Bahá'í Temple
Discover Bahá'í Temple
Last updated on October 19, 2026Introduction
The Lotus Temple is the Bahá’í House of Worship in Bahapur, South Delhi. Architect Fariborz Sahba shaped the prayer hall as a half-open lotus: 27 thin concrete petals form nine sides and nine entrances around a central hall.
Construction ran from 1980 to 1986, and the building opened to the public in December 1986. The 26.5-acre complex includes nine pools, gardens, an information centre, a library and administrative buildings. White marble covers the concrete shells; the pools help cool air entering beneath the hall.
The building is an active house of worship rather than a monument with an interior exhibition. People of all beliefs may enter for silent prayer and meditation. There is no altar, pulpit, icon or statue inside, and photography is prohibited in the prayer hall.
Architecture
Twenty-seven petals form three rings. Nine entrance leaves open outward, nine outer leaves lean inward, and nine inner leaves rise around the central hall.
Ninefold repetition controls the plan. Nine entrances lead toward a 1,300-seat hall, while nine pools sit around the building like floating leaves.
Concrete carries the form; marble gives it light. Thin shells are clad in Greek marble cut to shape in Italy and fixed with stainless-steel anchors.
The building cools itself through the site. Pools temper air drawn beneath the steps, while high exhaust fans and the basement air path reduce heat in the hall.
How it was built and evolved over time
Fariborz Sahba developed the lotus from a nine-sided Bahá’í house-of-worship plan. Engineers translated the flower into 27 thin concrete shells arranged in three rings, with radial beams stabilising the upper opening.
About 10,000 square metres of marble was quarried in Greece and cut in Italy. Stainless-steel brackets and anchors fasten the cladding to the inner and outer shells.
The pools are functional as well as visual. Air cooled above the water enters through ducts beneath the steps. Fans in the dome and basement support the circulation, while a glass-and-steel roof admits diffused daylight where the inner petals separate.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lotus Temple open to non-Bahá’ís?
Yes. People of any belief may enter for prayer and meditation.
Is admission free?
Yes.
When is it closed?
The operator currently lists Monday as the weekly closing day.
Can I take photographs inside?
No. Photography is prohibited inside the prayer hall and Information Centre.
Why are there nine pools?
They complete the ninefold plan, reflect the lotus form and help cool air entering the hall.
Are wheelchairs available?
Yes, at the main gate on a first-come basis.