BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden, London

Opened in 1995, it's considered one of London's Seven Wonders and a masterpiece of traditional Hindu Architecture. It has the genuine Indian workship and consists of 5000 tonnes of Indian and Italian marble and Bulgarian limestone. It was all carved in India and brought over to London and this process took only 2.5 years.

Haveli is the term used for a private mansions of architectural significance in India. Their foyers are decorated in the style of the columns seen above.

The foyer is decorated with a richly carved teak column and oak panelled portico. Elephants, lotus flowers and peacocks, which seperately play a part in Hindu mythology, welcome the visitors into the sacred halls of this Mandir (meaning "Gladdening" but also used as the word for the place of Hindu worship).

These carvings are not only seen engraved in the timber but also the stone.

The interior of the mandir is considered highly scared and thus they insist on an appropriate dress code, no footwear is allowed. Photographs are only allowed from outside. However below are photographs from others of the spaces inside.