THE LOTUS TEMPLE

For the first time in India I saw something perfect, not only as far as the building is concerned but its complete surroundings and logistics.

I arrived with my bicycle and someone showed me a well observed parking lot for bicycles. My intention to give some money for extra protection for the bicycle (a real mountain bike is very rare in India, even in Delhi) was denied and I was made clear that this service was included. In the all parking area and later on the walk to the sanctuory there were no bags of plastic no other debris. Every thing was clean,the pavement was impecable, no red spits on the floor or on the walls, no excrements, no smell of human pee. All these things normal at touristic attractions were not available. A guard showed me the right lane to make the temple tour friendly but with no hesitation. The Indian lined up (I still did not understand how the organizers could manage that , I never saw Indians line up, this is already a miracle by itself) to give there shoes to a well organized place. And everybody walked well - behaved inline to the temple. Before the enterance a the door was shortly closed and a lady explained friendly and frankly that this was a place for prayer and silence has to be respected (no pictures :-(, no mobile phones :-) And wonder by wonder these directives were followed.

The inside of the temple is a wonder of serenity with no pictures , no advertisements no idols..... and the temperature must have been 30 C (out side it was 42 C) really inviting to take a rest on the coll marble banks and start a pray.

I thought at start this was an Buddhist temple but inside and seeing the ladies taking care that everybody was behaving has was expected, it was clear for me that this was not a Buddhist temple but was THE BAHA'I HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

I learned that the cooling (without any air conditioners) was performed in conjunction with 8 citerns surrounding the temple.

I spent 1 hour in the temple ad felt relaxed and very motivated to take the 25 km road back to Gurgaon at 42C