The Lotus Temple in the Indian capital of New Delhi gets its name from its shape which resembles the aquatic flower. It is a House of Worship for the Baha’i faith which combines elements from nearly all major religions. Built in 1986, the temple is just one of eight major continental Baha’i Houses of Worship and is considered the Mother Temple in India. The Lotus Temple was designed by renowned Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba and has been the recipient of various awards for its design. With a maximum height of around thirty four metres and a diameter of seventy metres, it is an imposing structure with the capacity to seat around 1,300 people.
Like any Baha’i House of Worship, people from any religion are welcome to enter and worship here. While one can read from any religious text without any restrictions, usage of musical instruments, performing ceremonial rites and delivering sermons are prohibited within the walls. One will not be able to find any sculptures or images inside the temple keeping in line with the Baha’i teachings. The Lotus Temple attracts around four million visitors annually and for a brief period of time, after its construction, received more visitors than the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower.
The Lotus Temple is located in Bahapur, a little village found within Delhi. The gorgeous structure is made up of twenty seven marble ‘petals’. The white marble used to build the surface of the temple comes from the Penteli mountain region of Greece. The lush garden contains nine ponds and there is a small greenhouse used to grow indigenous flowers and plants.
The best way to get here is by hiring a taxi, although it is best to agree to a price in advance. New Delhi is notorious for its traffic which the arrival of the metro has eased considerably. Even though the metro can get crowded during rush hour, it is still the most effective way of circumnavigating traffic. Tourists should also consider staying at hotels in New Delhi airport like Eaton Smart New Delhi Airport Transit Hotel. This New Delhi airport hotel is not just a transit hotel like its name suggests, but is also a terrific base point from which to explore the city.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
