Swaminarayan Akshardham, Delhi

Swaminarayan Akshardham is Delhi's grand carved-stone temple complex, free to enter with paid exhibitions and an evening water show. Here are the official timings, ticket prices and the rules on phones and dress.

Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), close to the Yamuna in east Delhi. It was inaugurated on 6 November 2005. Delhi Tourism says it was completed in about five years with the work of some 11,000 artisans and thousands of volunteers. At its centre is the mandir, carved in pink sandstone and white marble without structural steel.

It is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, with carved pillars, domes and ceilings, and it stands on the Gajendra Pith, a plinth frieze of carved elephants. Around it are the Narayan Sarovar tank, the Abhishek Mandap, where visitors can offer water to an image of Nilkanth Varni, and the Bharat Upavan and Yogi Hriday Kamal gardens. There are three exhibitions on one ticket. Sahajanand Darshan is a hall of values with robotic and film shows.

Neelkanth Darshan is a large-format film. Sanskruti Darshan is a boat ride through scenes of Indian history. After sunset the Sahaj Anand water show combines fountains, lasers and projections. Security is strict. Mobile phones, cameras and other electronics are not allowed inside and must be left in the free cloakroom, so arrive early at weekends. A dress code applies: shoulders and knees must be covered, and sarongs are sold at the gate.

Entry to the complex and the mandir is free, and the temple is closed on Mondays. Akshardham metro station is about 350 m from Gate 1.