Lotus Temple in Delhi: a marble flower of faith
Published on 09/10/2026 at 17:24 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Lotus Temple in Delhi appears like a vast white lotus emerging from a broad expanse of gardens, a Bahá’à House of Worship where architecture and symbolism are closely entwined. Completed in 1986 and designed by Iranian?Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba, its marble petals and open hall give the city one of its most recognisable modern religious buildings.Completed in 1986
A Bahá’à House of Worship shaped as a lotus
Lotus Temple serves as the Bahá’à House of Worship for the Indian subcontinent, set in the Bahapur area of south Delhi near Kalkaji.Bahá?à House of Worship for the Indian subcontinent The building belongs to the family of Bahá’à houses of worship, each laid out with nine sides, reflecting the faith’s emphasis on the number nine.
The temple follows that nine?sided plan using 27 marble?clad concrete “petals”, grouped in threes to form each side and arranged in three rings around a central hall.Nine-sided construction with 27 petals The central hall reaches about 40 m (131 ft) in height and provides seating for roughly 1,300 worshippers, making it a substantial yet uncolumned volume beneath the concrete shell.Central hall height and seating
Marble, water and gardens around the central hall
The structure rises on an elevated plinth within grounds of about 26 acres, with lawns and planting arranged around the central lotus form.Set on an elevated plinth in landscaped gardens At the foot of the petals lie pools of water, laid out around the building and bordered by stone walkways, so that the marble flower appears to hover above a ring of blue basins.
The petals themselves are thin concrete shells clad in white marble sourced from the Penteli mountain in Greece, the same stone used for classical structures such as the Parthenon.Marble from Penteli mountain in Greece The outermost ring of petals forms the entrances leading from the gardens and pools into the central space, while inner petals curve around the hall to complete the lotus form above the prayer area.Outer petals forming entrances
Faith, silence and modern Indian architecture
Fariborz Sahba’s design places the focus on a single unadorned prayer hall, where readings from different religions can be heard and no ritual images are displayed.Designed by Fariborz Sahba The hall is reached through one of nine doors, and its seating layout allows visitors to face the centre beneath the high concrete and marble shell without internal supports interrupting the space.Column-free worship hall
The expressionist form of Lotus Temple has placed it firmly among examples of modern Indian architecture, a religious building that uses concrete engineering and a sculptural roof to create a large place of worship in a garden setting.Symbol of modern Indian architecture Since its completion in the mid?1980s, the temple has received architectural awards and has drawn visitors from India and abroad, many of whom experience it both as a place of prayer and as a work of contemporary design.Expressionist architectural style
Visiting Lotus Temple: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Lotus Temple stands in the Bahapur area of south Delhi near Kalkaji, reached by road and by the city’s metro network, with stations serving the surrounding district.
- The approach from the nearest roads leads through landscaped gardens and stone walkways, with a broad flight of steps rising to the main plinth around the temple.
- Within the complex, paths and terraces extend around the water basins, so a visit involves walking on level and gently sloping surfaces between the garden, pools and the central hall.
- The official language is Hindi and the currency is the Indian rupee.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Lotus Temple
Where is Lotus Temple in Delhi?
Lotus Temple stands in the Bahapur area of south Delhi near Kalkaji, set on an elevated plinth within extensive landscaped gardens.
What can visitors expect inside the temple?
Inside, visitors enter a high, unadorned prayer hall with seating arranged beneath the concrete and marble shell, reached through one of nine doors around the building.
What makes Lotus Temple distinctive among religious buildings?
The temple is distinctive for its lotus?flower form made from 27 marble?clad concrete petals, its nine?sided plan and its role as a Bahá’à House of Worship.
