One of the most popular tourist destinations in the National Capital is Delhi’s Lotus Temple, commonly known as Kamal Mandir. It is an unparalleled architectural marvel. With its stunning white petals and lotus-like shape, it creates for a breath-taking spectacle and draws countless tourists all year long. The Bahai House of Worship, unlike the majority of other houses of worship, forbids ritualistic rites and has no set schedule for worship services. This centre of worship, a magnificent representation of unity, must be on your agenda when making travel plans and hotel reservations in Delhi.
Wish to learn more? Here is all the information you need to know about the Delhi Lotus Temple, including its background, structure, hours of operation, and other specifics.
Lotus Temple Details:
Location: Kalkaji’s Lotus Temple Road
October through March
9:30 am to 5:30 pm, 9:30 am to 7:00 pm from April to September; closed on Mondays
Entrance Fee: Free
Camera There are no camera fees, but you must obtain special permission to take pictures.
Status: The House of the Baha’is
Timings for prayer: 10, 12, 3, and 5 o’clock
Ideal Time to Visit: October through March
Founded in: 1986 Architect Fariborz Sahba Size 26 acres Materials Marble
Cost of Construction: $10,000,000
Lotus Temple: Directions
Due to the numerous routes that connect Lotus Temple to the city, it is simple to get there. Among them are:
By Road: Eight to ten DTC bus lines pass close to the Lotus Temple. Also available are taxis and autorickshaws.
By Metro: Kalkaji is 500 metres away from Lotus Temple and is the closest metro station.
The closest train station to the temple is New Delhi Railway Station.
Historically, Lotus Temple
Inn of the Lotus A Bahai House of Worship in Delhi, also known as Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, was inaugurated to the general public in December 1986. It is devoted to the unity of all religions and humanity, just like all other Bahai temples are. All religions’ adherents are welcome to congregate here for prayer, worship, and Bible reading. One of the seven principal Baha’i Houses of Worship, and the only one in Asia, is said to be located in Delhi and is known as the Lotus Temple.
Lotus Temple: Actions to take
Anyone who would be interested in engaging in them can choose from four main or “core” activities offered by The Lotus Temple. You can learn more about Lotus Temple and Bahai principles through these activities. These consist of:
Classes for kids:
Through Bahai teachings, these seminars seek to instill qualities like generosity, justice, kindness, unity, courage, truthfulness, dependence on God, and service to humanity.
Youth Classes for Juniors:
In these lessons, kids between the ages of 11 and 14 are encouraged to grow intellectually and spiritually.
Study Groups:
These gatherings are meant to help people develop a spiritual consciousness by making a thorough study of Bahai Writings, Prayer, and Life and Death.
Architecture
This lotus-inspired building spans 26 acres of land and is surrounded by lush, planted gardens. It is made from white Greek marble and has 27 petals when it is standing alone. As stated in the Bahai scripture, these petals are arranged in groups of three to give the building a nine-sided circular shape. A massive central hall with nine entrances and a height of around 40 metres is revealed. The temple can hold 2500 people at once and has a sitting capacity of 1300 people.
The Lotus Temple lacks altars or pulpits, which are fixtures of all Baha’i Houses of Worship. There are no statues, photos, or other images inside either. The nine pools of water that surround the petals are a striking aspect of the temple. They resemble a half-bloomed lotus in a body of water, and the entire structure is stunning when lit up at night.
The structural design of this temple was created by the Iranian-American architect Fariborz Sahba and the UK company Flint and Neill. The temple’s construction was handled by Larsen & Toubro Limited’s ECC Construction Group, and it cost $10 million to build.
Lotus Temple: Today
The Lotus Temple is unquestionably one of Delhi’s most well-liked religious and tourism destinations today. The temple was one of the most frequented buildings in the world by the end of 2001, with more than 70 million visitors from all around the world. The temple attracted more than 100 million visitors as of April 2014, according to the Indian government. The temple frequently appears in books, movies, and television shows, and it has earned numerous prizes for its entrancing design.
Facts About Lotus Temple That Are Less Well Known
It is one of the world’s most visited structures, with about 4.5 million people annually.
A 6.50 rupee postage stamp in India features the temple.
The lotus is a ubiquitous emblem in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Islam, which is why Fariborz Sahba picked it.
It uses solar energy for the first time among temples in the capital.
A Bahai believer from Hyderabad in Pakistan’s Sindh province named Ardishr Rustampr gave his entire savings to pay for the land for the temple.
Nearby Attractions to Lotus Temple
Goddess Kali is worshipped in the Kalkaji Mandir, which is located 600 metres away. In Delhi, one of the busiest Hindu temples is Kalkaji Mandir. Additionally, the closest metro stop to the Lotus Temple is Kalkaji.
ISKCON Temple (2.6 kilometres)
The ISKCON Delhi temple, also known as Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir, is a well-known Vaishnav temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radharani as Radha Parthasarathi.
Humayun’s Tomb (6.5 kilometres)
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site and a magnificent example of Mughal architecture is Humayun’s Tomb. It is the tomb of Humayun, the Mughal emperor, and it is encircled by lovely gardens.
India Gate (8.6 km)
A war memorial called India Gate is situated in the centre of New Delhi. Large lawns all around the monument make it a well-liked location for picnics and evening strolls.
Qutub Minar (9.8 km)
One of Delhi’s most well-known historical sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Qutub Minar. It is a 73-meter-tall, towering minaret constructed of red sandstone and marble. There are many ways to get from Lotus Temple to Qutub Minar, including via bus, metro, or taxi.
Lodhi Tomb (10KM)
A historical park, Lodhi Gardens has Sayyid and Lodhi dynasty artefacts from the 15th century as well as wonderfully designed gardens.
Akshardham Temple(13.1 kilometres) –
Modern Hindu temple complex recognised for its beautiful architecture and rich carvings is called Akshardham Temple.
The Lotus Temple (Kamal Mandir), in India’s bustling capital city, is a tranquil haven where you can worship and contemplate in solitude. At the same time, you may see one of the most magnificent constructions in the entire globe here. Why not make plans to go to the Lotus Temple in Delhi and spend some time admiring it and feeling at peace there?