Houston
Shri
Swaminarayan Mandir (BAPS)
1150 Brand Lane,
Stafford, TX 77477. USA
Tel: (1-281)
499 7974
Fax: (1-281)
261 7041
Significance:
The BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Houston is the first traditional
Hindu Mandir of stone and marble to be constructed in the United
States. Created entirely according to ancient Hindu architectural
manuscripts known as the Shilpa-Shastras and meeting all the
modern regulations of today, it was constructed in a mere 16
months starting from the day its first stone was laid. Limestone
from Turkey and marble from Italy was shipped to India where
it was hand-carved. More than 33,000 carved pieces were shipped
from India to Houston to build such a beautiful Mandir. The
Mandir opened to devotees, well-wishers, and visitors after
the Pran Pratishtha ceremony performed by His Divine Holiness
Pramukh Swami Maharaj on July 25, 2004.
Mandir Facts:
· Dimensions:
- Total land: 22 acres
- Mandir: 25,620 sq. ft.
- Height: 73 ft.
- Width: 95 ft.
- Length: 125 ft.
· Stones:
- Outside: Turkish limestone (29,000
cu. ft.)
- Inside: Italian marble from
Italy (22,000 cu. ft.)
- Total: 3826 tonnes
- Size: Smallest stone 15 gm to
largest stone of 5.2 tonnes.
Features:
- 5 Pinnacles (Shikhar)
- 1 Central Dome (22 ft. in diameter)
- 11 Small Domes
- 136 Pillars ( 7 Unique designs)
- 70 ceilings (24 Unique designs)
- 4 Small Pinnacles (Saamran)
- 11 Garba Gruha
- 122 Arches (Kamaan)
· Infrastructure:
- Approximately 33,000 stone pieces
- 51,000 cu. ft total stone structure
- No iron or steel used
- Fiber optic lighting
- General Guidelines:
The Mandir is a house of God. It
is very sacred; hence all visitors are required to abide by
the following rules and regulations applicable to all areas
including the Mandir and the Exhibition
Dress code:
No shorts or skirts shorter than knee length. No sleeveless
tops.
Shoes:
All visitors must remove their footwear prior to entering the
Mandir.
Photography and Videography:
Photos and videos may be taken from ground level outside the
Mandir for personal use only. Photography and videography inside
the Mandir is strictly prohibited.
Food and drink:
No food or drinks are allowed on the Mandir. Please discard
any chewing gum prior to entering the gates.
Mobile Phones:
Please turn off mobile phones prior to entering the Mandir.
Any mobile phones with cameras must be left in your car.
Smoking:
No smoking on the premises including parking lots. Please dispose
of cigarettes prior to entering the gates.
Conduct:
Please refrain from touching the delicate carvings within the
Mandir. To maintain the spiritual atmosphere observe silence
inside the Mandir.
Security:
All bags and cameras should be left in your vehicle before going
to visit the Mandir.
Group and School Visits:
For group visit, call 281-499-7974 to arrange a guided tour
of the complex.
PLEASE NOTE:
The management reserves the right to refuse admission to those
who are not following the guidelines and to those who are inappropriately
dressed.
Visiting
Hours
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 am to 8:45 pm
Daily Arti
Mangala
|
6:00
am |
Shringar
|
7:30
am |
Rajbhog
|
11:30
am |
Sandhya
|
7:00
pm |
Shayan
|
8:30
pm |
Darshan Timings of Murtis
Monday
to Sunday: |
7:30
am. to 10:30 am |
|
11:30
am to 12:00 pm |
|
4:00
pm to 6:15 pm |
|
7:00
pm to 7:45 pm |
|
8:30
pm to 8:45 pm |
Explanation:
Mandir - Place of Worship.
Murti - Sacred images of God and Saints.
Darshan - Seeing the Deity with reverence.
Aarti - Prayer of Lights.
