Located in the Mogulwada area of the old city, the Laxmi Narayan Mandir/Swami Narayan Mandir is the oldest temple of the Swami Narayan sect in Vadodara. The temple is said to been built in the 1870s by Acharya Bhagwat Prasad, who belonged to the sect. The Gaekwads of Baroda were said to have been great devotees of the temple, who also arranged an amount of 3000 Rs. for the upkeep of the temple back in the day.
The Temple:
The temple serves as the main part of a larger building scheme, consisting of dharamshalas forming the huge courtyard which houses the main structure. The courtyard also consists of several other small deras(temples). Built on a high plinth, the temple displays several small domes and shikharas. Out of these, the three main shikharas adorn the garbha griha portion and the dome topping the sabha mandap. The temple also has a separate semi-open path for “pradakshina”(circumambulation) which encircles it. Both, on the inside and outside the temple is adorned with graceful figures of “dwarpals” and “digpals”.
Inside, the sabha mandap is a magnificent double-height space decorated with wall paintings. Some figures of Lord Krishna and female musicians also adorn this mandap. Recently painted, the interior and the exterior look like a celebration of colors.
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Unfortunately, the gate of the precinct had to be demolished some years ago for road widening. Other than this, the structure stands in a healthy state and continues to be a center of faith.
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