"Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, is a Hindu mandir (temple) complex. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, one component of the campus, was inaugurated and opened to the public on August 10, 2014 as the world’s largest Hindu temple outside India. The Mandir is geographically situated at the heart of the U.S. Northeast megalopolis and with relative proximity to Newark International Airport, which handles nonstop flights to India. Portions of the complex still under construction include the Akshardham Mahamandir and a visitor's center, which will include an exhibition on Hindu faith and culture.

"The mandir was built in the Nagaradi style using 68,000 cubic feet of Italian Carrara marble. The marble obtained from quarries in Europe was shipped to Rajasthan, India where hundreds of artisans carved the stones. After the finished pieces of stone were assembled in workshops, engineers sequentially numbered the pieces and shipped them to Robbinsville. Upon their arrival, the pieces were organized using the numbering system to facilitate the mandir's construction.

"A decorative mandap, or enclosure, was built around the mandir to shield it from harsh weather and facilitate its year-round use. The structure is 87 feet wide, 133 feet long, and 42 feet high. The entrance to the mandap, called the Mayur Dwar, contains carvings depicting peacocks, elephants, and celebrated Hindu devotees of past eras. The mandir was constructed primarily through the efforts of artisans and volunteers who provided an estimated 4.7 million human hours. Volunteers engaged in various tasks during the construction process, including design and engineering, carving coordination & stone shipping, site preparation, lighting and electrical wiring, polishing, cleaning the assembled marble, tent-building, meal preparation, and offering medical services." (Wikipedia)

"New Jersey has some truly unique spots but I was absolutely blown away when I discovered this. It’s not the kind of place you’d expect to find in New Jersey, but here it is – an architecturally stunning gem with cultural and religious significance. This striking site is a Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir. In its simplest terms, it is a Hindu temple and cultural complex," the Only In Your State reports.

"The current Mandir is 12,000 square feet and was completed in 2014. Additional buildings (including a larger Mandir and visitor center) are still in the works. The Mandir is made entirely of Italian Carrara marble and is only the third Mandir of its kind in the world.

"While the ornate carvings are visually appealing, they are also of religious significance. 98 pillars depict the lives of the great paramhansas (spiritual aspirants) and devotees of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. In addition to the pillars, you'll find 13,499 individual carved stone pieces including 91 elephants."

"The temple is 133 feet long, 87 feet wide and 42 feet tall, made of 11 million pounds and 68,000 cubic feet of marble. Its intricate carvings feature 98 sthambhas (carved pillars), 66 peacock style arches, 144 sacred figures, 91 elephants with various musical instruments and flowers, 58 decorative ceiling designs and more," the Untapped Cities reports.

"The finished temple took a total of 4.7 million man hours to complete. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey estimated that the artistic and construction materials required to construct the temple traveled more than 21,500 miles on a complex supply chain before reaching their final destination.

"Today, the mandir is open to the public and completely free of charge. In addition to the Hindu temple, there is a visitor center, exhibition hall and youth activity center. Staff are very friendly and may invite you to join in on a ceremony.

"The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Shri Swaminarayan temple, known as a mandir, is a 162-acre complex which broke ground in 2009 and is set for completion in 2017," the NBC News reports.

"The current Guinness Book of World Records holder for the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple is the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, which sits on a 59-acre complex.

"According to The Times of India, 2,000 artisans in Rajasthan are hand-crafting the temples in Italian and Rajasthani marble. The finished pieces are then assembled in New Jersey by a team of master craftsmen."

"Lord Venkateswara temple situated at Robbinsville township of New Jersey has been built with Rs 100 crore and is spread across 162 acres. It is the world's costliest and largest Hindu temple. The Sri Rangaswami temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, which covers 155.92 acres, was the biggest Hindu temple earlier. The Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sansthan (BAPS) dreamt of building an Akshardham temple at Robbinsville in New Jersey," the International Business Times reports.

"The stone laying ceremony was held in 2013 and the construction was completed earlier this year. The temple is spread over a mammoth 162 acres. A team of 5,000 master craftsmen worked on the construction, assembling and design in the US.

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, which sits on a 59-acre complex, held the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple. Lord Venkateswara temple in New Jersey, which is more than double the size of Akshardham, has beaten the record now."

"The Mansir (temple) is dedicated to the worship of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Some parts of the temple is still under construction and should be all completed sometime in 2023. There is a large parking lots and surrounding with beautiful landscapes. Touring the temple on our own is good with some guidance from the temple staffs at the visitor center. We were allow to take photos outside and at the visitor center, but not inside the main worship area. Highly recommended."

"The architecture is stunning and the people there are very kind and helpful. An incitedul glance into another culture and belief system. I have visited many times bringing additional friends each time. You will be amazed and it’s FREE."

"What a lovely great work of art and spiritual regions work. Having seen quite a few swaminarayan mandirs , this one stands out as a great marrvel."

"An amazing visit to appreciate the carved marble statues alone. Please realize this is a sacred site and always respect that. Modest clothing and be prepared to remove your shoes. A highlight is the peacocks on site. The members of the community are available to answer any questions and were so pleasant. I felt I was on a trip to India."

"A lovely cultural experience, didn't feel like NJ! Beautiful architecture. My teen and husband really enjoyed the service, food and grounds."

"This place is amazing. Don't second think going, JUST GO. I got to pour water on a sacred statue named "Nilkanth Varni". I loved this place."