AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 39 of 61 Sasangir - Somnath 60 Safari Resort and Hotel, Somnath Somnath - Diu 100 Sugathi Beach Resort, Diu. Diu - Porbandar 130 ----- Porbandar - Dwaraka 122 Hotel City Palace, Dwaraka. Dwaraka - Jamnagar 144 ----- Jamnagar - Rajkot 88 Hotel Europa Inn, Rajkot Rajkot - Ahmadabad 212 TORAN Hotel, Ahmadabad Ahmadabad – Dakor 90 ----- Important Places of Visit Swamynaravan Akshardham Temple. The temple recounts the cultural heritage of India. It is located in Gandhinagar, near Ahmedabad.The temple is constructed by Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swamynarayan Sanstha (BAPS) with the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and was inaugurated in November 1992. Akshardham temple is a major tourist attraction. It is a centre of art, culture and values of India.. The sanctum sanctorum embraces a seven feet tall gilded image of Lord Swamynarayan. The temple has three floors, the Hari Mandapam, Prasudi Mandapam and Vibhuti Mandapam. Here the devotees propagate the philosophy of Swamynarayan and educate the people about the rich spiritual and cultural roots of India. The temple is designed on the lines of Sthapatya Shastra and silence and peace rule the environ. Three permanent exhibition halls, Sahajanand, Sat Chitanand and Nithyanand, within the temple promote spiritual matters to the visitors. It took 13 years to complete the temple and is built using pink sandstone from Rajasthan. Steel and iron have not been used in the construction. Sat Chit Anand Water Show. The magnificent water show in Swamynarayan Akshardham Temple complex reveals story of ‘Nachiketa,’ an Upanishad theme. A nine year old, Nachiketa, bravely confronts Yama, the God of Death and receives knowledge on harmony and inner peace. The water show is unique in India. The water screen where display is made is 130 feet wide and 70 feet high with around 4000 nozzles, 2000 lights, over 100 pumps,160 feet long ‘Sea of Fire’ spreading on water with several fire balls and three powerful lasers. The show is the activity of 400 BAPS Volunteers in technical collaboration with ECA2, a world renowned agency in France. The purpose of the water show is to identify and highlight the wisdom of India through wonderful multimedia effects. Mondays are holidays. The show begins at 7.00 PM. There is a second show on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.