BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Mandir
This incredible structure is located in the northeast suburb of Lilburn and was just recently dedicated. It is the 5th (and largest) traditional Hindu Temple outside of India and was built using guidelines from Scriptures that date back 5,000 years.
No steel or metal was used in the construction. Each piece was hand carved in India, numbered and then shipped to Atlanta where it was put together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Just the facts:
$19 million to construct, paid by donations with no debt.
32,000 square feet on a 30 acre lot
75 foot tall towers. The red/white striped flags ward off evil.
1.3 million man hours
4,500 tons of Italian Carrera marble
4,300 tons of Turkish limestone
3,500 tons of Indian pink sandstone
As stunning as the exterior is, the interior (where pictures are not allowed) is even more breathtaking...you are completely surrounded by these intricate carvings.
Although the main structure appeared to be completed, the plazas and some of the finishes are still under construction.