![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPWEXXE7EUWPVNNLO4QQIRAIHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f37d393b3232cf4197ed306f76115aa8861c5c933b39c4e9a850f9515529e6d8&width=400&height=225)
The site is located in Abu Mureikha area off Sheikh Zayed road between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TFFNVSIAXHPTKTPRYOHPKJA46A.jpg?smart=true&auth=61c7397b31c44ba014043aa0cd1594bd22b275af0b3baa2187e2f629969e4e33&width=400&height=225)
Pavan Kapoor, Indian ambassador to the UAE, with Swami Brahmavihari, from Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha with the stone carvings that are at the site in Abu Dhabi. Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha is overseeing the construction. All photos courtesy Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OR6GGOLG7UBR23C7EJJB5IQ3QU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb056a2a449a0f1bb6afb9c5fe737b3857465ad30a816621536fe02562236b1f&width=400&height=225)
More than 40 containers carrying 750 tonnes of carved and semi-carved pink sandstone has arrived at the Abu Dhabi site.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OE65WCK5VOP2J6TG4NX67VZJIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d01f48ba892d85d237ce010a9fa057968c46a8cd1b88b1aba8550b7f514c94c&width=400&height=225)
Hundreds more of such marble and stone carvings will arrive from India over the next few years.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPMYYMSOTNFPZMSWZ3JTDK7ZBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=226e61ac8f4f213dcd2cf4b0a8fa49dc8cb187f370cd6593cf81a0d6a4bd45fb&width=400&height=225)
Engraved with flower and nature motifs, they are the first of thousands of carvings to reach the UAE.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HH42F6CWGXZFNT52OYNXPDLYXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=94f8c2308d2de0fa8ee520ed01a46248c93942e813b19aa69f836b5f73241c0c&width=400&height=225)
Flower and nature motifs are engraved on many stone slabs.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZRGMMZF3EIP5N7OFKBHOOT3MVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6917960e9d18f009372d6ddae42bf5cf2e1fda3bbe627c53f124d132158b32f&width=400&height=225)
The temple group hopes to organise a viewing deck from which the construction can be seen by residents and tourists
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BZG7XHO4PASKAPMYIQRZMIBEDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=97cc3cf2426882b0aef057d5afeedb285f534d8878fb2482347a50adff907638&width=400&height=225)
Workers deposit wooden crates with stone carvings across the Hindu temple site in Abu Mureikha area.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YOF6QIMDC3TFDTUDPBRZGF6KOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1131c93198bab42e81878b5cb1c1e17ff556eb85e12f3e8fa1d797498b31df69&width=400&height=225)
Stone slabs from India being transported at the Hindu temple site in Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SYENCOWHCPQ45VXMFECT6UKDIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4a9291e9690d0c51f30a7b86266dbebcd2e9d6181f050b27b582f7ca5604b19&width=400&height=225)
Drawings on site show where the intricate stone carvings will be set up.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/62JYGNPA6QQ2J5E7UXVEQXSQAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b7f4177487a94afaf1a87baf359ae92babfcc6b12c1ae7bc1736aa79c58d193e&width=400&height=225)
Workers and officials look at plans.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZHPBZIBUAEXGCEYETXOUKWRKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f6850c569ce10169eb2698c5cf0808b83b5859cbdf33ef7aa96c7be0eab5b963&width=400&height=225)
Officials scan etchings of deities that will carved on the pillars of the Hindu temple being constructed in Abu Dhabi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYQF6SNFO4YMQ7WEQWHY7ZVJKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d2281a0f42e6bc1a76970e0450ac4884c83e1e32b87b2432455a20aa62a1f3e&width=400&height=225)
The shrine will be the largest in the country when it is completed in 2023.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCJNSALF6SSZAWMDFSZY4NGZKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f71cd87bc9d4dce13ec43d2496abe0998ee8ab014e8ece177faf02f5d57c8b6&width=400&height=225)
Rows of crates containing the stone panels have been laid out near the ground-level structure of the building
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7PMRGBT4VYQ66OG6IX6FR5KLYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=08cc45ee8bfe1cec551a8f8c936cc0dd8e9d2921e24318a4d9e1bacbdd3c1c1f&width=400&height=225)
The shrine will have no steel reinforcements and the panels will be assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPWEXXE7EUWPVNNLO4QQIRAIHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f37d393b3232cf4197ed306f76115aa8861c5c933b39c4e9a850f9515529e6d8&width=400&height=225)
