BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

THE most beautiful place in Chicago! If there is one place I would take a non Indian to know about India, I would bring them here. It is a beautiful and precise representative of Indian architecture and culture. If you go here, I would highly recommend reading the posters along the pathway to the mandir (shrine). They talk volumes about ancient Indian scientist and their inventions. Very informative and a must go to everybody that visits Chicago. The restaurant has yummy food too!

One cannot help but be in awestruck wonder with the architectural beauty of this place.
The MAIN TEMPLE is marble all around. We have visited the BAPS temple at Chino Hills in California where one of the volunteers explained in great detail how their temples were built. Italian marble shipped to India where they were carved with utmost precision. The finished marble was shipped back to the USA. Craftsmen from India then came over to assemble the slabs of intricate stone.
While the place is worth visiting over & over again just for the architectural beauty of it, there is more to this place than just that. Once inside the main temple, you are engulfed with a sense of peacefulness — atleast I did. Such a rarity in this fast paced life.
Things you must know. It being a place of worship, they require that you dress modestly. No shorts, skirts or revealing attire. No photography inside the buildings. And finally like with many places of worship, please do maintain silence. If you must speak please do so without disturbing those around.
If you are looking for a place of worship or just some calm, quiet & eye striking beauty — BAPS @ Bartlett might just be the place to visit.

Beautiful place!!! Decent food at the cafeteria. :)

Looking for a perfect vegetarian caterer for your big day? Look no further! We got married July 2014 and were adamant about having our food catered from a vegetarian kitchen. I am vegan and my husband is vegetarian but we also needed food that would meet a Jain diet. That limits your options a lot when you’re looking for Indian caterers. At a 400-​person Indian wedding, there are two things are important to your guests — food and reception entertainment. The rest is forgotten once the guests leave your venue. We contacted BAPS Swaminarayan vegetarian kitchen in Bartlett, IL and met with Dilip Patel. There are not enough people like Dilip Patel in this world. So prepare to meet a very organized, calm and professional individual — he responds to calls, emails and texts immediately. July was a VERY busy month in their temple and yet, he was willing to help me fulfill my dream of pure vegetarian cooking at my wedding. In addition, every single one of the staff that works with him is unbelievable and helpful and creative. We came up with an entirely Jain AND vegan menu.
The best thing about using this caterer if you are looking for Jain food is that the kitchen does not allow garlic or onion since those are prohibited in their religion. So we only had to worry about carrots (omitted) and potatoes (substituted with raw bananas) throughout our menu. First we had a tasting and the food was tasty, fresh, and made with no artificial colors or flavors. We told him we were also having a non-​alcoholic wedding. He suggested some mocktail beverages that he could have us taste-​test. We decided on the watermelon mojito (to serve during the baraat and for our guests during the ceremony). This was so refreshing after dancing in 90 degree weather. He really outdid himself with this suggestion.
Finally, let me tell you about our food during our wedding ceremony and our reception. We had 400 guests amazed that they were eating entirely vegan and Jain food — this includes non-​vegetarians, picky eaters, people who do not believe vegan food can be appetizing, and non-​Jains. The BAPS staff put so much love and effort into this cooking and it really reflected at our events. You could even go as far to say that it felt like homemade cooking. The staff also came to help with serving the food and they were so kind, helpful, and stayed till after the event was over just to make sure things went smoothly. My wedding planner at our venue met with Dilip once and she was raving about him at all our future meetings. She wants to make BAPS Kitchen a preferred Indian caterer for their venue. What an honor and a testament to how amazing they are!

Beautiful mandir… lovely diwali celebration
It’s good to have such an encouraging temple far from our country. Must visit

They have very rude staff, and their photography policy is a joke. I and my girlfriend visited this place today. She likes Indian culture so I brought her to see the mandir. When we were walking around, I tried to take some photos for her as our hobby. Then there was a very rude man stopped me to taking photos. I explained that upon their policy on the website, outdoor photography should be allowed but he did not recognize that at all.
Some reason their staff used to stop me was like «no professional camera». I was using a nikon camera released 6 years before. It is a DSLR but it only delivers picture size smaller than many smart phones today. So it is impossible for me to do commercial. I explained to the staff «we are couples» «we just shoot for fun» and even I can promise not to publish the photos at all. But no one answers me.
Moreover, what I must state is even if I was doing commercial, they have no right to stop me because that was not prohibited in their policy. If they do want to protect the place from being used by commercial photography, they should write that in their policy, not relying on those Rude Guys!
I also find racism opinion in their staff’s words because he mentioned a reason to stop us was «she’s wearing saree». He even said «yes others can wearing saree but she cannot, you must leave in 5 minutes». Yes, my girlfriend is not Indian, but she has the right to wear saree and that right is protected by the law. Why don’t he stop those Indian girls wearing saree from taking photos? I do respect the dressing code at many places for culture and religious reason, like those of Islam temple. But I cannot find any words in their policy about «only Indian girls can wear saree» or «If a non-​Indian girl is wearing saree, no photography using DLSR is allowed». If their staff do have some opinion like this, PLEASE write that in the policy, and I will never ever visit this place at all.

