‘Akshardham the most beloved tourist landmark’
The Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple is the most beloved tourist landmark in Delhi, if you believe the recent findings by the international travel site TripAdvisor.
Three places in Delhi find a place among the 10 most beloved tourist landmarks in the country, according to TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards for Landmarks. While Akshardham Temple is in the fifth position among the top 10 in the country, next is Qutub Minar at number seven and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib at number 10.
Travel planning and booking site TripAdvisor said that the award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
Inaugurated on November 6, 2005 the traditionally-styled temple complex of Swaminarayan Akshardham attracts thousands of visitors every day around the year. The temple is built with intricately carved sandstone and marble and boasts of open gardens, water bodies and a step-well styled courtyard. Another major draw of the complex is the exhibitions on Hinduism, including Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s life and teachings such as prayer, compassion, and non-violence.
Next in the list is the 12th century monument Qutub Minar, which dates back to the Delhi Sultanate era. A centrally protected Archaeological Survey of India monument, it is a biggest crowd puller among all the monuments in the city.
At number 10 is the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, built in the late 18{+t}{+h}century and among one of the most prominent Gurudwaras in the Capital. The Gurudwara is known for its golden dome and the ‘Sarovar’ inside the complex. It was first built by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh, who supervised the construction of many other Sikh shrines in Delhi. The Gurudwara is located near Connaught Place and is flocked by thousands of devotees.
Taj Mahal on top
In all India rankings, the top position comes as no surprise and is held by Taj Mahal in Agra. It is followed by Amber Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan and Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab. Surprisingly, the fourth position is held by the rather recently built Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai. The sixth position has gone to the Agra Fort and the seventh position is held by the Shree Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai, followed by Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.
“India has a rich cultural history, which is often reflected in the architectural landmarks that we’ve built and any recognition on the world stage is truly well deserved. History buffs who wish to learn more about these icons can immerse themselves in unique experiences that they can book on TripAdvisor”, said Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager, TripAdvisor India.
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