# BAPS NJ (DD-660)

> BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, was built by the Hindu organization Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). It was formally dedicated on October 8, 2023, and opened to the public on October 18. The AP called it the largest Hindu temple built outside India in the modern era, and NBC News called it the largest in the U.S. The 183-acre figure (NBC also cites 185) is for the whole campus, not the mandir building. Work began in 2011, so construction took about 12 years. BAPS says about 12,500 volunteers took part. About 2 million cubic feet of stone was used, and a 2023 report counted about 4.7 million hours of artisan and volunteer work. The stone came from several countries, including Bulgarian and Turkish limestone, marble from Italy, Greece and Turkey, granite from India and China, and Indian sandstone. It was carved by artisans in India, dry-fitted there, then shipped about 8,000 miles to New Jersey for assembly. A 2021 federal lawsuit by workers who came on religious visas alleged forced labor and very low pay. BAPS says the artisans were religious volunteers. Twelve of the original plaintiffs withdrew their claims in October 2023, and the lawsuit is ongoing.

- Department: Locations (also History)
- First published: 2025-10-12
- Last updated: 2025-10-12
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/baps-nj/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **2011**: Construction begins at the Robbinsville campus
- **2021**: Workers file a federal lawsuit alleging forced labor; BAPS says the artisans were volunteers
- **October 2023**: Twelve of the original plaintiffs withdraw their claims
- **Oct. 8, 2023**: BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham is dedicated
- **Oct. 18, 2023**: The temple opens to the public
- **2025**: A federal probe closes and the civil case resumes

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=baps-nj

## Quick facts

- **DD-660-F01**: BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham was dedicated on October 8, 2023. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Dedication))_
- **DD-660-F02**: About 12,500 volunteers took part in building it. _(Write-up · Exhibit C (Who built it))_

## Write-up

Carved in India, built in New Jersey. BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham opened in Robbinsville in 2023.

1. **Dedication**: BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham was dedicated on October 8, 2023, and opened to the public on October 18.
2. **How big**: The 183-acre figure is the whole campus. The AP called it the largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era.
3. **Who built it**: BAPS says about 12,500 volunteers took part in work that began in 2011.
4. **Stone from many countries**: The stone included Bulgarian limestone, marble from Italy, Greece and Turkey, and Indian sandstone. It was carved in India and dry-fitted there before shipping.
5. **The lawsuit**: A 2021 lawsuit alleged forced labor of workers on religious visas, and BAPS says they were volunteers. Twelve plaintiffs withdrew in 2023, and the case is ongoing.

## Related case files

- [The White Temple (DD-042)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-white-temple/): Another richly carved modern temple
- [RoboClassical (DD-722)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/roboclassical/): Another case about marble carving at scale

## Reel vs. record

- **Timeline**: work began in 2011, so it took about 12 years, not 'nearly a decade'.
- **Area**: 183 acres (some reports say 185) is the whole campus, not the size of the temple building.
- **Carving**: the stone was carved by artisans in India, dry-fitted there, then shipped about 8,000 miles to New Jersey and assembled, so it wasn't carved on site.
- **Stone**: the list is incomplete. Reports cite Bulgarian and Turkish limestone, marble from Italy, Greece and Turkey, granite from India and China, and Indian sandstone.
- **Missing context**: a 2021 federal lawsuit alleged forced labor and pay of about $1.20 an hour, and BAPS says the artisans were volunteers. Twelve plaintiffs withdrew in 2023, and the case resumed after a federal probe closed in 2025.

## Video: BAPS NJ: Carved in India, Built in New Jersey

- Duration: 23.1 s · Published: 2025-10-12
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DPt6lqjES2u.mp4

### Transcript

DID YOU KNOW? In Robbinsville, New Jersey, stands the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple in the United States and one of the most intricate outside of India. Completed in 2023 after nearly a decade of work by over 12,000 volunteers, the temple spans 183 acres and was hand-carved from Italian marble, Indian sandstone, and limestone before being assembled like a massive 3D puzzle. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: In which New Jersey township is BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham?**  
A: Robbinsville, Mercer County. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Dedication) · NBC News (Oct 8, 2023): Largest Hindu temple outside Asia opens in New Jersey, built by 12,500 volunteers)_

**Q: When was it dedicated?**  
A: October 8, 2023. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Dedication) · NBC News (Oct 8, 2023): Largest Hindu temple outside Asia opens in New Jersey, built by 12,500 volunteers)_

**Q: About how many volunteers does BAPS say took part?**  
A: About 12,500. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Who built it) · NBC News (Oct 8, 2023): Largest Hindu temple outside Asia opens in New Jersey, built by 12,500 volunteers; Indian Express (2023): Akshardham in US, all you need to know)_

**Q: What does the 183-acre figure describe?**  
A: The campus. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (How big) · AP News (2023): Largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era opens in New Jersey; NBC News (Oct 8, 2023): Largest Hindu temple outside Asia opens in New Jersey, built by 12,500 volunteers)_

**Q: Where was the stone carved?**  
A: In India, before being shipped to New Jersey. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Stone from many countries) · AP News (2023): Largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era opens in New Jersey; Indian Express (2023): Akshardham in US, all you need to know)_

## Sources

- [AP News (2023): Largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era opens in New Jersey](https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-largest-hindu-temple-d75d6dae88a6a24af9d6bc614a09baba)
- [NBC News (Oct 8, 2023): Largest Hindu temple outside Asia opens in New Jersey, built by 12,500 volunteers](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/largest-hindu-temple-asia-opens-new-jersey-built-12500-volunteers-rcna119085)
- [Indian Express (2023): Akshardham in US, all you need to know](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/akshardham-temple-united-states-all-you-need-to-know-8977454/)
- [NJ.com (Sep 2025): Federal probe into labor practices at N.J. temple ends, clearing path for lawsuit to resume](https://www.nj.com/mercer/2025/09/federal-probe-into-labor-practices-at-nj-temple-ends-clearing-path-for-lawsuit-to-resume.html)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "BAPS NJ." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-660, last updated Oct 12, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/baps-nj/