The site is located in Abu Mureikha area off Sheikh Zayed road between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TFFNVSIAXHPTKTPRYOHPKJA46A.jpg?smart=true&auth=61c7397b31c44ba014043aa0cd1594bd22b275af0b3baa2187e2f629969e4e33&width=400&height=225)
Pavan Kapoor, Indian ambassador to the UAE, with Swami Brahmavihari, from Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha with the stone carvings that are at the site in Abu Dhabi. Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha is overseeing the construction. All photos courtesy Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OR6GGOLG7UBR23C7EJJB5IQ3QU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb056a2a449a0f1bb6afb9c5fe737b3857465ad30a816621536fe02562236b1f&width=400&height=225)
More than 40 containers carrying 750 tonnes of carved and semi-carved pink sandstone has arrived at the Abu Dhabi site.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OE65WCK5VOP2J6TG4NX67VZJIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d01f48ba892d85d237ce010a9fa057968c46a8cd1b88b1aba8550b7f514c94c&width=400&height=225)
Hundreds more of such marble and stone carvings will arrive from India over the next few years.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPMYYMSOTNFPZMSWZ3JTDK7ZBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=226e61ac8f4f213dcd2cf4b0a8fa49dc8cb187f370cd6593cf81a0d6a4bd45fb&width=400&height=225)
Engraved with flower and nature motifs, they are the first of thousands of carvings to reach the UAE.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HH42F6CWGXZFNT52OYNXPDLYXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=94f8c2308d2de0fa8ee520ed01a46248c93942e813b19aa69f836b5f73241c0c&width=400&height=225)
Flower and nature motifs are engraved on many stone slabs.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZRGMMZF3EIP5N7OFKBHOOT3MVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6917960e9d18f009372d6ddae42bf5cf2e1fda3bbe627c53f124d132158b32f&width=400&height=225)
The temple group hopes to organise a viewing deck from which the construction can be seen by residents and tourists
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BZG7XHO4PASKAPMYIQRZMIBEDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=97cc3cf2426882b0aef057d5afeedb285f534d8878fb2482347a50adff907638&width=400&height=225)
Workers deposit wooden crates with stone carvings across the Hindu temple site in Abu Mureikha area.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YOF6QIMDC3TFDTUDPBRZGF6KOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1131c93198bab42e81878b5cb1c1e17ff556eb85e12f3e8fa1d797498b31df69&width=400&height=225)
Stone slabs from India being transported at the Hindu temple site in Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SYENCOWHCPQ45VXMFECT6UKDIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4a9291e9690d0c51f30a7b86266dbebcd2e9d6181f050b27b582f7ca5604b19&width=400&height=225)
Drawings on site show where the intricate stone carvings will be set up.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/62JYGNPA6QQ2J5E7UXVEQXSQAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b7f4177487a94afaf1a87baf359ae92babfcc6b12c1ae7bc1736aa79c58d193e&width=400&height=225)
Workers and officials look at plans.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZHPBZIBUAEXGCEYETXOUKWRKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f6850c569ce10169eb2698c5cf0808b83b5859cbdf33ef7aa96c7be0eab5b963&width=400&height=225)
Officials scan etchings of deities that will carved on the pillars of the Hindu temple being constructed in Abu Dhabi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYQF6SNFO4YMQ7WEQWHY7ZVJKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d2281a0f42e6bc1a76970e0450ac4884c83e1e32b87b2432455a20aa62a1f3e&width=400&height=225)
The shrine will be the largest in the country when it is completed in 2023.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCJNSALF6SSZAWMDFSZY4NGZKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f71cd87bc9d4dce13ec43d2496abe0998ee8ab014e8ece177faf02f5d57c8b6&width=400&height=225)
Rows of crates containing the stone panels have been laid out near the ground-level structure of the building
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7PMRGBT4VYQ66OG6IX6FR5KLYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=08cc45ee8bfe1cec551a8f8c936cc0dd8e9d2921e24318a4d9e1bacbdd3c1c1f&width=400&height=225)
The shrine will have no steel reinforcements and the panels will be assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPWEXXE7EUWPVNNLO4QQIRAIHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f37d393b3232cf4197ed306f76115aa8861c5c933b39c4e9a850f9515529e6d8&width=400&height=225)
The site is located in Abu Mureikha area off Sheikh Zayed road between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
First stone carvings for Abu Dhabi's landmark Hindu temple arrive in capital
Columns hand carved by sculptors in India arrived in a shipment - with a viewing deck to watch the construction being planned
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
06 June, 2021
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