Also Known As · Kamal Mandir · लोटस टेंपल
New Delhi, Delhi · monument
A half-open lotus of 27 white-marble petals rising from nine pools — Delhi's most photographed modern building, free to all and serenely quiet inside.
The Lotus Temple is one of Delhi's most photographed modern landmarks and a masterpiece of late-20th-century architecture. Completed in 1986 and designed by the Iranian-Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba, the building takes the form of a half-open lotus flower: twenty-seven free-standing marble-clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to create nine sides, rising around a soaring central hall. Clad in gleaming white Pentelic marble and set within landscaped gardens and nine reflecting pools, the structure has won numerous international architecture awards and draws millions of visitors a year, making it one of the most-visited buildings in the world.
Quick vegetarian meals, dosas, and chaat in Delhi's tech hub
Pure-vegetarian sattvik buffet — no onion, no garlic
South Indian dosas, thalis, and street chaat near the temple
The Lotus Temple is one of Delhi's most photographed modern landmarks and a masterpiece of late-20th-century architecture. Completed in 1986 and designed by the Iranian-Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba, the building takes the form of a half-open lotus flower: twenty-seven free-standing marble-clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to create nine sides, rising around a soaring central hall.
entry is free, and the building is closed on Mondays. Photography is permitted in the gardens and of the exterior but not inside the central hall. Expect a short queue and a security check at peak times. Arrive early on a weekday for the calmest experience and the best light on the white marble, and allow about an hour to ninety minutes to walk the grounds, photograph the petals, and sit quietly inside.
Visiting Hours
Entry Fee: Free for all visitors. No ticket required. Photography is allowed in the gardens and of the exterior, but not inside the central hall.
Verified: June 2026
Address
Lotus Temple Road, Bahapur, Kalkaji, New Delhi, Delhi, 110019
Near Kalkaji Mandir metro, south Delhi
🚇 Nearest Metro: Kalkaji Mandir (Violet & Magenta Lines) — about 600 m / a 10-minute walk; Nehru Place (Violet Line) is a similar distance
🚶 Walking from Metro: From Kalkaji Mandir metro (Violet & Magenta Lines) it is a flat 10-minute walk (~600 m) to the entrance gate.
Distance from
Parking
nearby · ₹20–₹50 (paid)
Limited paid parking near the entrance; the metro is far easier on weekends.
🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Uber and Ola drop near the main gate on Lotus Temple Road. From Kalkaji Mandir metro it is a short, flat walk.
How to Reach: The Lotus Temple is on Lotus Temple Road in Bahapur, Kalkaji, south Delhi. Nearest metro: Kalkaji Mandir (Violet and Magenta Lines), about 600 m / a 10-minute walk; Nehru Place (Violet Line) is a similar distance. Uber, Ola, and auto-rickshaws serve the area reliably.
History
The Lotus Temple was completed in 1986 after roughly a decade of design and construction.
🏛️ Architect: The building was designed by the Iranian-Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba, who spent years refining the lotus form. Its 27 marble-clad concrete petals, nine surrounding pools, and landscaped gardens have earned numerous international architecture and engineering awards, and it is widely studied as a landmark of expressive shell-structure design.
Significance
The Lotus Temple is one of the defining works of modern Indian architecture and among the most-visited buildings in the world.
The Hare Krishna temple complex in East of Kailash, known for its architecture, exhibitions, and pure-vegetarian dining.
India's first great Mughal garden-tomb and the prototype for the Taj Mahal.
A landscaped sculpture-and-flower garden in Saidulajab — a relaxed spot for families and couples.
Family Highlights
💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal phones and handheld cameras in the gardens and of the exterior. No photography inside the central hall.
📍 The Golden Spot: The full lotus form mirrored in the front reflecting pools, shot from the garden path in soft morning light.
🌅 Best Light Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM in winter for clean light on the white marble; the petals also glow at sunset.
Touts or auto drivers near the gate claim there is an entry fee or a "special darshan ticket," or offer to "skip the queue" for a charge.
Official AdviceEntry to the Lotus Temple is completely free and there is no paid fast-track. Walk to the official gate and ignore anyone selling "tickets."
🌅 Secret View: The reflection of the petals in the front pools, framed from the lower garden path, is the cleanest composition and avoids the entrance crowd.
🎯 Crowd Hack: Arrive at 9:00 AM opening on a weekday; weekends and holidays bring very long queues.
💎 Secret Fact: The building is formed of 27 free-standing marble-clad petals arranged in clusters of three to make nine sides — a feat of shell-concrete engineering finished in white Pentelic marble.
⚡ Express Tour
45 minutes — walk the gardens, photograph the petals and pools, and sit briefly inside.
🔭 Deep Dive Tour
Half day — Lotus Temple gardens, then ISKCON Delhi, then a vegetarian lunch in Nehru Place or Kalkaji.
👕 Dress Code: No formal dress code; modest, comfortable clothing recommended. Footwear is removed before entering the central hall.
📷 Photography Rules: Photography is free in the gardens and of the exterior. Photography and phone use are not permitted inside the central hall. Tripods and professional shoots need prior permission. Drones are prohibited.
🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs in Nehru Place and Kalkaji (within 1.5 km).
No. Entry to the Lotus Temple is completely free and no ticket is required. Anyone claiming there is a paid entry or "special ticket" is a tout.
It is open about 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM in winter (to around 7:00 PM in summer) and is closed on Mondays. Arrive early on a weekday to avoid long queues.
Kalkaji Mandir station on the Violet and Magenta Lines is the nearest — about 600 m, a 10-minute walk. Nehru Place on the Violet Line is a similar distance.
Yes in the gardens and of the exterior, but photography and phone use are not allowed inside the central hall, where silence is requested.
About one to one-and-a-half hours is enough to walk the gardens, photograph the petals and pools, and sit briefly inside.
It was designed by the Iranian-Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba and completed in 1986, formed of 27 marble-clad petals around a central hall.
Nehru Place and Kalkaji nearby have many pure-veg and veg-friendly eateries, and Govinda's at ISKCON Delhi (a short drive) serves a pure-vegetarian sattvik buffet.
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