In Toronto, Canada, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto is a shrine to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami; also Radha-Krishna, Ram-Sita, Shiva-Parvati, Vishnu-Lakshmi, Ganesha and Hanuman. It is also known as Toronto Mandir, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Haveli.
The largest traditional Hindu stone temple in Canada, spanning about 7.3 hectares (18 acres) in Etobicoke, and a major landmark of the Hindu community in the Greater Toronto Area as well as a recognised Toronto tourist attraction The foundation stone was laid in July 2000, and the adjoining haveli cultural centre opened in July 2004.
Canada carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Home to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto, the largest Hindu temple in Canada, anchoring one of the fastest-growing Hindu communities in North America.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, daily |
| Evening | 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Monday to Friday; 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM Saturday and Sunday |
Mandir campus open 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily; darshan is closed during the midday Thal ritual
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Diwali and Annakut | Late October to early November | One of the grandest festivals of the year, featuring rangoli, lamps and an elaborate offering of hundreds of vegetarian dishes (Annakut) |
| Janmashtami | August or September | Marks the birth of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, observed with fasting, midnight aarti and devotional singing |
| Holi | March | Festival of colors |
| Ram Navami | March or April | Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama |
| Maha Shivratri | February or March | Observance dedicated to Lord Shiva |
History and architecture
Architecture
Traditional Shikharbaddha stone temple built to Shilpa Shastra principles from 24,000 hand-carved pieces of Italian Carrara marble, Turkish limestone and Indian pink stone, assembled without structural steel; adjoined by a wooden haveli cultural complex
History
The foundation stone was laid in July 2000, and the adjoining haveli cultural centre opened in July 2004. The stone components were hand-carved in India and Italy, shipped to Canada, and assembled on-site over roughly 18 months by about 400 BAPS volunteers without any structural steel or concrete. The mandir was officially dedicated on 22 July 2007 in a ceremony attended by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, and its 10th anniversary in 2017 was attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located at 61 Claireville Drive, Toronto (Etobicoke), near Highway 427 and Finch Avenue West; accessible by TTC bus and car, with on-site parking
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Construction history, dedication date, architecture and timings are consistently corroborated across Wikipedia, BAPS' own site and independent press coverage