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Lotus Temple (Bahá'í House of Worship), Delhi
The Lotus Temple, the Bahá'í House of Worship in south Delhi, is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays, according to the temple's own site. Entry is free and open to people of every faith. Short prayer services are held at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00, and the nearest metro stations, Kalkaji Mandir and Okhla NSIC, are each about five minutes' walk away.
From the outside, it's an architectural wonder: an enormous white "flower" with petals opening to the sky. Inside, a space of incredible silence. This is the main Bahai temple in India.
The Bahai faith is about the unity of all religions and the equality of all people. So the temple is open to people of all faiths.
What happens inside:
- No rituals, pujas, or kirtans - It's simply a hall where people come to sit in silence - Sometimes texts from the Bahai faith are read in various languages
It may not move you on a "transcendent energy" level, but as an architectural masterpiece, it's 10 out of 10. A very harmonious space, especially outside at sunset.
A Bahai house of worship
Tickets
Before you go
Timings, prayer services and entry
- Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30–17:00.
- Closed: Mondays.
- Entry: free, no ticket.
- Prayer services: 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00, each 10–15 minutes. Readings come from the scriptures of different religions. During a service the exit door of the hall stays closed until it ends, so step in only if you are ready to stay.
The prayer hall closes when it gets overcrowded (Sundays and public holidays) and during heavy rain. Weekdays avoid the Sunday and holiday crowds, and the grounds are pleasant in the late afternoon, before closing.
Groups of ten or more can book an appointment at least three days ahead, except for Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
What the Lotus Temple is
The temple is a house of worship of the Bahá'í Faith, whose teachings centre on the unity of religions and the equality of people; that is why anyone may come in to pray or simply sit. It was dedicated on 24 December 1986 and opened to the public on 1 January 1987.
The architect, Fariborz Sahba, shaped it as a half-opened lotus: 27 marble-clad petals arranged in three rings of nine, 40.8 m high, faced in white Pentelic marble from Greece. Like every Bahá'í House of Worship it has nine sides, and nine pools surround it, so the white petals seem to float. The central hall seats about 1,300.
Inside there are no rituals, pujas or kirtans (devotional singing). Bahá'í rules for these houses allow no sermons or ceremonies and no musical instruments; only scripture is read or chanted. What you find is a tall, cool, very quiet space and people sitting with their eyes closed. As architecture it is remarkable; as a place to stop for ten minutes in the middle of Delhi, it is rare.
✅ Rules and etiquette
The temple's own guidance for visitors:
- Dress — Modest clothing that covers the shoulders and reaches the knees.
- Shoes — Not allowed in the prayer hall; leave them at the shoe room.
- Silence — The hall is for prayer and meditation: no talking inside.
- Photography — Allowed in the grounds, not inside the prayer hall or the Information Centre. Professional shoots need prior permission.
- Food, bags, smoking — No food or drink on the premises, no large baggage, and the whole site is smoke-free.
- Access — Wheelchairs are available at the main gate, first come, first served. Washrooms and drinking water are on site.
👣 How to reach the Lotus Temple
The temple is in Bahapur, Kalkaji, in south Delhi, east of Nehru Place.
- By metro
Kalkaji Mandir station (Violet and Magenta lines) and Okhla NSIC (Magenta line) are both about a 5-minute walk.
- From New Delhi Railway Station
15.4 km, about 40 minutes by taxi or auto. By metro: Yellow Line towards Central Secretariat, change to the Violet Line, get off at Kalkaji Mandir.
- From the airport
16.6 km, about 45 minutes by car. By metro from Terminal 1: Magenta Line towards Botanical Garden, get off at Okhla NSIC, then walk about 650 m.
- By car
Use the DDA parking opposite the main gate.
❓ FAQ
Is entry to the Lotus Temple free?
Yes. There is no ticket and no fee.
On which day is the Lotus Temple closed?
Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30–17:00.
What are the Lotus Temple prayer timings?
Prayer services are held at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00 and last 10–15 minutes each.
Is the Lotus Temple only for Bahá'ís? Can Muslims visit?
It is open to people of all faiths, Muslims included, and to those of none. Visitors may pray in their own way or sit in silence.
Which is the nearest metro station to the Lotus Temple?
Kalkaji Mandir (Violet and Magenta lines) or Okhla NSIC (Magenta line), each about five minutes' walk.
Can I take photos inside the Lotus Temple?
No. Photography is allowed in the grounds but not in the prayer hall or the Information Centre.
Why is the Lotus Temple famous?
For its architecture: 27 white marble petals forming a lotus, surrounded by nine pools, completed in 1986. It is among the most visited sites in India, with more than five million visitors a year.