And the monks live in splendor!

The opulance and the vibrancy of this place never ceases to amaze me. And to think of it, what you see is supposed to be a dormitory for monks!

The dormitory is part of a sizeable temple complex- the oldest temple of the Swaminarayan sect (a devout and wealthy sect within Hinduism) in the world. The temple complex is located in Kalupur, in the heart of old Ahmedabad, at the start of my favourite 2.5km route. The atmosphere, even early in the morning is always festive and loud and noisy; such a marked contrast from the Jumma Masjid (from a couple of posts back) which is usually the end of my route which is always serene and quiet and calming. Two extremes of the spectrum, you might say...

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Nikon F75, 28-110mm
Fuji 100 ISO
2004, Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur, Ahmedabad, India