Lotus Temple is also known as Bahai Temple. Lotus Temple is located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi. The Temple was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent. It has won various architectural awards. The architect of lotus Temple was Fariborz Sahba from Canada.

Lotus Temple covers an area of 26 acres of land and it was built at a cost of Rs 10. More than 700 laborers and forty engineers were employed in its construction. They worked dedicatedly for six years to complete this House of Worship, which is considered one of the marvels of modern architecture.

It is shaped like a half opened lotus flower. The design of Lotus Temple is inspired by the lotus flower, which is composed of 27 free-standing marble clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides. This temple was made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand.

Lotus Temple is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility. The lotus flower signifies purity and peace, a representation of the Manifestation of God, to the people of India. This ancient symbol has been given a modern and contemporary form in the structure of the Bahai House of Worship drawing into its sanctum sanctorum people from all races, religious backgrounds and culture from around the globe.



In Lotus Temple there are four Prayer Sessions everyday. In these prayer sessions prayer from all religions are recited which makes these sessions unique. Each Prayer Sessions is of 15 mins.

Lotus Temple represents the Bahai faith, which is an independent world religion; divine in origin, all embracing in scope, broad in its outlook, scientific in its method, humanitarian in its principles, and dynamic in the influence.

The structure of the House is composed of three ranks of nine petals; each springing from a podium elevating the building above the surrounding plain. The first two ranks curve inward, embracing the inner dome; the third layer curves outward to form canopies over the nine entrances.

The petals, constructed of reinforced white concrete cast in place, are clad in white marble panels, performed to surface profiles and patterns related to the geometry. Nine arches that provide the main support for the superstructure ring the central hall.

Nine reflecting pools surround the building on the outside, their form suggesting the green leaves of the lotus flower. Translating the geometry of the design, in which there are virtually no straight lines, into the actual structure presented particular challenges in designing and erecting the framework.

Visiting Hours in Summer that is from 1st April to 30th September is 9am to 7pm and in winters that is from 1st October to 31st March is 9:30am to 5:30pm. There is also an Information Centre at Lotus Temple which is an exhibition that provides information on different facets of the Bahá'í Faith in the form of photographs, written texts and film. Information center also shows some movies everyday. These movies are related to the Bahai House of Worship and the Bahai Faith.