BOLTON, ENGLAND, August 18, 2011 (Asian Image): The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Noel Spencer, donned traditional dress to join in the celebrations at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Arts and Culture Centre on Monday, which coincided with Indian Independence Day. The centre has been made a Place of Interest by the country’s tourism board, in recognition of its stunning selection of art on the ceiling, which attracts visitors from around the world. Spencer said: “Awards like this are great news for Bolton and we are very lucky as a town to have so many places of interest.”
The temple’s art centre was opened in 2000 and has attracted more than 125,000 visitors. Ganshyam Patel, from the temple, said, “It is remarkable for us achieve this because when we opened 11 years ago, we never expected to be so popular. It is great for us but also great for Bolton because it raises the profile. It is our 11th anniversary on Sunday and we have plenty planned to celebrate it.”