Lotus Temple Temple

Address: Lotus Temple (Bahá’í House of Worship), Lotus Temple Rd (Near Kalkaji), New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

Website: https://www.bahaihouseofworship.in

Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00am-5:30pm, closed Mondays

Admission: Free (entry)

Lotus Temple is a Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi, India, completed in 1986 and known for its lotus-flower inspired design. The structure is distinguished by its nine-sided plan and 27 marble-clad petals arranged in clusters.

The lotus-shaped exterior and surrounding gardens are the main visual draws and are designed to create a contemplative setting for visitors from all backgrounds. The central hall is open and non-denominational - services and silent prayer are conducted without ritual or clergy.

The site also includes landscaped terraces and reflecting pools that frame the building and provide quiet outdoor spaces for reflection. The temple’s architecture and accessibility make it a frequent stop on cultural and architectural tours of New Delhi.

Conceived and funded by the Bahá’í community, the temple was designed by architect Fariborz Sahba and completed in 1986. It was among the later 20th-century Bahá’í Houses of Worship constructed to serve as an open place of prayer.

The Lotus Temple is located in southern New Delhi, within urban parkland and accessible from central parts of the city.

• Architectural form: The building is a Bahá’í House of Worship completed in 1986 with a nine-sided plan formed by 27 free-standing marble-clad petals and surrounded by landscaped pools and gardens.

The Lotus Temple is in south Delhi near Kalkaji. Take the Delhi Metro Violet Line to Kalkaji Mandir station and walk roughly 10-15 minutes (about 1 km) to the temple; Nehru Place station is also within walking/taxi distance. By car it is in the south Delhi/Bahapur area, roughly 15-20 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport (travel time varies with traffic).

• Arrive early or late afternoon to avoid peak weekend crowds and to find seating in the central hall for the quiet devotional time.
• Note that the Bahá'í House of Worship enforces silence in the central hall and photography inside is generally not permitted-plan to photograph the building from the terraces and gardens instead.
• Spend a few minutes walking the surrounding terraces and reflecting pools: these landscaped viewpoints are quieter than the main entrance area and give symmetrical photo opportunities that many visitors overlook.