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“This temple was built approximately 150 years ago. There was already a Swaminarayan mandir in Ahmedabad. The one in Karachi was constructed later. I think it is made of a certain kind of Rajasthani stone. The large platform that you see on your right or the gurdwara within the premises was not originally there. In fact the gurdwara was built after partition because there were, and still are, numerous followers of Guru Nanak in Sindh. On special occasions, such as Chaand Raat, this place brims with devotees. No fewer than 2,000 people can assemble here,” says Anant Kumar.

In the 19th century there was a high proportion of Hindu population in the region. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, some say made in the first half of the 19th century, was a manifestation of the community's growth. Located in a large compound, the temple is there with all its glory, but the open space that you could find around it in the past is no more there.

People other than of Hindu persuasion are also fond of the mandir. Then there are those who arrive here from different parts of the country to seek spiritual solace. Kailash Kumar is one of them. Originally from Mirpurkhas, with a business set up in Karachi, he often stops by at the holy place to offer prayers. “Whenever I feel distressed I come here. It comforts me.”

[Source: Karachi Legacies of Empires by Peerzada Salman]

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