Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Beautiful grounds, and friendly staff. Recommend going inside the incredible temple, they provide legs and arm coverings if you need them, just be sure to take off your shoes before going up the temple steps -- use the women's and men's shoe removal rooms on either side.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford (just outside of Houston) is a breathtaking Hindu temple that looks as if it belongs in India. It’s open to the public daily and is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in a new culture, not to mention the fact that it’s absolutely awe-inspiring to look at.

The mandir, which took 28 months to complete, consists of over 33,000 pieces of hand-carved Italian marble and Turkish limestone. All of the pieces were carved in India and fitted together like a giant jigsaw puzzle to be shipped to Houston in crates. It's the largest Hindu temple in Texas and was modeled after guidelines spelled out in ancient texts. Spanning over 22 acres, the grounds include not only the temple but also a cultural center and an exhibit that teaches visitors about Hinduism.