BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandi

Canada's first traditionally hand carved stone and marble Mandir built according to the principles of ancient Indian Shilpshastras, in an extraordinary tradition that dates back many millennia. All the masonry of a Hindu Mandir is in itself load bearing, with no reinforcement from ferrous material such as steel, even in the foundations! Thousands of tonnes of fine marble and limestone have been hand-carved by skilled craftsmen.

The Mandir is a masterpiece of intricate design and workmanship of ancient Indian arts, traditions and philosophy. The Mandir was constructed in a record 18 months. It is a testimony to the sheer dedication and devotion of over 400 volunteers.

by the numbers:
· 1,800 craftsmen involved at 26 different sites in India
· 305 containers shipped with carved stone modules from India to Toronto
· 400 volunteers gave more than a million hours of services
· 18 months to complete stone work (jig-zaw puzzle) in Canada
· 132 archways,
· 84 decorative ceilings, 340 pillars
· 24,151 hand carved pieces
· 5.6 tonnes, heaviest stone vs 50 grams, lightest stone
· 10,000 tonnes of Italian marble, Turkish limestone, Indian sandstone and granite
· 95,000 cubic feet of stone carved in India and shipped to Toronto
· Built to last over 1,000 years.