Information of Lotus Temple (Bahai Temple / Kamal Mandir), Kalkaji, New Delhi

The Lotus temple is house of worship located in Kalkaji in the capital of India, New Delhi representing the spiritual unity of all human races. It is also called the Baha'i temple and was fully completed in 1886. The Baha'i is a form of a religion followed by people who believe in Baha'i Faith. The temple occupies an area of 105,000 meter square. It is famous for its resemblance to a lotus flower and also similar to the Sydney opera house.

Lotus Temple (Bahai Temple / Kamal Mandir) Kalkaji Religious Significance

According to the Baha'i faith no idols, sculpture or pictures of deities are supposed to be worshipped. We are free to follow any one and any religion so the temple does not have any shrines inside. It is a temple of peace, purity and meditation.

The temple remains open from 9 am till 7 pm in the evening. It is open on all days except Mondays. Over a 50 million people have visited the beautiful serene temple and recent studies has shown that it has drawn more people that the Taj Mahal. Anybody can go inside and meditate in the silent, soothing and peaceful environment. It is a house of worship a gathering place for meditation and where people from all races, caste and creed can come and offer prayer without denominational limitations. Inside the temple it is very strict as no one is allowed to make noise or disturb others, no sermons to be preached or more of all no ritualistic ceremonies to be practised inside.

Here one can feel the beauty of silence, feel the significance of prayers as even though the temple is packed by people from all races and background, one can offer prayers to their will, without disturbing others and inside the temple it is pin drop silent. Everyone is full engaged offering prayers to the almighty from the deep core of the heart.

Lotus Temple (Bahai Temple / Kamal Mandir) Kalkaji History

The Lotus flower is also the national flower of India and also worshipped by Indians from time immemorial. Although the Lotus flower grows on dirty water it remains undisturbed, untouched and elevated from the dirt. It remains pure and untouched even though it is arises from the impurity itself. Similarly the lotus temple is a symbol of purity and immortality. The world today if filled with evil doings against the laws of religions but just like a lotus we should free our self from wrong doings and remain pure and spiritually immortal. This is the significance of the Lotus temple and so therefore designed just like a lotus flower. A lotus flower is a representative of all the four major religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam so a person belonging to any religion is allowed to enter the temple.

The lotus temple was built by a great Iranian architect. For its outstanding and unique architecture the temple received many awards and praises. It took ten years to complete the beautiful structure and about altogether 800 workers from engineers and artists.

Lotus Temple (Bahai Temple / Kamal Mandir) Kalkaji Architectural Significance

The lotus temple was designed by Fariborz Sahba an Iranian architect. It is a great piece of art in the 21st century. It is designed in the styles of many Baha'i temples with the significant feature being it nine sides. The temple is similar to a lotus flower with twenty seven petals in groups of three to make it nine. The temple has a height of about 40 meters and 70 meters circumference. It has central hall made up of marble brought from Greece. It has the capacity of holding 2500 people. The materials used for the construction of the temple were mainly from marble along with cement, sand and dolomite. The magnificent structure is beautified all the more with beautiful courtyards and garden where visitors can enjoy the serenity of the temple. There are nine ponds radiating from the sides of the temple and from the above looks as if the lotus temple is floating on water. Also when the temple is viewed from above it looked like a half open lotus flower.