The Shree Swaminarayan Art Gallery and Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Bolton is the first Hindu Temple to receive a national award from Visit England. The award is a quality mark for tourism which guarantees that people visiting the temple will receive a quality experience.
The award presentation took place on Monday 15th August 2011. The Mayor of Bolton presented the award to His Holiness Acharya Swamishree. Among the guests were the Mayoress of Bolton, Councillor Roger Hayes, Councillor Champak Mistry as well as Nick White the Head of Tourism for Bolton Council.
The guests were treated to performances from the Swaminarayan Pipe Band, Dhol Fusion and two dances by young disciples. Joanna Booth the representative from Visit England stated “it is performances such as these which make the Temple more than just a place of worship. This is the reason why the Temple met the high exacting standards required to achieve the award. The Temple will be listed on a national website as a place of interest to visit”.
Monday was also the Independence Day of India. The Mayor and all the dignitaries and devotees congregated in the grounds of the temple where His Holiness Acharya Swamishree and the Mayor raised the Indian national flag whilst the pipe band played the Indian national anthem.