Exploring the Spiritual Oasis of the Lotus Temple

February 20, 2025

The Lotus Temple in Delhi is an architectural and spiritual marvel, ranking among the top tourist destinations in the city and worldwide.

Over 10,000 people visit the temple daily, making it over 4 million people yearly. Its structure is like that of a giant lotus (hence the name) made of marble. It owns a pure white that energies like a dream when the sun spreads its magic over the city.

You’re probably curious about its exterior appearance and why it’s so renowned. But you should learn more about what it stands for, what it represents, or how much work and toil has gone into its every crevice. This guide will explain the intrinsic details of the structure and everything it beholds within every fragment of its soul. Please relax and read on while we analyze everything for you bit by bit.

A Little Peek into the History of the Lotus Temple :

How it Came Along?

With its grand lotus flower design and pristine appearance year-round, this iconic temple wasn’t conceived and built in a day. It took some serious efforts for the whole design, including acquiring the land on which it would be built eventually. The accessibility of the land was made possible by a massive donation from Ardashir Rustampur of Hyderabad. He gave away all his life savings for the temple’s construction. The other part of the funding was obtained from Panama and Mozambique in Africa, where a Bahai was serving a prison sentence.

Who Built the Lotus Temple?

An Iranian architect, Fariborz Sahba, designed the fantastic structure of the entire temple. In 1976, he was approached for the project long after acquiring the land. As he belonged to the Bahai religion himself, he was selected by the Bahai governing body for the project. Being on this journey for about ten years, he wasn’t just the designer and project manager. For this extraordinary achievement, he was commended by the architects from all over the world. The structural design project was assigned to them, and the ECC Construction Group executed it.

The Bahai Faith that the Lotus Temple Represents

The Lotus Temple, also known as the Bahai Temple, stands for architectural excellence and the tenets of the Bahai religion. This faith propagates the equality and unity of all religions, stating that only one god blesses this entire universe.

It is said that the Bahá’í faith originated in Iran, founded by the religious prophet Bahá’u’lláh.

His family went on to spread the principles after his death. The concept finds its traces in another religion called Babi. This Abrahamic monotheistic faith also believes in the one incomprehensible God. Today, it has become a worldwide symbol of peace.

What else is there for You ?

Besides admiring this gorgeous place’s architectural beauty and excellent symmetry, you can also indulge in spiritual sessions. Either join the regular prayer sessions here or immerse yourself in some ancient Bahai scriptures to learn more about this peaceful religion. The Lotus Temple features an audio-visual room and a library housing religious books for visitors. You can set these scriptures to choir tunes and become an integral part of the spirituality of the Bahá’í faith. However, playing any musical instrument inside the temple is prohibited.

Apart from the prayer and reading sessions, the Bahai community offers four core activities at the temple: children’s classes, Junior Youth Classes, Devotional Meetings, and Study Circles. While you’re here, why not meditate and connect with your inner self?

Architecture is What Makes It Special!

Lotus Temple At Night

Saving the best for last, let’s delve into the architectural marvel of the Lotus Temple. What makes this design so unique? While the lotus design is striking, how it has been crafted to reflect the Bahá’í faith is imposing. The Bahá’í faith requires a place of worship to have a circular structure with nine sides, which has no direct connection to a lotus flower. However, by blending this requirement with the Indian symbol of the lotus, architect Fariborz Sahba brought this vision to life and set the project in motion.

It uses solar power to supply its energy needs, precisely 120 KW out of the total 500 KW usage. Last but not least, it’s the most effective way of energy consumption adopted by the temple, which is still in motion. Hence, Lotus Temple stands as one of the first temples in Delhi to use solar energy.

Tidbits to Remember

Place

Lotus Temple Road, ShambhuDayal Bagh, Bahapur, Kalkaji, New Delhi.

Lotus Temple Timings

Opening Time Closing Time

Summers 9:00 AM 7:00 PM

Winters 9:30 AM 5:30 PM

Open

Tuesday – Sunday

Closed

Monday

Entry and Parking

Free

Lotus Temple closest Metro Station

Kalkaji Mandir (Violet Line)

Delhi is home to numerous architectural masterpieces, and the Lotus Temple is only one among many! Akshardham Temple is another such marvel that one cannot miss if they’re in Delhi.