India Trip: March 2

From Rev. Abhi Janamanchi:

Qutub Minar

We began our tour of Delhi with a visit to the Qutub Minar. The Qutub Minar is the world's tallest brick minaret with a height of 238 ft. Construction was commenced by Qutb-ud-din Aibak at the end of the thirteenth century who won Delhi from the Hindu ruler Prithviraj and it was finished by Iltutmish. The Qutub Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as the Qutub complex.



The nearby Iron Pillar is one of the world's foremost metallurgical curiosities. The iron pillar is 22 feet high which is notable for the composition of the metals used in its construction. The pillar weighs more than six tons and is said to have been fashioned sometime in the fourth century CE. The pillar initially stood in the centre of a Jain temple complex housing twenty-seven temples that were destroyed. Their material was used in building the Qutub Minar. The pillar is a testament to the high level of skill achieved by ancient Indian blacksmiths. It has attracted world attention because it has withstood corrosion for over 1,600 years in the open air. The name of the city of Delhi is thought to be based on a legend associated with the pillar.


Next, we visited the Bahá'í House of Worship in Delhi, India, popularly known as the Lotus Temple due to its flower-like shape. It was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent.

As with all other Bahá'í Houses of Worship, the Lotus Temple is open to all regardless of religion, or any other distinction, as emphasized in Bahá'í texts. The Bahá'í laws emphasize that the spirit of the House of Worship be that it is a gathering place where people of all religions may worship without denominational restrictions. People from many different faiths and cultures were at the temple. It was a deeply spiritual experience.

In the evening, we attended a special program showcasing some of the classical and folk dances of India. The program was presented by a group of very talented artists and performers and it was a visual treat.

My next blog post will be on our visit to the waste-pickers colony in the outskirts of New Delhi.

Go shining
Abhi Janamanchi