British royal couple Prince Charles and wife Camilla had a picture perfect moment in front of the ornate Akshardham temple complex here today on day three of their India tour.
Hours after they landed in the capital from Dehradun, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwell were garlanded and taken on a short guided tour of the 141-feet-high temple, which holds the Guinness record for being the world's largest.
The Prince also called on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari at their residence.
During his visit to the temple, built within a period of five years without any structural steel and sporting ornately hand carved sandstone, Charles is said to have appreciated its architectural beauty.
Escorted by a group of saffron robed priests, he took a guided tour inside the main complex stopping more than a couple of times to pose with his wife for photographers.
The Prince was dressed in a blue suit and matching tie, the Duchess wore a cream coloured tunic and pants and both sported the customary poppy flower had a picture perfect photograph in front of the main temple.
The temple, a major tourist attraction, houses an 11-feet towering statue of Lord Swaminarayan, an 18th century Hindu social reformer, whose disciples formed the Swaminarayan sect with followers worldwide.
The couple, who removed their footwear, climbed up the steps to the temple and offered flowers- a mix of roses, marigold and jasmine- inside the temple.
"The Prince said he wished he had more time to spend inside the temple. He appreciated the architecture of the temple," Janakbhai Dave, the temple's spokesperson, told PTI.
The Duchess was extremely pleased and delighted to be able to visit the temple. "She seemed very happy," said a woman volunteer who guided the Duchess across the temple.