The amazing dazzling view of the inside temple… stunning, beautiful.
My friends, family. who ever visits Chicago I take them to tour BAPS.
I feel proud & fortunate to live close by BAPS.

I spent my college years watching films, studying films, writing about films, making films, and acting in films (I was an awesome zombie). That’s what film majors at liberal arts colleges do. Of course, once we graduate, we start at the bottom and work our butts off to be seen/​heard in the industry, or just give up and find something else to do in life. I fall in the latter category. No regrets. That said, I do reminisce about my film days often.
One of my favorite genres to watch and study was Bollywood. Bollywood is awesome. For those of you don’t know what Bollywood is, it is an informal word for a part of the Indian film industry complete with bright colors and flashy songs. It’s weird. It’s fun.
When I heard about BAPS in Bartlett, visions of Bollywood filled my head. I half expected to see Hindu men and women in brightly colored attire, ready to break out into song and dance among the carved topiary. Can you guess what I did see? Yeah, it wasn’t quite that.
Lack of Bollywood aside, I really enjoyed touring BAPS. I headed out here with my reluctant husband on a warm summer afternoon, determined to explore more free places in the area and check this one off my list. After parking in the back and walking along the road around to the front doors (with a quick pit stop at the brightly-​colored bathrooms inside), we entered into a large lobby and approached the front desk for further instructions.
These are some things you can’t do inside: wear shoes, take photos, wear tank tops/​short skirts, and talk loudly. You can, however, take your shoes off and place in them in a cubby, give them your camera, borrow a wrap to cover your bare shoulders, and learn sign language so you can speak with your friends ‘silently’ as you tour BAPS. (See? There are so many practical reasons to learn sign language. I rock.)
We lingered in the lobby, walked down some stairs, read the signs and posters in the hallway, made a wish and poured water over a golden statue (this was kind of cool), walked up some other stairs, and wandered through the beautifully carved temple. Seriously, we weren’t expecting to find this inside! The details were jaw-​dropping-​ly amazing! Some people were practicing, so we quietly walked around them to admire the temple and learn a little more about the religion. After we were done, we went back to the lobby to retrieve our shoes, check out the (small) gift shop, and walk around outside. The topiaries and statues are neat and provide for some great photo ops.
When you’re here, it’s hard to believe you’re somewhere in Illinois. BAPS is definitely another world. I really need to come back for Diwali (who wants to come with me!?).

The master piece. The perfect place to connect to GOD. If you have not enjoyed the Indian heritage, it is the face of the gigantic glorious history to begin.
Your jaw drops! Your eyes stretch! and you stop… to forget everything around you other than enjoying each moment in the Mandir.
If you want to experience the joy of inner peace, just visit this once.
You will say again and again in this temple «I love this.»
How many times you go and visit this place, you will always feel something new. It is the source of energy, finding peace at heart, connecting eternally with GOD and above all realizing the reason of life.
I can write stories about this but I would just say, go and experience it, as words can not describe the divinity.

