Chhapaiya


Chhapaiya is a village in Gonda District in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about 50 km from the district headquarters of Gonda, and 40 km from Ayodhya.

Points of interest

It is the birthplace of Lord Swaminarayan. Lord Swaminarayan was born there on 3 April 1781 as Ghanshyam. This village became a pilgrimage destination for his followers worldwide.
The Swaminarayan temple at Chhapaiya went through renovation completed by 2016.

Place of pilgrimage

The following are holy places in Chhapaiya:

Ghanshyam Bhavan

Ghanshyam Bhavan is a monument sited on Lord Swaminarayan's birthplace. A temple on this place was erected by Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj in 1863, after Lord Swaminarayan's passing in 1830. After 47 years another temple was built by Acharya Shree Purushottamprasadji Maharaj in 1910. It is undergoing reconstruction in marble. It was a project started in 2004 by Acharya Shree Tejendraprasadji Maharaj. The marble-decorated room is on the ground floor.

Other sites

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is near Ghanshyam Bhavan. Narayan Sarovar is the sacred water pool where Ghanshyam often bathed. It is just outside the mandir complex. Trikonyu Khetar is where Ghanshyam sent birds into samadhi. Meen Sarovar is a small lake where Ghanshyam brought dead fish back to life and instructed the fisherman not to kill fish for a living. A shrine is sited at the place where the demon Kalidutt, who came to kill him was defeated.