The Akshardham Mandir in nearby Gandhinagar is one of the largest temples in India — a pink sandstone monument of 100 hectares with a central shrine of intricate carving, formal gardens, an exhibition hall, and a sound-and-light show in the evenings. Built between 1979 and 1992 by the BAPS Swaminarayan organisation, it is one of those modern Hindu pilgrim complexes that astonishes by sheer scale.
Akshardham is the target of a 2002 terrorist attack that killed 33 people; security since has been heavy. No phones, no cameras, no bags inside — there are lockers at the entry. Allow three hours. Combined with Adalaj Stepwell on the way north, it makes a full half-day trip.