BAPS Hindu Temple in UAE Architecture: Pink Sandstone From Rajasthan, Shikhar Carvings from Ramayana

Abu Dhabi: It's just a day to go for the inauguration of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) first Hindu temple, Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabhi, UAE, on February 14.

Inspired by Vedic architecture, the BAPS Mandir has been built at a cost of Rs 700 crore.

The Indian Embassy in a post on X shared magnificent visuals of the temple highlighting the spellbinding architecture. The post read, "The world awaits the inauguration of the Abu Dhabi Mandir by PM Narendra Modi. Visuals resplendent with its spellbinding architecture show the Temple in all its grandeur."

Architecture of the BAPS Mandir in UAE

The BAPS Mandir is inspired by Vedic architecture. Built for Rs 700 crore, the BAPS temple spans 27 acres.

The BAPS Mandir is the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi and the largest of all in the Gulf region.

The Nagara-style architecture of the BAPS Mandir is earthquake-resistant. 

The BAPS Mandir is made of pink sandstone from Rajasthan and white marble that has been specially imported from Italy. 

The sculptures featured on the BAPS temple are crafted by Rajasthan artisans. Furthermore, the marble carvings, some of which depict Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Ganesha, are made using over 25,000 pieces of stone and 1.8 million bricks.

Italian marble has also been used. Furthermore, 40,000 cubic feet of marble has been used for the temple's interiors.

There are two domes in the domes, seven Shikharas (spires) signifying UAE's seven emirates, 12 Samrans (dome-like structures) and 402 pillars.

Each Shikhar carving depicts stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Shiv Purana and Bhagavatam as well as stories of Lord Jagannath, Lord Swaminarayan, Lord Venkateshwara and Lord Ayyappa.

The BAPS Temple also has a ‘Dome of Harmony’ portraying harmony of the five natural elements — earth, fire, water, air and space.