Lotus Temple, Delhi: How To Reach, Best Time & Tips

Q: What are the key features of Lotus Temple?

Some of the key features of the Lotus Temple are:-The temple is constructed in the form of a huge white half-open lotus flower, which gives it the name. It was designed by Fariborz Sahba, an Iranian architect. -The temple is open to all, thereby allowing visitors of all kinds of religion, regardless of what their gender, caste or nationality is. -It is one of the seven Houses of Worship in the world, with the other centres being in Sydney, Panama City, Apia, Kampala, Frankfurt and Wilmette. -There are nine doors to the Lotus Temple, all of which are shaped like arches, and open up to the central Prayer Hall. These doors are all made up of several conical, plain as well as cylindrical surfaces, which only adds to the beauty of the temple. -Over 10,000 different sizes of white marble were used in the construction of the Lotus Temple. -There are no photographs, idols or statues inside the Lotus Temple.

INR ₹

Lotus Temple Overview

Located in the capital city of New Delhi, the Lotus Temple is a beautiful structure established and dedicated to the Baha’i faith. The magnificent structure of the building is created in the form of a stunning white petal lotus flower.

It also ranks amongst the most visited buildings in the entire world. The shrine, which was completed and ready to open for the public in 1986, was designed and conceptualised by Fariborz Sahba, an Iranian architect.

One of the most attractive things about the Lotus Temple, other than its structure, is the fact that this temple propagates the oneness of God, the Almighty. Furthermore, it is open to all kinds of people, regardless of their religion, gender, race or even nationality.

Additionally, it is one out of the seven Baha’i House of Worship present in the whole world. The temple complex boasts of a unique and picturesque gate as well as verdant gardens filled with vibrant, colourful flowers.

There is also a huge pool full of pristine blue water, adding to the opulence of the Lotus Temple. Furthermore, there is a pathway leading to the doors of the temple, which is lined with vivid green shrubs, making the entire ambience peaceful and serene.

The architecture of the Lotus Temple is not just mesmerising, but attracts your attention as soon as you enter the temple premises. Transporting visitors into a deep, introspective silence, the Lotus Temple is one place where people go to meditate, relax and just soak in the tranquility.

Here, people are generally requested to remain quiet. You can read as well as silently chant the religious texts of any faith you want here. In addition to singing musical renditions of religious texts at Lotus Temple, you can also go there with your near and dear ones for a quiet time, away from the bustling streets of Delhi. A visit to this idyllic temple amidst the busy city is a must, since it will surely enchant you.

Location: Lotus Temple Rd, Bahapur, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Kalkaji, New Delhi, Delhi 110019

Price: You do not need to pay any entry free to visit the iconic Lotus Temple.

Timing: The Lotus Temple is open from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. on all days except Monday.

Architecture of Lotus Temple:

The beautiful Lotus Temple is made up of Greek white marble, that too in the shape of a Lotus. One of the main reasons behind choosing Lotus as the symbol of the temple was that Lotus, as a flower, is common to many different religions. This includes Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism as well as Islam.

The structure for this Baha’i House of Worship in Delhi comprises of 27 free-standing white marble lotus petals which are further organised into bunches of three. These bunches then form the nine sides. The nine doors of the temple then open into a magnificent central hall, which can hold over 2,000 people at once.

An interesting part of the design of the Lotus Temple is that it has been designed in a way such that no external or additional lighting is required to light up the large prayer hall. The light you get is that which filters through the inner folds of the Lotus petals. It then spreads throughout the hall, acting as a sort of natural light.

The Lotus Temple is spread over an expanse of more than 26 acres, and has nine beautiful pools as well as lush green gardens surrounding it, adding to the beauty and glory of the entire place.

How To Reach

The distance between Lotus Temple and Delhi Airport is around 20 kilometres.

By Taxi: The best way to reach Lotus Temple from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, is by taking a taxi to the temple, which takes around 25 minutes, depending upon the traffic. Additionally, you can also avail an online cab to reach Lotus Temple quickly.

By Metro: However, you can also take the subway from the airport to Shivaji Stadium, after which you can take another subway from Janpath to Kalkaji Mandir, which is a short walk away from the Lotus Temple.

By Bus: The cheapest way to reach Lotus Temple from Delhi Airport is by availing the Delhi Transport Corporation and private bus services from here.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit the Lotus Temple is during the months of October to March, during winter and spring.

Winter Season: This is when the weather is perfect for exploring the mesmerising temple, in a relaxing and comfortable way, without the heat making the visit unbearable.

Summer Season: The most unbearable months to visit Lotus Temple and its gardens are those from April to July, which is the summer season in Delhi. Temperatures can get up to 45 degrees Celsius and even higher on some days, making it very difficult for you to wander outside.

Monsoon Season: Following summer, the month of August experiences heavy rainfall with the onset of the monsoon season in Delhi. Visiting the Lotus Temple during this month is also difficult, since the weather is extremely wet and humid, making it difficult to explore the lush gardens around the temple complex.

Other Essential Information

Location: Lotus Temple Rd, Bahapur, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Kalkaji, New Delhi, Delhi 110019

Price: You do not need to pay any entry free to visit the iconic Lotus Temple.

Timing: The Lotus Temple is open from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. on all days except Monday.

