ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Baps Hindu Temple will open to the public from March 1. Entry time from March 1 is 9 am to 8 pm. Visitors are not allowed in the temple on Mondays. After the inauguration, from February 15 to 29, pre-registered non-UAE nationals and VIP guests will only have access to the temple. In view of the increasing traffic, the people concerned have requested that those in the UAE who wish to visit the temple from March 1 should also register through the website.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Baps Hindu Temple on 14th of this month. The main attraction of the temple is the seven huge gopurams representing each of the emirates. The temple was built on a 27-acre plot of land donated by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Abu Muraikha on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway. The foundation stone for the temple was laid in 2018.
The construction of Baps Hindu Mandir started in December 2019. The height of the temple is 32 meters. There are 96 pillars inside the temple made of stone figures. Pink sandstone and white marble from India and Italy have been used for construction. Pink sandstone is estimated to last for more than 1000 years. The design of the temple is such that it is protected even from earthquakes. Modeled after ancient Hindu temples, the temple was built using stones carved with stories of Hindu mythology and legends.
Swami Brahmavihari said that the temple is a symbol of unity, peace, togetherness and love across the world. A global platform for spiritual and cultural communication, a visitor center, exhibition halls, study areas, sports centers for children and youth, gardens, water bodies, eateries and a library have also been built adjacent to the temple. Along with mythological characters such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, figures of prominent structures in the UAE including the Burj Khalifa and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi have also been carved in butterstone.