Modi and Malcolm visit Delhi’s Akshardham temple.

PM Modi and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull visit Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Delhi.

PTI | New Delhi | April 10, 2017:: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull on Monday visited the iconic Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in east Delhi using metro ride to reach the landmark.

The two leaders were welcomed by priests with garlands upon their arrival at the temple. A priest also tied sacred thread to their wrists as Modi explained its significance to Turnbull.

Before stepping into the temple, the two leaders obliged photographers too.

“Visited the magnificent Akshardham Temple with PM @TurnbullMalcolm,” Modi tweeted along with a set of photographs.

They also took a tour on a golf cart to see other attractions within the temple complex.

As they walked on the temple steps, a priest, who they flanked, acquainted them with its architecture.

Turnbull was seen admiring the temple structure, endowed with architectural grandeur. The temple is run by priests from the Swaminarayan sect and was opened to the public in 2005.

Both leaders also sat on the steps of the temple and were seen chatting.

Swaminarayan sect is a modern spiritual tradition. A sub-sect of Vaishnava Hinduism, it originated in Gujarat. Its followers offer devotion to and worship Swaminarayan as a form of Parabrahma.

The sect has temples in various parts of the world, including in the US and countries of Europe. Australia’s Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are among other cities which have Swaminarayan temples.

Both the leaders shared a Metro ride from Mandi House to Akshardham station — a distance of about 6.7 kms which takes around 15 minutes — to get a feel of the rapid transport system of Delhi.

At times standing, and at times sitting, the two leaders clicked selfies during the journey.

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Courtesy: PTI.

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