Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is a Bahá’í House of Worship completed in 1986 and renowned for its distinctive architecture of 27 free-standing marble-clad petals arranged in the form of a half-open lotus flower. Designed by Iranian-Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba, it receives over four million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited buildings in the world. Open to people of all faiths for prayer and meditation, it embodies the Bahá’í principles of the unity of humanity and the harmony of world religions.
At a glance
- Type
- Bahá’í House of Worship
- Period
- Designed 1976; construction completed 1986; inaugurated 24 December 1986
- Style
- Contemporary expressionist architecture inspired by the lotus flower; Greek Pentelic marble cladding
- Location
- Lotus Temple Road, Bahapur, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, New Delhi 110019, India
- Coordinates
- 28.5535° N, 77.2566° E
Overview
The Lotus Temple serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent for the Bahá’í Faith and welcomes visitors of all religions, with no religious ceremonies or rituals performed within its walls — only silent prayer and meditation are permitted. The building consists of 27 free-standing marble-clad petals arranged in clusters of three, forming nine sides with nine doors that open onto a central hall holding approximately 2,500 people. The structure is surrounded by nine reflecting pools that give the impression of the lotus floating on water.
History
The Bahá’í community of India initiated the project in the 1950s, and the land in the Bahapur area of south Delhi was selected in the early 1970s. Architect Fariborz Sahba was commissioned in 1976 and spent three years developing the lotus-inspired design, which required complex structural engineering to achieve the petal forms without internal columns. Construction lasted from 1980 to 1986, involving Indian and international contractors and using white Pentelic marble quarried in Greece — the same stone used in the Parthenon. The temple was inaugurated on 24 December 1986 and immediately attracted large numbers of visitors from around the world.
What you see
The approach to the temple is through landscaped gardens with nine reflecting pools that mirror the lotus-petal shell. The exterior petals of Greek white marble are arranged in three sets of nine: outer petals that open outward, middle petals that lean inward, and inner petals forming the entrance porticos. The central prayer hall beneath the main dome rises 34 metres and is lit by natural light diffusing through the translucent marble shell. Inside, rows of wooden pews are arranged in a circular configuration facing the central pulpit, and the space is notable for its profound acoustic stillness. Readings from the scriptures of all world religions are conducted at scheduled intervals.
Cultural significance
The Lotus Temple is both a place of active spiritual use and a landmark of 20th-century architecture that has received numerous international design awards. Its inclusive philosophy — welcoming worshippers of any background — makes it a rare example of sacred architecture explicitly designed without denominational exclusivity. For the Bahá’í community of approximately seven million worldwide, it represents the faith’s vision of a unified humanity, while its annual visitor figures place it alongside the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal in global tourism reach.
Practical information
- Address
- Lotus Temple Road, Bahapur, New Delhi 110019, India
- Hours
- Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–17:30 (October–March); 09:00–18:30 (April–September); closed Monday
- Admission
- Free
- Note
- Shoes must be removed before entering; silence is observed within the prayer hall
Getting there
The nearest metro station is Lotus Temple on the Violet Line (Line 6), approximately 500 metres from the entrance. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are available from Nehru Place and Kalkaji. The temple is approximately 10 km south of Connaught Place in central Delhi.