Mind-Benders of Hindu History
He left home at 11 and walked across India for years
Born in 1781 near Ayodhya, Swaminarayan is said to have left home at about age 11 and undertaken a multi-year journey on foot across the Indian subcontinent — traditional accounts describe roughly seven years and thousands of kilometres — before settling in Gujarat, where a large religious community formed around him. He died in 1830.
How we know
Swaminarayan (Ghanshyam Pande / Nilkanth Varni): b. 3 April 1781, Chhapaiya near Ayodhya; renounced home c.1792 (age 11); ~7-year foot journey across India; settled in Gujarat c.1799–1800; d. 1 June 1830 (lifespan 49). Sources: Wikipedia "Swaminarayan"; New World Encyclopedia "Swaminarayan".
One of many fact-checked wonders across eight traditions at The Spring of Wisdom.