The original Swaminarayan temple in Bhuj, built in 1822 and one of the earliest temples of the Swaminarayan sect, was destroyed in the 2001 earthquake. The new temple, opened in 2010 a short walk from the original site, is a vast and lavish white-marble complex with gilded domes, carved colonnades and an enormous central shikhara.
It is open to visitors from sunrise to late evening. Photography is discouraged inside the inner sanctum, but the carved exterior, the daily aartis and the bustle around the temple are worth a half-hour visit. The original 1822 temple lies a few hundred metres away and houses Swaminarayan's footprints — a smaller and more atmospheric site for those interested.