sky, it attracts positive energy from the universe and serves as the gateway to a divine space brimming with cosmic energy. Precisely, it stands for India’s ancient history, cultural prosperity, and spiritual glory.

PC: Sri Venkateswara Temple, Cary | Facebook

North Carolina’s Sri Venkateswara Temple is the only Hindu shrine with the tallest gopuram in not just the States, but North America. Cary, a quaint town near Raleigh in the Research Triangle Park where thousands of Indians have settled over years, is the location of the temple. Though the temple was built in 2008, the 87-feet raja gopuram is the newest addition. The 7-storey gopuram of Sri Venkateswara Temple in Cary, NC was commissioned when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees. The tower was erected and inaugurated when the world began to rise over the pandemic.

“The raja gopuram is the threshold between the mundane and the divine. Named the ‘Tower of Unity and Prosperity’, the intricately sculpted gopuram of North Carolina’s Sri Venkateswara Temple is where devotees leave their worries behind while stepping into the sacred complex, according to the board of trustees. So high is the sociocultural significance of temple towers that the entrance of Trichy International Airport’s new terminal is modelled on the 240-ft high gopuram of Ranganathaswamy Temple,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats.

The 2.5-million-dollar tower came into being because of the “donate a brick” program that elicited a warm response from the local Indian Diaspora. Evidently, the Tower of Unity and Prosperity signifies the growth and harmony of the Indian community in North Carolina, especially Wake County that houses over 51,000 Indian-origin immigrants, according to the 2021 census. Built in adherence to the Shilpa Shastra and Vastu Shastra principles, the tower was unveiled on Diwali, the festival of lights, in 2022, with North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper in attendance.

The temple housing a 9-ft murti of Sri Venkateswara Swamy is the Tirupati Balaji Temple of North Carolina. In the late 1990s, an Indian couple bought 2.8-acre land for the temple, raised funds for construction and laid the foundation brick. Inaugurated in 2009, the temple has the Dravidian style of architecture and features beautiful carvings of Hindu deities as well as mythological figures from the Indian epics. 14 skilled artisans from India were brought to Cary to sculpt the idols and figurines for the temple. There are also small shrines consecrated to 18 other gods and goddesses besides the presiding deity, Lord Venkateswara.

A bridge to the roots and a spiritual anchor for Indians in and around North Carolina, the temple has a gurukulam (traditional school) among other facilities within the 9-acre complex, which will house a two-story multipurpose assembly hall and a sprawling cafeteria in the next phase of expansion. It was at this temple that the state governor signed the historical Diwali Proclamation in 2017, declaring October as the month of Hindu Heritage.

Sri Somesvara Temple on Mount Soma, known as the Mount Kailash of America, is another must-visit place in North Carolina for Indians. Mount Soma, a 450-acre Vedic community amidst lush greenery and profound serenity, is where science and spirituality complement each other. Read our exclusive article about Mount Soma, home to one of the most beautiful jyotirlinga shrines outside of India.

Brought to you by Indian Eagle, the leading travel-booking partner of Indians in the US, this article is part of our continued series on the hidden gems of America for the Indian community. Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, is a one-stop portal for US-India travel news, US visa and immigration updates, community stories, and Indian events in USA.

The post This Indian Temple, Dubbed as the Tirupati Balaji Temple of East Coast, has Tallest Gopuram in America appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

India will ring in the New Year 2024 with elaborate preparations for the most anticipated inauguration of Ram Mandir, Ayodhya on 22 January – that will go down as a momentous event in the annals of Indian history. Of the most ambitious religious constructions, such as Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir and Mayapur ISKCON’s Vedic Planetarium Temple; the Ram Mandir is a manifestation of the deep-rooted faith of millions of Indians who hold Ram Lalla close to their hearts.

Designed 3 decades ago by Chandrakant Bhai Sompura, who hails from a renowned family of architects credited with over 200 shrines, including Gujarat’s Somnath Temple; the Ram Mandir of Ayodhya is a lot more than a brick-and-mortar edifice. Each and every brick in the grand temple complex, which will spread over 70 acres on the holy banks of the Saryu River, is concretizing the spiritual and cultural glory of India. It’s a harbinger of cultural renaissance, a testament to resilience, and a monument celebrating the homecoming of Ram Lalla.

