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Lotus Temple and Kalkaji
Three Faiths
The area around Kalkaji in south Delhi holds three very different houses of worship within an hour's walk: the Bahá'í Lotus Temple, with no rituals and nothing but silence; Kalkaji Mandir, the old temple of the goddess Kali; and ISKCON's Radha Parthasarathi temple, where the evening ends in kirtan. Kalkaji Mandir station on the Violet and Magenta lines serves the first two; ISKCON names Nehru Place.
👥 Who it suits
the Lotus hush Kalkaji's Shakti Pitha unhurried evenings
Staying here
No tourist stays: an evening sortie to the south-east.
🌙 In the evening
The Lotus closes on Mondays; at sunset the marble blushes: the best hour.
Getting there
Ⓜ Kalkaji Mandir (Violet/Magenta)
What to see
👣 From silence to song: one afternoon
The order follows the opening hours: the Lotus closes at 17:00, while ISKCON is at its fullest in the evening.
- 1. Lotus Temple, mid-afternoon
About five minutes' walk from Kalkaji Mandir or Okhla NSIC station. Completed in 1986, it is 27 white marble petals around a single hall, ringed by nine pools. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30–17:00, free; short prayer services at 15:00 and 17:00 are readings rather than ceremony. No photos inside the hall. See Lotus Temple.
- 2. Kalkaji Mandir
The temple of Kali stands opposite Nehru Place, by its own metro station. Tradition places it far back in time; the oldest surviving parts date from the second half of the 18th century, and the pyramid-shaped dome was added in 1816. Bells, crowds and offerings: the opposite of the Lotus hall. Shoes off at the entrance.
- 3. ISKCON for the evening aarti
On Hare Krishna Hills, East of Kailash, open daily from the 4:30 Mangala aarti until the hall closes at 21:00. Time your arrival for Sandhya aarti at about 18:30, when the hall fills with kirtan (devotional singing), and stay for dinner at Govinda's, the vegetarian restaurant inside. Phones away during aarti. See ISKCON Delhi.
How it compares with other temple districts
- Akshardham: one vast modern complex in East Delhi, a half-day on its own, phones left at the gate.
- Mehrauli: Yogmaya, by tradition the oldest temple in worship in Delhi, and the seventy-acre Chhatarpur complex further south.
- Nizamuddin: the Sufi dargah, with qawwali on Thursday evenings, if you want a fourth way of praying in one trip.
All the city's shrines and how to choose: temples of Delhi. There are no tourist stays here; this is an afternoon trip from wherever you sleep.
When to come
Any day but Monday, when the Lotus Temple is closed. Delhi's best months are October and February to March; in May and June the open grounds around the Lotus are hard going in the midday sun, so come later in the afternoon. From November to January smog can hang over the south of the city. ISKCON is free, like the Lotus.
❓ FAQ
On which day is the Lotus Temple closed?
Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30–17:00.
Which metro station is nearest to Kalkaji Mandir and the Lotus Temple?
Kalkaji Mandir, on the Violet and Magenta lines; Okhla NSIC on the Magenta line also serves the Lotus Temple. For ISKCON, the temple names Nehru Place on the Violet Line.
Can people of any religion visit the Lotus Temple?
Yes. It is open to people of every faith and of none; visitors pray in their own way or sit in silence.
What are ISKCON Delhi timings?
Daily from the 4:30 Mangala aarti until the temple hall closes at 21:00, according to the temple; Sandhya aarti is at about 18:30.
Is Kalkaji Mandir crowded during Navratri?
Very: queues start before dawn. For a calmer visit, come outside Navratri.
Sources (4)
Facts checked: 8 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
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