ATTRACTIONS
A Place of Peace One of the continent’s most magnificent Hindu temples invites visitors to look, learn, and reflect BY BLAKE GUTHRIE
t first glance, Lilburn seems like a lot of other quiet metro Atlanta suburban towns with its schools, shopping centers, places of worship, and a quaint downtown in the midst of revitalization. But it also houses something you won’t find anywhere else in the region, a gleaming Hindu monument of towering white spires so different in design from the surrounding landscape that it makes you stop and take notice. Don’t just gawk; head inside. All are welcome at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. Set on 30 acres of delicately landscaped grounds, the mandir—one of the largest Hindu temples in North America—dazzles the eye and soothes the soul. Touted as “a place of paramount peace,” it has drawn comparisons to the Taj Mahal. Experiencing it in person, it’s easy to see why this masterpiece of design and craftsmanship inspires awe. It’s also a feat of engineering.
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