Weekly Schedule
Bal
Mandal |
5:00
pm to 6:30 pm |
Kishore
Mandal |
2:00
pm to 3:30 pm |
Yuvak
Mandal |
4:30
pm to 5:30 pm |
Vadil
Mandal |
4:30 pm to
6:30 pm |
Balika
Mandal |
5:00 pm to
6:30 pm |
Kishori
Mandal |
5:00 pm to
6:30 pm |
Yuvati
Mandal |
4:30 pm to
5:30 pm |
Direction
From
Highway 59 (North or South):
1. Take Kirkwood exit.
2 . If you are coming from 59 South make a right off the exit.
3 . If you are coming from 59 North make a left off the exit.
4 . Proceed 0.5 mile on Kirkwood. Pass railroad and make left
turn on Alt. 90.
5 . Turn right on Brand Lane (very first street)
6 . Keep coming on Brand Lane till it nearly ends.
7 . You will see the Mandir on right hand side.
From William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
1. From airport exit Turn Left onto Airport Blvd.
2. Turn left onto Telephone RD/TX-35 South.
3. Turn right onto Beltway 8/South Sam Houston Parkway
4. Merge onto Beltway 8 South (Portions toll).
5. Take the exit toward South Main Street /US-90.
6. Turn left onto South Main Street/US 90.
7. Turn left onto Avenue E for 1.3 miles.
8. Turn right onto Brand Lane.
9. Mandir Complex will be on the left hand side.
From
George Bush International Airport (IAH)
1. Start out going West on Terminal Road North towards Airport
Exit.
2. Turn slight right onto John F. Kennedy (J.F.K.) Blvd.
3. Take the Beltway 8 West ramp toward I-45.
4. Merge onto Beltway 8 via the ramp- on the left- toward I-45(Portions
toll).
5. Make a right onto US 59 S, enter ramp.
6. Take the Kirkwood Dr./West Airport Blvd exit.
7. Make a left onto Kirkwood Dr.
8. Cross the railroad tracks and make a left onto US-90 ALT/Main
St.
9. Make a right onto Brand Lane and continue for 1.3 miles.
10. Mandir complex will be on the right hand side.
From Hwy-6 and US-90 ALT
1. Head down US-90 ALT E towards US-59.
2. Pass US-59 and at Dulles Avenue make a right.
3. Make a left onto Avenue E.
4. Make a left onto Brand Lane.
5. Mandir Complex will be on the left hand side.
From Hwy-6 and Murphy Rd/FM 1092
1. From Hwy-6, take FM 1092 towards US-90 ALT/Main St.
2. Make a left onto Avenue E.
3. Make a right onto Brand Lane.
4. Mandir Complex will be on the left hand side.
From
Rosenberg
1. Travel US-59 North
2. Take the Kirkwood Dr./West Airport Blvd exit.
3. Make a right on Kirkwood Dr.
4. Cross the Railroad tracks and make a left onto US-90 ALT/Main
St.
5. Make a right onto Brand Lane and continue for 1.3 miles.
6. Mandir complex will be on the right hand side.
From Katy
1. Take I-10 East towards Beltway 8.
2. Take the Beltway 8 exit and bear right for Beltway 8 S.
3. Take the US-59 S exit.
4. Take the Kirkwood Dr./West Airport Blvd exit.
5. Make a left onto Kirkwood Dr.
6. Cross the Railroad tracks and make a left onto US-90 ALT/Main
St.
7. Make a right onto Brand Lane and continue for 1.3 miles.
8. Mandir complex will be on the right hand side.
From Channel View
1. Travel I-10 West until US-59.
2. Take the US-59 South.
3. Take the Kirkwood Dr./West Airport Blvd exit.
4. Make a left onto Kirkwood Dr.
5. Cross the Railroad tracks and make a left onto US-90 ALT/Main
St.
6. Make a right onto Brand Lane and continue for 1.3 miles.
7. Mandir complex will be on the right hand side.
From Galveston
1. Travel on US-45 North
2. Take the Beltway 8 S/W exit and bear left.
3. Merge onto Beltway 8 (Portions toll).
4. Make a left onto US-90 ALT/Main St.
5. Make a left onto Avenue E going 1.3 miles.
6. Make a right on to Brand Lane.
7. Mandir Complex will be on the left hand side.
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