we almost were in india

after finding a curious picture on the internet of an indian temple, i had these feelings to see it for myself. so, mr. pike and i found ourselves in the middle of chicago's west suburbs among corn fields and housing developments searching for a little piece of india.

and then we found it. we felt like we had just been transported from bartlett, illinois to delhi, india. we found the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. from the website: This masterpiece of exotic design and workmanship, which was put up in only 16 months, is testimony to the sheer dedication and devotion of over 1,700 volunteers. Deities and motifs spring from the walls, ceilings, and windows, representing the sacred faith and beliefs of a culture that dates back over 8,500 years.

here are some shots of the outside of the mandir. it's gorgeous - the detail of the carvings are incredible. a mandir is a holy place to pray. we couldn't take pictures of the inside - think even more intricate stone and marble carvings all over. everything was carved. it was amazing, beautiful.

we were so pleased with our discovery. what a great treasure not too far from our backyard.