Expected to be the world’s third largest temple next to BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, New Jersey upon the final-phase completion in 2025, the Ram Mandir complex will be spacious enough to host a million devotees at any time. The massive three-storey structure that rises 161 feet above ground is supported by a 50-ft deep foundation, ensuring that the temple can withstand the blows of time for at least one thousand years without requiring renovation. The foundation can resist even a 6.5-magnitude earthquake, asserts Champat Rai, the general secretary of the temple trust.

A sneak peek into garbhagriha of Ram Mandir

The garbhagriha of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir is a world of ancient Indian art in itself. A kaleidoscope of various sculptures from different parts of the country, it is modelled on the inner sanctum of Gujrat’s Modhera Sun Temple wherein the first rays of the sun fall on the deity. Similarly, the garbhagriha of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is designed in such a way adhering to the millennia-old Vaastu Shastra principles that sunrays would fall on Ram Lalla to be enthroned on an 8-ft-high gold-plated marble throne. A 5-ft murti of Lord Ram shows Him as a 5-year-old child armed with a bow and an arrow.

Interestingly, no steel or iron has been used in construction of the Ayodhya temple. The main temple is built entirely of stones, wood, copper and white cement. Every brick with ‘Ram Naam’ engraved on it has gone into erecting the temple, just as the stones bearing the same sacred name were laid to build Ram Setu in Treta Yuga. It reflects unbridled devotion of Hindus through ages.

Artisans and sculptors from across India have come together to bring Ram Mandir alive as an immortal wonder on earth. The superstructure is carved out of Bansi Paharpur pink sandstone from Rajasthan. Crafted by a team of carpenters from the temple towns of Tamil Nadu, the 44 doors of the mandir, including the garbhagriha door and the main entrance, will leave devotees in awe of their intricate design, impeccable beauty, and geometrical precision.

A most intriguing feature of Ayodhya Ram Temple is its east-facing Gopuram-style entrance, masterfully integrating Dravidian glory into the Nagara architectural splendor. Every inch of the temple – from walls and doors to columns, ceilings and plinths – is adorned with exquisite carvings of gods, goddesses, and narratives from the epics and scriptures of India. The sculpture of the temple provides a window to the cultural heritage of Bharat. The 366 columns feature life-like idols of various avatars of Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, and Chausath (64) Yoginis.

An octagonal shikara towers above the sanctum sanctorum, which is surrounded by five dome-shaped mandapas. Kudu, Nritya, and Rang mandapas are located on one side of the garbhagriha whereas Kirtan and Prarthana mandapas are on the opposite side. Of the colossal temple accessories is a whopping 2100-kg bell that will fill the air of Ayodhya with sonority of the morning and the evening aarti. A 44-ft dhwaj dand (flag pole) will be perched atop the temple. A dhwaj dand or dhwaj stambh represents the cosmic axis and draws the energy of the universe to the garbhagriha.

Arrangements are in full swing for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony to take place on 22 January. 600 kg of desi ghee from Jodhpur and turmeric from Cambodia have already arrived in Ayodhya. The Maharishi Sandipani Ram Dharam Gaushala in Jodhpur sponsored ghee for the first aarti and hawan rituals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 10,000 dignitaries from different parts of the country will attend the inauguration ceremony. On the auspicious day of Ram Lalla’s consecration, a special puja will be performed at 5 lakh temples across India.

As per reports, a time capsule has been placed 200 feet under the ground where the foundation of the temple has been laid. The main objective of placing the time capsule is to save the origin of the temple so that the temple history can be traced thousands of years down the line.

The post Spread over 110 Acres, INR1800cr Ram Mandir of Ayodhya is India’s Largest and can Accommodate a Million Devotees appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

India is touching dizzying heights of glory with back-to-back massive constructions. The country, which is now home to the world’s tallest Statue of Unity in Gujarat, the world’s tallest Shiva statue in Rajasthan, and the world’s tallest railway bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, will see the inauguration of more wonders including the world’s largest Vedic monument in Bengal, and the world’s tallest temple in Uttar Pradesh.

The world’s tallest temple in question is Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir under construction at a whopping cost of $1 billion. Speculated to be one of the most expensive temple buildings in the world, this ISKCON temple will boast an astounding height of 700 feet on completion. Interestingly, the temple will surpass the world’s tallest Statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (597 feet) in height.

