So after our long trip to the Taj, I decided to take things a bit easier the next day. I met up with Louise and we went to this place called the Lotus Temple. The Lotus Temple is actually located very close to where I work. I probably could have/should have just gone after work one day and spent my time seeing something else. At any rate, this is what we decided to do.
We took a rickshaw to the temple itself. The area is enclosed and one must pass through a search and a metal detector to get inside (pretty standard procedure for India).
The great part about the Lotus Temple is the amazing green space around the temple. The temple itself looks great from the outside and is built in the shape of a lotus flower. The people who worship here are of the Bahai faith (which I had never heard of). Apparently, there was a prophet in the 1800s who lived in Iran and carried a message from God and these people are his followers. The most amazing part of the faith is that they take pieces from all religions and believe in accepting everyone. It's a really neat message. Interestingly, one of the things that they call for is establishing a single language in the world so that everyone can communicate with each other.
We didn't spend long walking around the grounds, as it was already very hot outside. The temperature was easily over 100 and probably closer to 110 (if not higher). To enter the temple, you are required to take off your shoes. This made the walk from the shoe place to the temple entrance very uncomfortable. I felt as if I were walking on hot coals.
We walked to the top and were told a bit about the faith and the rules inside. There is to be no talking and the inside is for silent meditation. Once finished, you can leave, taking as long as you like.
Louise and I went inside and sat down. We met a high schooler who was eager to talk to us. Once we were inside, I had to shush him so that we did not draw attention to ourselves. I thought the atmosphere inside was absolutely incredible. Once you're inside, its completely silent except for birds chirping. Inside the temple (which is one large open room with marble floor) birds live there. Their songs echo throughout the silent building. The temple also does not have air conditioner and is kept cool by the water pools surrounding it.
After we spent a few minutes inside in our own thoughts, Louise and I walked outside and down the stairs to the area where the pools are. The water was amazingly clean looking for Delhi. We then walked down to the museum near where we entered and learned about the Baha'i faith and how it got started. It kind of reminds me a bit of the Mormon religion for some reason...except this one doesn't throw it in your face and force you to convert.
After we finished with the Lotus Temple, Louise and I took the metro to go to Connaught Place. We were meeting up with Melanie there before seeing more sites. We decided to wait for her by getting a snack (and change) at McDonalds in CP. McDonalds is awesome because the give you change without complaining. It's one of the only places in India I have found that will do that. Everyone conveniently "doesn't have change."
From Connaught Place (CP), we walked to the jantar mantar. This was an old celestial observatory built in Delhi in the 1700s. According to the plaques around, it can calculate the precise celestial position of the sun and planets. It also can tell the time on earth via the sundial down to the minute! Pretty cool. I wish the instructions had been a bit more clear on how to read it, but the idea is neat.
After that, we walked back to CP to go to a South Indian place. We got dosas, which are a special type of bread that is dipped in different kinds of sauces. Definitely a success. I even had a mango lassi there. Yum! After leaving the restaurant, I turned over my ankle, which made it very painful to walk. I hobbled to the subway and then we took a rickshaw back to the guest house. And it was time to start the week once again.
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