The water feature at BAPS Temple in Atlanta, Georgia is decorated with a row of elephant sculptures.
In India the elephant is a symbol for power, dignity, intelligence and peace. Elephants in Hinduism and the Indian Culture are a symbol of intellectual strength, and sturdy earthy mental strength. Elephants, in general, symbolize the qualities of wisdom, strength, courage, longevity, patience, honor, and stature.
Row of Elephants at the Temple
A peacock sculpture welcomes visitors to the BAPS Temple in Atlanta, Georgia. Peacocks symbolize grace, pride, and beauty. They are a sign of joy for all who see them. Peacocks are often used in Indian mythology and folk stories.
A Peacock Welcome
Open to one and all, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in Atlanta, Georgia) was inaugurated in August of 2007 after only 17 months of construction time utilizing 1.3 million volunteer hours. The Mandir is comprised of three types of stone (Turkish Limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink sandstone). More than 34,000 individual pieces were carved by hand in India, shipped to the USA and assembled like a giant 3-D puzzle.
BAPS Temple Atlanta Panorama
Symmetrical lines on a color coordinated building in Savannah, Georgia
Decor Matching the Sky
A natural canopy of tree branches in Savannah, Georgia
A Natural Canopy
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, Georgia is a traditional Hindu mandir, or place of worship. The mandir was constructed in accordance with ancient Hindu architectural scriptures, and is the largest mandir of its kind outside of India. The mandir is made of 34,450 pieces of hand-carved Italian marble, Turkish limestone and Indian pink sandstone, situated on landscaped grounds spread over 30 acres. The mandir complex also includes a large assembly hall, family activity center, classrooms, and an exhibition on the key tenets of Hinduism. The mandir is open daily for worship and to visitors of any faith.
Two bench views of the mandir form different perspectives.
BAPS Mandir Atlanta
BAPS Temple Atlanta
Brasstown Bald in Georgia is 4,784 feet above sea level, making it 326′ taller than Blood Mountain, its neighbor to the southwest. The mountain, and almost 13,000 acres of land surrounding it are part of the Brasstown Bald Wilderness Area.
View of Lakes from Brasstown Bald
Stone Mountain is a quartz monzonite dome monadnock (an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain) and the site of Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
At its summit, the elevation is 1,686 feet (514 m) and 825 feet (251 m) above the surrounding area. Stone Mountain is well-known not only for its geology, but also for the enormous rock relief on its north face, the largest bas-relief in the world.
Stone Mountain
Layers of clouds and mountain ridges from Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia
Northern View from Brasstown Bald Georgia
A horse and his owners rest while waiting for riders in Helen, Georgia
Resting While Waiting for Riders