Lotus Temple




Lotus Temple which is also commonly called as the Taj of modern India is a unique lotus-structured architectural grandeur made using marble and surrounded by beautiful gardens. The structure which stands as a symbol of tranquillity belongs to Bahai faith. The followers of Bahai faith provide great importance to prayers and are strong proponents of peace. They also believe that simply prayers cannot bring good fortunes and happiness. Prayers should be combined with actions for the welfare of humanity.

Lotus Temple History

The construction of the temple was completed in 1986 and a UK based technical journal “Construction News” gave the structure the designation of Taj Mahal of 20th Century. This structure received several accolades from all corners after its completion. People started comparing the structure with some of the other monuments. The popular daily Indian Express described Taj as an expression of deep personal love whereas the Lotus Temple personifies the love between God and Man. The Temple also featured in the World Architecture 1900-2000 books among the list of 100 canonical works of the century. It is a popular book which contains ten volumes maintained by the Architectural Society of China and has the recognition of International Union of Architects. The book has described the structure as a powerful symbol of beauty, peace and tranquillity with an aim to provide meditation space. This has made the structure a prominent architectural symbol of the city.

Lotus Temple has won several laurels and recognitions worldwide. Some of the prominent ones are:

  • The architect of the temple Mr. Fariborz Sabha was awarded by the US based International Federation for Art and Architecture in 1987.
  • The temple was awarded a Citation for representing the visual impact of Lotus flower in the form of a structure. Further, it was granted an accreditation for the outdoor illumination in 1988.
  • The structural design of the Temple received an award from the UK based Institute of Structural Engineers.
  • The temple was awarded the most artistically built concrete structures by the US based “American Concrete Institute”.
  • The temple received the Vienna based "Glob Art Academy Award" in 2000.

For Tourists visiting Delhi, this temple is a must see site. By visiting this temple, one can experience the message of peacefulness, harmony, wisdom and tranquillity.

Lotus Temple Architecture

Lotus temple which is the greatest creation of the 20th century is a meditation centre and a House of Worship for the Bahai faith located in New Delhi. The structure of the temple is in the form of a half-open lotus flower which is surrounded by its leaf. The structure which is made using elegant white marble contains a majestic dome which creates a sense of admiration. The temple contains neatly designed walkways with beautiful curved barriers, stairs and bridges which surround the nine pools depicting the lotus leaves floating on water. The temple is a culmination of faith, peace, architectural grandeur and elegance which will amuse the people and the engineers equally.

The temple complex is large in size and consists of the main place of worship in the basement and some additional constructions which serve as library, reception centre and administrative building. The library is a rich source of religious knowledge and contains numerous books of all faiths and religions. Apart from this, an hourly audio visual presentation highlighting the various aspects and importance of the temple is held on an hourly basis for the tourists.

The structure of the inner dome is in spherical shape. This pattern depicts the innermost portion of lotus flower which consists of 24 petals. The light is made to pass and filter through these inner folds which finally get diffused into the central hall. The complete flooring of the internal portion of the auditorium is done using white marble. In order to provide striking contrast, the stairs and walkways are made out of red sandstone.

The Lotus shape is designed in such a way that it has three sets of petals. The outer set has nine petals which forms the nine entrances of the outer annular hall. The next is the inner petals which are also nine in number. They appear as partly closed and appear above the rest. This forms the main structure housing for the central hall. In order to cover the opening of the lotus structure on top and provide protection from rain and facilitate natural light, a roof made of steel and glass is fixed.

Timings

Lotus temple is open all week days except Monday. Winter timings of the temple are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m and during the summer season the temple is open between 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

It is advisable to visit the temple during the evening time. The whole of the campus bears a striking look and the temple shines like a diamond.

How to Reach

By Air

Indira Gandhi International Airport is located in Delhi. It is well connected with all the prominent cities of India and abroad. Lotus temple can be reached by availing taxi or auto rickshaw.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Hazrat Nizamuddin, a station on outer Delhi. Lotus temple is located at a distance of 9 km from the railway station. This station is on the main line and well connected with almost all the prominent cities of the country. The temple can be reached by taxis, buses, auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.

By Metro

Travelling by Metro railway is an excellent option in Delhi. The nearest metro station from Lotus Temple is Kalkaji Mandir. It falls on the violet line that runs between Badarpur metro station and Central Secretariat. The distance between the Metro station and the temple is half a kilometre. Cycle rickshaws are the easiest means to reach the temple from the metro station.

By Road

Delhi has an excellent road network which connects all parts of the city and neighbouring states. Delhi has three main bus terminuses. They are:

  • Sarai Kale-Khan Bus Terminus
  • Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kashmiri Gate
  • Anand Vihar Bus Terminus

Private and government bus services are available in and around Delhi.

OUR PLANING

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