Lotus temple, or Mashrikal Adhkar temple, is a famous Bahai House of worship located in Delhi. Though known as the ‘Taj Mahal” of the 20th century, it is much more than a stunning example of architecture. According to a report by CNN, it is the most visited place in the country.
What is the history of Lotus Temple?
According to the history of Lotus temple, architect Fariborz Shabha chose the lotus as the dominant symbol for the place. And not only the holy scriptures of the Bahai Faith but also those of other religions can be read and/or chanted inside the House of Worship regardless of language.
What is the architecture of the Lotus Temple?
The significance of Lotus Temple is that unlike other temples, this place holds no idols as such but it’s Lotus like shape and tranquil ambience is what visitors crave for. It follows the path of the Bahai faith that is oneness in God, oneness in religion and oneness of mankind.
There are stamps of the Lotus temple, books and musical pieces created to depict its splendid architecture.
There are 9 sides of the temple formed by 27 marble petals arranged in groups of three. Also, the height of the temple is 40m. Ponds and gardens welcome visitors at the entrance. It covers an area of 26 acres.
No ritualistic ceremony can be performed inside the temple. Neither can anyone deliver any sermons. But one can chant or read scripture of Bahai Faith in any language you prefer.
There is an audio-visual room and library within the temple complex where one can get access to Bahai books of Faith.
What are the timings of Lotus Temple?
Here are the timings of Lotus Temple:
| Timings | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Open (Summer) | 9 am | 7 pm |
| Open (Winter) | 9:30 am | 5:30 pm |
It remains open from Tuesdays to Sundays. On Mondays it remains closed.
There is 15 minutes prayer session at regular intervals everyday at the temple.
How to reach Lotus Temple?
Here’s how to reach Lotus Temple:
- Air : Indira Gandhi International Airport is at 23km southwest of Central Delhi and domestic terminal at Palam is 5km away from the international terminal.
- Rail: Main Delhi station is about 7km from Connaught Place.
- Road: Buses from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are also available.
Where to stay in Delhi?
Some of the places where one can stay near Lotus Temple are:
- Fab Hotel Conclave Inn Nehru Place 3-star hotel Fab Hotel Conclave Inn Nehru Place R-30, Nehru Enclave, Nehru Place, is a great place to check in. It is only 4 km away from the temple.
- Hotel Stallions at B-14 East of Kailash is another place to check in. Luxurious accommodation suited with great amenities is the main attractions here.
- Fab Hotel Anutham Nehru Place is a 3-star boutique hotel. It is a unique blend of fine hospitality and soothing ambiance. This hotel is known to provide a choice of essential amenities required for a relaxing stay.
What are some temples nearby?
Some of the temples near Lotus temple are:
- The Kailash Shiv Mandir, New delhi is a perfect destination for tourists.
- Pandava Kaleen Sri Kilkari Bhairav Temple or famously known as Prachin Bhairon Mandir is an age-old temple that the Pandavas built during Mahabharat. This temple has a unique tradition of offering alcohol to the Holy deity-Lord Bhairav.
- Kalkaji temple is the abode of Kali Ma. People also believe that wishes come true at this temple.
- Iskcon temple is a place of worship for the followers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness popular the Hare Krishna movement. Further, ISKCON aims to spread far and wide the practice of Bhakti Yoga.
- Amba Bhavani Temple
Leave a Reply