What Is the Lotus Temple?
This Baháʼí House of Worship is the world’s tallest lotus-shaped building!
What Makes It Wonderful?
Constructed between 1953 and 1986, this temple was designed by architect, Fariborz Sahba, who had traveled across India and realized just how important the lotus was as a symbol. Crafted from carefully carved marble, there are nine of every part to this temple: nine inner petals, nine outer petals, nine entrances, and nine pools surrounding to produce cooling breezes on hot Delhi days!
But what’s truly wonderful here is that the Lotus Temple is explicitly open to all race, faiths, and nationalities, with no altars or icons, no talking allowed outside scheduled 15-minute services, and capacity for 1,300 worshippers. That’s because the Bahá’í faith teaches that all religions are branches from the same unknowable God who sent messengers in various forms. The goal at the Lotus Temple is to encourage folks to come and engage wth their creator, uninterrupted and without mediation, then go out and be of service to humanity. If that’s not wonderful, I don’t know what is!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
Lotus Temple Rd
Bahapur, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Kalkaji
New Delhi, Delhi 110019
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The temple is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM! Organized prayer services take place at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM!
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