With all due respect to Martin Landau and Halle Berry, I think *this* version of BAPS may have just bumped their flick down a spot on list of favorite BAPS… but don’t worry Nisi, I’ve still got mad love for those up-​dos.
Moving on… a quick Google search of really cool FREE sh*t to do/​see west of Chicago turned up this little Swami gem and had me moving BAPS, the closest thing to suburban Shangri-​La, up to the número uno item on my to-​do list for the weekend.
It’s a bit hidden off route 59, so if your head isn’t turned at a 90 degree angle (not recommended while driving) and looking just beyond the tree-​lined perimeter, you might miss this masterpiece.
As soon as you pull in it’s like freebie Disney world with neat-​o topiaries of giraffes, elephants, deer, dolphins, and more. A botanical zoo, for sure. You pull around the circle and you can park right in front of the two massive temples, almost entirely hand-​carved out of marble and wood by over 2,000 artisans. It is… unreal. Truly. One you go in, you’ll receive a bit of instruction. You must check any cameras you may have at the front desk as well as remove your shoes and place them in the walls of cubbies– so make a mental reminder if you’re coming to not wear your sh*tty socks. To lower right side of the front desk is a whole restaurant that we forgot to patronize after getting so caught up in the temples and services that we somehow let several hours slip away when we’d initially only meant to pop in for 20 or 30 minutes.
In the main temple where you enter we were able to get some assistance and bit of a guided tour from the guy who makes sure you take your shoes off. He told us a bit about the religion, but mostly how the building was made and showed us some of pics they had of other Swami temples across the world. It was SUPER neat. Especially for religion-​type stuff, of which I’m generally not a fan of. No offense to those who are believers of any sort.
Once you check out the carvings in the first building, take the stairs to the left underground and across the way to the next temple, all of carved marble, but be sure to take note of the signs in the hallways as there is a point at which you cannot speak once you pass the line, that I, like a typical American jerk-​off, just breezed right by without reading. Luckily, my much more detail-​oriented boo took note of my ignorance, and dragged me back to carefully read the sign.
Once you go across the the path and a few smaller rooms for services, you’ll need to go up a flight or two of stairs to the ‘main event’ temple, which looks like it’s out of a movie, depicting a palace where the gods would live. It’s honestly indescribable. I don’t think I’ve ever been without words for so long in my life.
We appeared to be the only non-​practicing people at the temple and shortly realized that we’d just walked ourselves into their afternoon services. I didn’t know what the proper protocol for non-​swami visitors was, but everyone seemed friendly (for being completely silent, at least) so I just did like everybody else and sat on the ground Indian-​style, watched the gold gates open to pray to the gold statues of the founding Swami principles and did some laps around the place as it seems to be part of the service for most. It was so neat. I noticed something new each time I did a lap and before we knew it, several hours had passed and our stomachs were growling so we decided to pack it up and head back out.
On the way back over to the temple that still housed our shoes, we were able to catch another smaller different kind service where people got bracelets and then after we got our shoes and reclaimed our camera we went outside to capture a few sunset pics when we saw one of the temple let out a group of white peacocks. Not the kind you see in the zoo, but the kind you see in fairy-​tails and the second Kung-​Fu Panda with the more majestic look and really wispy feathers. It was awesome! Totally felt like I was at a palace in another land and not Bartlett, Illinois.
We watched the sun set from the reflection pond and before we headed out we promised to make this visit the first of many.

So beautiful that it took my breath away. The carvings — all you can think about it how much time and skill they took. When we reached the top of the stairs and turned right into the mandir, I couldn’t hold back my tears. So beautiful.
We were there during a service and I felt a little like we were intruding. That was just my own thing because everyone there was very nice to us and helped us with direction and protocol. I will go back during a weekday afternoon, though, so I don’t interfere with worship.
Do not miss this place!

Oh, my favorite place to pray and reflect. Love the inside and outside of the temple. They have a little shop inside and food place (which is comparable to an indian panda express). Cannot wait for summer to walk around the temple: D

This place is absolutely beautiful! I went here last summer as a first timer and was impressed that this place was nestled right in Bartlett off of 59. The outside itself is impressive, and at night it lights up and is reminiscent of something from Disney World. When you go in you have to take off your shoes to walk through the temple. Some places (maybe all?) there is no talking and definitely no photography. A lot of people come here to pray so if you are a visitor be courteous and polite as it is a place of worship.
Walking into this place truly does make you feel like you’ve left the country temporarily. There is a small gift shop that I remember and a cafeteria too I think? I haven’t tried the food here yet and I’m not sure how it works but I definitely will be back to try that.
There is really nothing to say about this place except see it for yourself, it’s amazing!

Is this India? No, it’s Bartlett.
It took me more than 10 years, but I finally made it to visit BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. I went with a photography group during the week of Holi. The temple is lit in different colors during this time and it makes for quite the photo. However, the pictures we took couldn’t capture the beauty that this place holds. The carvings in both the marble and the teak are so intricate, you can’t help but wonder — how’d they do that?
Photos are allowed outside, but not inside. But I totally suggest venturing outside. Just take off your shoes and walk right into one of the most beautiful places that I’ve seen in the suburbs. The temple is completely marble, but decorated with vibrantly colored flowers. I could’t help but smile because it seemed so filled with life. The staff there is willing to answer any questions you might have, so feel free to ask away.
Having traveled to India, my visit here brought back so many memories. It is such a hidden gem in the Chicago suburbs. Trust me, you want to check this place out.

This place is beautiful. If you are in the area you must go!
The temple is linked to the mandir (cultural center). You enter the mandir, take your shoes off, and walk barefoot through an underground connection to the temple. They are both beautiful and fastidiously kept, smell wonderful, and have friendly and tolerant people practicing worship inside.
The intricate limestone carving inside the temple is as beautiful as it is outside. No cameras are allowed inside, which is sad since you want to share the beauty with the world, but you also feel super special about being able to see it. There are «statues» (I don’t know what to call them) of important figures in their worship inside the temple, and they have written explanations of who they are beside it.
The outside is just as beautiful as the inside. You CAN take pictures of the outside and you should. The carvings on the temple are stunning. There are gardens with fountains surrounding the temple and they are very well kept. There were a few bushes shaped like animals which were really cute (don’t know the name of those either.)
They have a small gift store with lots of books and images of deities important to the hindu faith, CDs, postcards, etc.
They have pretty light shows on their fountains outside at night sometimes (don’t know their schedule.)
Also, its free! Seriously can’t miss this place! Bring the family, too.

