Temple · Modern · 1986
LOTUS TEMPLEThe Bahá'í House of Worship — 27 marble petals
The Brief
The Lotus Temple is a Bahá'í House of Worship in south Delhi, India, designed by Iranian-Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba and completed in 1986. Built in the form of a 27-petal lotus flower clad in Greek marble, it is one of seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship globally and is open to people of all religions for silent prayer. Surrounded by 26 acres of gardens and reflecting pools, it draws roughly 4 million visitors annually. MyTripMyTravel includes it on the modern-Delhi circuit, often paired with the Akshardham temple complex.
The Lotus Temple is among the most-photographed pieces of modern architecture in India — Fariborz Sahba's 1986 design of nine reflecting pools around a 27-petal marble lotus, clad in Pentelic marble from the same Greek quarry that supplied the Parthenon.
It is one of seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship globally — buildings open to all faiths for silent prayer, with no clergy, no sermons, and no ritual. The interior is a single 40-metre-tall hall under the marble lotus with no ornamentation. Visitors sit in silence; the only sound is the readings of sacred texts from various religions.
Around the temple, 26 acres of gardens and reflecting pools complete the composition. The annual visitor count is around 4 million.
MyTripMyTravel includes the Lotus Temple on the modern-Delhi circuit, often paired with the Akshardham temple complex 12 km away for two architecturally extraordinary modern religious buildings in a single day.
Quick Facts
Lotus Temple at a glance
What to See
THE HIGHLIGHTSThe 27-petal lotus
Greek Pentelic marble in 27 petals arranged in 3 rings of 9 — the principal sacred number in the Bahá'í tradition.
The central hall
40 m tall, unadorned, holds 2,500 in silence.
Nine reflecting pools
The lotus 'floats' on water — the surrounding pools double the architectural impact.
26-acre gardens
Quiet garden circuit for contemplation around the temple.
Visitor Protocol
How We Run It
Visit Tuesday-Friday for lower crowds; weekends are very busy.
Silence inside the hall is strictly observed — phones off.
Pair with Akshardham (12 km) for two modern temples in one day.
Intelligence
LOTUS TEMPLE FAQWhat is the Bahá'í faith?
A 19th-century religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in Persia, teaching the unity of God, religion, and humanity. Bahá'í Houses of Worship are open to all faiths and have no clergy or ritual.
Why does it look like a lotus?
The lotus is sacred in multiple Indian religious traditions (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain) and was chosen by the architect to make the building feel rooted in India's spiritual heritage.
Can I pray inside?
Yes — silent prayer or meditation, open to people of all religions. There is no required ritual.
When is it closed?
Mondays.