The mandir was built in 18 months and consists of 24,000 pieces of hand-carved Italian carrara marble, Turkish limestone and Indian pink stone.

The temple is a type of 'Shikarbaddha' mandir, built according to principles laid out in the Shilpa Shastras, Hindu texts prescribing standards of sacred architecture.

Similarly, different shrines hold murtis of major ancient Hindu deities such as Radha and Krishna, Sita and Rama, Shiva and Parvati, Vishnu and Lakshmi, Ganesha, Hanuman as well as the lineage of BAPS gurus who are Swaminarayan's spiritual successors.

Classrooms are used for youth cultural, religious and educational activities, which include music lessons, Hindu scripture classes and career development seminars.

[3] The Heritage Museum houses the Understanding Hindu Dharma Exhibition, which aims to provide visitors with a foundation of the key tenets of Hinduism.

It also showcases the role that Indo-Canadians have played in developments in the fields of art, architecture, science, democracy, education, culture, pluralism and spiritual values.

[10] On 23 July 2000, in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, devotees performed the shilanyas, or first stone-laying, ceremony on the future site of the Toronto shikarbaddh mandir.

Then-Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, then-Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty and then-Mayor of Toronto David Miller, were in attendance at the opening.

[15] In July 2017, the 10th anniversary of the mandir was celebrated in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Toronto Mayor John Tory.

The conference focused on understanding and communicating the glory of Hindu traditions and preserving them in order to help nurture future generations.

The program highlighted the role of women in India's history and the present opportunities and challenges that face females in the Indian diaspora.

The Honorable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, spoke about Canadian Government initiatives that support women and their families.

[20] This two-day event is intended to allow the public an opportunity to visit and learn about architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings in Toronto.

[21] The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir of Toronto previously held a gala each year to raise awareness, funds and support for various charities.

Beneficiaries have included the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and charities that supported rebuilding efforts in light of natural disasters that occurred in Haiti and Japan.

[26][27][28] On March 29, 2020, all six BAPS shikharbaddha mandirs in North America broadcast a special mahapuja performed by the swamis to pray on behalf of all those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

[31][32][33] US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy praised BAPS Charities for increasing accessibility for the elderly by hosting these clinics.