| Description: | Bahai Lotus Temple located just opposite to the ancient Kalkaji Mandir, East of Nehru Place in South Delhi, the Bahai House of Worship, popularly known as the Lotus Temple, is one of the most visited edifices in India. The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is the sole Bahai House of Worship in the whole continent of Asia apart from the six others in Panama, Kampala, Illinois, Frankfurt, Sydney and West Samoa. These seven Bahai Houses of Worship are all world-famous for their architectural beauty and nine-sided design representing the manifestation of God. The Bahai Faith was established in India in the mid 19th century and today India is the largest national contingent of Bahai's in the world with more than 2 million members.
Covering an expanse of 26 acres of land, the Lotus Temple or Bahai Temple in Delhi was built between 1980 and 1986 at a cost of Rs 10 million and was opened to public worship in December 1986. The temple is set among pools and gardens, which gives the impression of a floating half-open lotus flower surrounded by its outspread leaves. The Lotus, as seen from outside, has three sets of petals The petals are made of special concrete clad with white marble, extracted from the Mount Pentitikon mines in Greece. |
