Lotus Temple, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

5DrValliappan 5:00 PM Jan 9, 2023

Lotus Temple with 9 petals per whorl in 3 whorls attracts world's attention as it is non-religious and stresses on "Silence is P
Bahai Temple aka "The Lotus Temple", in Noida Area on the outskirts of New Delhi, is a place of Peace Worship that demonstrates silence can be peaceful and powerful. It is a place open to all religions. In absolute silence of visitors, scriptures from Budha and Bahai are read out or sung and the acoustics inside the lotus dome make it vibrate through one's body, mind and soul. It is closed on Mondays. Open from 8 AM-6 PM (April to September) and 8:30 AM -5 PM (October -March). No entrance fee. Only requirement is silence. No Photos inside the temple and cellphones on silent mode. Foot wear to be removed and put in a bag provided, which can be deposited to a counter on the way in, a token issued and the bag can be collected at the counter on left on your way out. Visitors from all countries can be seen visiting this place and weekend visitors are more. The longer prayer times are 10 AM, 12 Noon, 2 PM and 4 PM. visitors are not allowed for these sessions and Bahai followers participate. It is better to visit after 10 AM and before 12 Noon as visitors are usually less. Then, it gets crowded. Visitors are requested to queue up, remove foot wear, maintain silence, no photos inside, mobile silent etc in Hindi & English and each session for visitors last 10 minutes inside the dome. That way 6 batches per hour fill the hall inside the dome. Inside of the dome resembles a church with sunken pit for stage, with just lamps lit. No figures or pics of God or Light through a window pane as in a Synagogue. That's why it is appealing to all religions and domestic/ International visitors. Some say the Lotus dome is based on Australian structure at Sydney (Opera House). This structure is based on Lotus Flower with 9 petals per whorl, in 3 whorls, totalling 27 lotus petals.

4singhasam 5:00 PM Nov 20, 2022

Striking building.
THIS Bahai House of Worship offers the visitor a string of contrasts. Perhaps the most striking is the fierce heat of Delhi on the outside with the cool interior of the Lotus Temple where people come to meditate and pray. Intriguingly there are nine pools which help play a significant role in the natural cooling system of the prayer hall. The temple itself, constructed in the shape of a lotus flower with twenty-seven petals, rises more than 100ft and can seat 1,300 people inside. There is strictly no photography, no videoing and no talking allowed inside and this is watchfully enforced. When I went the gardens leading to the temple were in beautiful condition with gardeners everywhere weeding and clipping. It was a long walk to the main structure so there was plenty of time to admire the Frangipane trees, lawns, shrubs and flowers along the way. When I finally arrived I loved the pools and their reflections which you could both view at water level or from a terraced area above. My body reacted with pleasure at the sharp drop in temperature when I went inside and sat down on the marble seating. There was time for a little thought beneath the soaring ceiling and I found the whole visit very refreshing. Make sure you have bottled water with you as the heat can be fierce.