Places to eat near Lotus Temple:

Located in a great locality, the Lotus Temple has many places nearby where you can satiate your hunger after a day of exploring the amazing temple. Some of these places include:

1. Balaji Food Corner: If you are looking to indulge in affordable, yet delicious north Indian food, Balaji Food Corner is the place to go. This pure vegetarian eatery offers some of the best chole bhature, rajma chawal, kadhi chawal and chole chawal in the entire area.

2. The First Floor Restaurant: For a more upscale restaurant, with a variety of options and added facilities, you can always visit The First Floor Restaurant. Serving alcohol and non-vegetarian food, this place is known for its chicken dishes, such as chicken malai tikka, kalmi chicken and methi chicken, amongst others. They specialise in a wide variety of cuisines, ranging from Indian and Chinese to European as well.

3. Golden Fiesta: In case you are looking to go to a restaurant which is kid friendly or caters to large groups, Golden Fiesta is a great place for that. With free Wi-Fi and air conditioning facilities, the restaurant also offers Chinese, Indian and fast food options to guests, along with a multitude of pastries and cakes.

4. Sukun Restaurant: Yet another cosy eatery near the Lotus Temple, this restaurant has a very calming ambience, with a courteous and polite service and professional staff. Catering to a variety of crowd, they specialise in Indian, Chinese, Mughlai and tandoori cuisines.

5. Govinda’s: Possibly the most famous of all places to eat near Lotus Temple, Govinda’s is actually a large hall with a soothing ambience, where you can indulge in great-tasting food. From Hong Kong fried noodles and baked macaroni, to kimchi chaat, dal makhani and shahi paneer, all the food here is cooked in pure ghee. You can also try the lip-smacking dal baati churma and the Govinda special kheer here.

Tips for visiting Lotus Temple:

You should always keep a few things in mind when you are visiting Lotus Temple, some of which are:

-The temple is a place for silent prayer and meditation, so it is advisable not to create a ruckus or make loud noises.

-It is advisable not to leave the prayer hall during the prayer timings, which are from 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 03:00 p.m. and 05:00 p.m. Additionally, people are requested to wait inside the prayer hall until the prayers are over.

-It is advisable not to read any non-scriptural texts, deliver any sermons, play instruments or try to raise funds at the Lotus Temple, because these are strictly forbidden here.

-It is recommended to park your vehicles near the temple. That way, you will have to walk a short distance.

-It is advised not to take any photographs inside the temple, as that is strictly prohibited.

-Wear comfortable shoes, since the entire tour of the Lotus Temple may take more than a couple of hours and will require a lot of walking.

-Carry water and light snacks with you in case you get tired and hungry.

Lotus Temple FAQs

Which God is Lotus Temple?

The Lotus Temple does not worship a single God. Rather, it belongs to the Baha’i faith, an independent Abrahamic World Religion having roots in Shia Islam. It aims to portray the oneness of God, and thereby caters to people of all religions, regardless of their caste, creed, nationality or gender.

What was the Lotus Temple used for?

Located in New Delhi, the Lotus Temple is a Baha’i House of Worship. It is not only a famous and prominent attraction in the city, but also serves as a worship place for people of all religions.

On which day is Lotus Temple closed?

The Lotus Temple is closed every Monday. However, you can visit the Lotus Temple every other day of the week, including weekends, between 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 pm.

What is the Lotus Temple made of?

The Lotus Temple is made up of Greek white marble. This marble comes from the Penteli Mountain in Greece, the same mountain from which many other ancient structures and monuments as well as the other Baha’i Houses of Worship have been built. The construction of the Lotus Temple used over 10,000 different sizes of this marble.

What are the key features of Lotus Temple?

Some of the key features of the Lotus Temple are:

-The temple is constructed in the form of a huge white half-open lotus flower, which gives it the name. It was designed by Fariborz Sahba, an Iranian architect.
-The temple is open to all, thereby allowing visitors of all kinds of religion, regardless of what their gender, caste or nationality is.
-It is one of the seven Houses of Worship in the world, with the other centres being in Sydney, Panama City, Apia, Kampala, Frankfurt and Wilmette.
-There are nine doors to the Lotus Temple, all of which are shaped like arches, and open up to the central Prayer Hall. These doors are all made up of several conical, plain as well as cylindrical surfaces, which only adds to the beauty of the temple.
-Over 10,000 different sizes of white marble were used in the construction of the Lotus Temple.
-There are no photographs, idols or statues inside the Lotus Temple.

Who built the Lotus Temple and why?

Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba designed and constructed the Lotus Temple. He built it with an aim to propagate the belief that all religions are equal and that there is just one God, one Almighty. And it is because of this that the Lotus Temple is open to all people, without any discrimination regarding their religion, race, gender or nationality.

Is photography allowed in Lotus Temple?

No, photography is not allowed in the Lotus Temple. Taking photographs is not permissible inside the temple due to the clicking noise it makes, which is strictly forbidden. However, you can take photos outside the temple. The garden area inside the Temple grounds is a great area for taking photographs.

Why was the Lotus Temple made?

The Lotus Temple, which is a Baha’i House of Worship, was made with a single yet important goal in mind. It was built to propagate the idea to the people that there is one God, a single Almighty. Furthermore, it was made to suggest the idea that every religion is equal to one another.

When was Lotus temple built?

The Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba completed building the Lotus Temple on 18th November, 1986. It was then opened to the public on 24th December, 1986. It took Sahba six years to complete building this House of Worship.