The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett is the largest Hindu Temple of Stone in the United States and an absolute divine example of the beautiful Indian craftsmanship and provides glimpses into the rich Indian culture.

The temple is constructed entirely in limestone and Marbles that were exported from Turkey and Italy respectively and were then shipped to India to be carved and were then shipped to Chicago. It is built according to the ancient Indian architectural manuscripts. There are two building, the first called the ‘Mandir’ made of marble stones that hosts the various deities and the other called the ‘Haveli’ which is made of wood and is the cultural center.

The Mandir hosts beautiful sculptures of various Hindu gods and goddesses. The hallway leading to deities depicts beautiful stories about India’s rich cultural heritages, and on various ancient Indian sciences like Ayurveda, Yoga etc. They also depict India’s contribution to the world in the fields of Architecture, Medicine, Mathematics, Surgery etc. The paintings and sceneries are absolutely beautiful and a vast source of knowledge.

Being a place of worship, one is required to adhere to the dress code. No shorts or skirts shorter than knee length are permitted inside the temple. One is required to remove shoes when entering the ‘mandir’ or the ‘hawali’. Shoe racks are provided inside the temple at no extra cost. Food and drinks are not permitted inside and one is required to keep the cell phone in silent modes at all times.

Overall, The temple itself is very beautiful and an amazing example of beautiful Indian workmanship and amazingly intricate carving in wood and stone. It’s a great place to meditate and to learn about the Indian culture. The cultural center has a variety of books for further reading. They have a nice little cafeteria in the basement that serves Indian sweets and snacks at very reasonable prices. Most of the entries cost between $2-$4 , are freshly prepared and are very tasty. Car parking is plenty and is free.