The central theme of Bahá'u'lláh's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá'u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification.

One of the purposes of the Bahá'í Faith is to help make this possible. A worldwide community of some five million Bahá'ís, representative of most of the nations, races and cultures on earth, is working to give Bahá'u'lláh's teachings practical effect. Their experience will be a source of encouragement to all who share their vision of humanity as one global family and the earth as one homeland.

The best time to visit Delhi is between October and March, when the weather is very pleasant. During the peak of winter in January, however, pollution causes a thick fog to envelop the city. Summers are searing hot and dry, so avoid the city at this time- or come prepared.

The Bahá’í House of Worship remains closed on Mondays; the rest of the week, it’s open from 9 am to 7 pm during the summer, and from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm during the winter. On all days, 15-minute prayer sessions are held at 10 am, noon, 3 pm and 5 pm.

.The gateway to India, Delhi is served by two airports to the southwest of the centre. The Indira Gandhi International Airport -Terminal II receives all the international flights, while the domestic airport, Indira Gandhi Terminal I, has flights arriving from destinations within India. Delhi’s three railway stations- New Delhi Station, Old Delhi Station and the quieter Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station have a host of trains connecting the capital to almost anywhere in India.

Buses from across northern India arrive at Delhi’s three ISBTs (Interstate Bus Terminals), near Kashmiri Gate, at Anand Vihar and at Sarai Kale Khan.

Once you’re in Delhi, taxis, hired cars, buses and autorickshaws are among the options for getting around.

Delhi has a wide range of accommodation, from luxurious Indian and international chains, first-class hotels and moderately priced guesthouses to economy youth hostels and lodges. Hotels in and around central Connaught Place cover all price ranges, while nearby Paharganj is lined with budget hotels and lodges. A lot noisier and more congested than Connaught Place, but it can be a great money-saver, although the accommodation may not always be as clean as you’d like it to be.

Most of the large luxury hotels are in South Delhi, with room charges upwards of $200 per night. For a decent room in the mid range category, try any of the guesthouses that have sprung up in residential colonies like Sundar Nagar and West End.

Further information about the Bahá’í House of Worship can be obtained from the temple at Bahapur, Kalkaji, New Delhi (Tel:011- 26444029)