I highly recommend this for a cultural attraction visit. Something to not miss if you are a Chicago resident and/​or want to show visiting family and friends something different. Be prepared to take your shoes off upon entering the building. Also, if you are visiting in the summer be prepared to cover up your sleeveless arms and legs if wearing shorts (especially women). There is explanations of Hinduism and its contributions to humanity and the like as well as its history (via literature as well as through impromptu presentations/​introductions by desk staff). There is a decent mix of the devout as well as visiting tourists and the like… We did not like the moralistic restrictions though of course «when in Rome» and if you are willing to submit to these then you should enjoy your visit.

Regardless of whether you are Hindu or not, this temple is worth a trip. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. And everyone was helpful. I’d like if they had their website updated as you can only see deities at 11:15am and 7pm. Good cafetaria to buy Indian sweets and snacks, and all fresh (not stale like Patel Brothers in Schaumburg). It also had a cute little gift shop. The place had some Gujarati specific deities. But also the regular ones I recognized like Hanuman, Ganesha etc. I highly recommend this mandir. Now I’m missing India :-(

This is architecturally a beautiful structure — it’s one of those places that out-​of-​town guests have requested I take them to «just to see» how nicely it’s built!
The exteriors & interiors are equally impressive — the exterior has several architectural elements whose use and significance are explained inside while walking to the main temple room. The ceilings, walls, pillars — everything is admirable in its sculpturing, masonry and artwork.
I also love the showcase of Indian science and history, as it helps share our heritage with Indians and non-​Indians alike.
They do have a huge auditorium too to host events and have a kitchen with some yummy food.
It’s just a gorgeous structure — in design and delicacy, lavish and loving, intricate and intimate.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the world’s finest pieces of architecture. Every tiny piece of this huge structure is beautifully done.
This temple just takes your breath away. Just google this place and check out the images. You will fall in love with it right away. I feel very fortunate to have lived within driving distance of this temple.
I wouldn’t call it a temple for a certain religion. During my visit every single time, I have seen so many non-​hindus at this temple. Art is universal. You don’t need to belong to a certain religion to appreciate great craftsmanship. This temple, like any other, is open for anybody who loves to spend a few minutes of their lives in a peaceful, architecturally brilliant masterpiece.
The hallway to the main temple has pictures and script of ancient India and her contribution to the fields of science and mathematics. The main temple shines with white marble throughout and the temple is immaculate. All the gods (yes…gods.plural) idols are pure white marble and decorated with fine clothes and ornaments. The ceiling in the main temple is intricate with hand carvings and tiny halogen lights that give just the right amount of light in there. The sheer size of the temple and the great detail that went in to planning and design of it, is commendable. You will love it.

The scent of burning incense provided an ethereal, almost hypnotic impression as we patiently removed our shoes and placed them in neat little cubbyholes before walking the underground hall to the temple’s inner chamber. Passing poster-​sized images of key Hindu personages and Indian feats, we approached the altar and made our wishes as we poured holy water over the sacred icon while slowly ambulating a circular path beneath the image of this temple’s guiding spirit. Paying our respects to the helpful priest, we made our return and as my sister remarked at how quiet and serene it was, I kept my eyes peeled for the fabled treasure of the Temple of Doom, senses keenly alert to any threat. It wasn’t here though and after retrieving our cameras from the temple aides, we found ourselves outside again in the cool, crisp April air of rural Illinois overlooking the oddly surreal scene stretched out before us.
Ornamental trees and lush green lawns, separated by an abrupt rectangular watercourse, offered a landscape dotted with exotic animal topiary (picture evergreen giraffes, elephants, boxwood dolphins) and drew the eyes to the massive and ornate marble gate. A large white marble statue, looking as if plucked from the gardens at Versailles or St. Petersburg, framed the two main structures of the temple. But instead of over-​sized carved gods of ancient Greek mythology, here were two gilded and alluring damsels pouring water from great earthen vessels while a third smiled stonily, her staff at the ready. While not in operation, presumably for the winter, it must be a beautiful sight when the gods fix the plumbing and the water flows.
Though sorely incongruous for a typical suburban Illinois landscape where fat cows chew their cud next door, this temple provides a most unusual side-​visit around Chicago as well as offering it’s adherents a beautiful, idyllic location in which to worship. The incredible artistic talent, time and expense that went into the carvings of the white marble and richly detailed teak of the schoolhouse are well worth the visit.
Namaste
(For further study, see Bhagavad-​gita «As It Is»)