The temple complex sprawls over 62 acres, while the 7-story temple building will have a total floor area of 540,000 square feet. A contemporary touch to the temple’s traditional Nagara style of architecture is meant to serve ISKCON’s purpose to reinterpret the profound wisdom from India’s ancient scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam within the modern context to render their eternal relevance to the current generation.

The towering structure will have four temples on its four ends. The temples will be dedicated to Krishna Balram, Radha Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Swami Prabhupada. The main temple housing the idols of Radha Krishna will have a grand prayer hall that can accommodate 5000 devotees at a time. The prayer hall will be beautified with sculptures and frescoes depicting the life of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. The soon-to-be inaugurated Mayapur ISKCON Temple near Kolkata will have the largest prayer hall with space for 10,000 devotees.

Anticipated to be a colossal wonder of white marble, the world’s tallest ISKCON temple will feature a lotus-shaped dome with the glass surface that will be dazzling on moonlight nights. The temple is a dream project for renowned architect Bimal Patel, a Padma Shri awardee, and his team. He is the chief architect for the Rs 14000cr Centra Vista, Gandhinagar Akshardham Temple, Gujarat High Court, Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Varanasi Viswanath Dham, and the new campus of IIM Ahmedabad.

The upcoming Radha Krishna temple site in the holy land of Vrindavan will also house a spiritual sanctuary comprising 12 forests, which will be named Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana, Vrindavana, Bhadravana, Bilvavana, Lohavana, Bhandiravana, and Mahavana after the twelve gardens of Brijbhumi. These forests are said to be modelled on the gardens described in the stories of Sri Krishna. Each forest will be landscaped with orchards, lush vegetation, green pastures, waterfalls, lotus ponds, musical fountains and artificial hillocks.

There will be a heritage museum, a library, a cultural center, and a viewing tower with telescopes at the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Temple complex. Visitors can catch panoramic views of the premises, Vrindavan town and the Yamuna River from the viewing tower. The 7-storey temple tower will have an elevator. Visitors will be able to enjoy a light and sound show on the universe’s planetary systems, as described in the Vedic literatures of Bharat.

Seva being integral to the culture and philosophy of ISKCON temples worldwide, the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir will have a spacious Annadanam Hall and food distribution counters. Sadhus, pilgrims and the underprivileged will be served sattvic meals in the well-ventilated Annadanam Hall, while the food distribution counters will offer one serving of prasadam to every visitor. A huge temple kitchen where sattvic food will be cooked for the deities, priests and visitors is also on the construction agenda.

An expansive biodiversity park within the temple complex will feature themed zones like sacred forest, butterfly park, and ayurvedic herbal garden. It will not only serve as a natural habitat for some local species of flora and fauna, but also provide a serene space for visitors to revel in the beauty of nature. Beautiful nature trails will meander through flower gardens, trees, small lakes, and water fountains. A walk through the ayurvedic herbal garden will enrich your knowledge of medicinal plants.

One of the most interesting facts about ISKCON’s Vrindavan Chandrodaya Temple is that its foundation is deeper than the world’s tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa in Dubai by five meters. Burj Khalifa has got its foundation rooted 50 meters under the surface. Moreover, the temple will have earthquake-proof features, like shock-absorbing foundations and seismic isolation systems. Despite its location in the earthquake-prone region of the country, the temple can withstand intense tremors up to magnitude 7.5.

Reportedly, one end of the temple complex will be connected to the other end with skywalks. Devotees from across the country will have various accommodation options to enjoy the divine bliss for a few days within the complex. Other than a helipad, the temple site will have a 12-acre parking lot, goshalas, and a huge convention hall for religious and cultural events. The convention hall can also be booked for marriages and other social ceremonies.

Interestingly, the temple site is expected to have a Krishna theme park with fun rides among various attractions for young devotees (kids). other than community development, welfare programs for the underprivileged and widows of Vrindavan will be on the agenda of the temple body, as per reports. While Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir is expected to be fully completed in 2026, its south wing is set for inauguration in the auspicious month of Kartik in 2023.

Vrindavan is a 3-hr drive from New Delhi IGI Airport, which is well connected with major US cities by Air India, British Airways and other airlines.

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