Lotus Temple in Delhi: A Must-Visit Architectural Marvel

The Lotus Temple in Delhi is an unmatched architectural marvel and one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It is constructed in the shape of a beautiful lotus with white petals and welcomes a large number of people throughout the year. Unlike most other places of worship, this Bahai Temple in Delhi does not permit traditional ceremonies and has no set structure for worship.

The Architecture of Lotus Temple

The temple is made of Greek white marble and is shaped like a beautiful flower. Fariborz Sahba, an Iranian-American architect, designed this temple, while Flint and Neill, a UK firm, constructed the structural design. Larsen & Toubro Limited’s ECC Construction Group supervised the temple’s construction and finished it for a cost of $10 million in 1986.

Lotus was chosen as the symbol because it is associated with the majority of religions such as Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. This house of worship in New Delhi is made up of 27 pure white marble “petals”.  

The Lotus Temple’s nine entrances lead to a central hall that can accommodate approximately 2,500 people. The Temple is built in such a way that no outside light is required to illuminate the vast prayer hall. The light penetrates through the inner folds of the Lotus and spreads throughout the temple hall, acting as a skylight. The Lotus Temple is spread over 26 acres and has a total of nine ponds and gardens surrounding it. The pathway leading up to the temple doors is bordered with lush green plants and despite the crowd its ambiance is serene.

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Things to Do in Bahai Temple in Delhi

Here are some of the best things to do at this beautiful tourist attraction. 

Watch a Short Film: Inside the temple, a short film entitled “An Outline of the Baha’i Faith” is screened in English. If you are visiting with a group of people, you can ask one of their volunteers to accompany you to the Conference Hall, where you will be briefed for around 5 minutes. Short films are shown every 20 minutes.

Let Your Little Ones Attend Children’s Classes: Through Baha’i teachings, these classes aim to instill values such as generosity, justice, kindness, unity, courage, truthfulness, reliance on God, and service to humanity.

Start Spiritual Learning With Junior Youth Classes: These classes aim to encourage spiritual and intellectual growth in children aged 11 to 14.

Be Part of the Devotional Meetings: The purpose of these sessions is to develop a loving and peaceful environment within the community.

Join Study Circles: The aim of these study circles is to conduct a thorough examination of the Baha writings, prayer,  life and death, in order to instill spiritual awareness in the people.

In addition to these fundamental activities, Lotus Temple organizes the ‘One Ocean Events’, a performing arts series that celebrates humanity’s unity and diversity.

Also Read: Tourists Places in Delhi

Lotus Temple Facts that You Must Know

1. It is one of the most visited structures in the world, with over 4.5 million people every year.
2. In India, the temple is featured on a 6.50-rupee postal stamp.
3. It is the first temple in the national capital to utilize solar energy.
4. Ardishr Rustampr, a Bahai follower from Hyderabad in Pakistan’s Sindh state, contributed his whole savings to support the temple’s land acquisition.

Best Time to Visit Lotus Temple in Delhi

The ideal time to visit this temple is at dusk and in the evening when its beauty is enhanced by floodlights. You can visit this temple from October to March between 09:30 AM to 05:30 AM and from April to September between 09:30 AM to 07:00 PM. The Lotus Temple remains closed on Mondays, so avoid planning your trip on this day. 

Where: Lotus Temple road, Bahapur, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Kalkaji, New Delhi, Delhi 110019.

Major Attractions Near Bahai Temple in Delhi

There are many tourist attractions that can be visited near the Lotus Temple in Delhi. 

1. Kalkaji Devi Temple (600 m away)
2. ISKCON Temple (2.6 km away)
3. Humayun’s Tomb (6.5 km away)
4. Hauz Khaz (8.1 km away)
5. India Gate (8.6 km away)
6. Safdarjung Tomb (9.2 km away from Lotus Temple)
7. Qutub Minar (9.8 km away)
8. Lodhi Tomb (10 km away)
9. Purana Qila (10.1 km away)

The Lotus Temple in Delhi is a peaceful place where you can worship and meditate in tranquility. Plan to go to the Lotus Temple in Delhi and spare some time in admiring its majestic beauty. If you are making up your mind to do so, then book ORD to DEL flights now.