Lotus Temple New Delhi Timings: Opening Hours, Entry and Visitor Guide

The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM and stays closed every Monday, and entry is completely free. Shaped like a white lotus rising from nine pools, it is one of the most visited buildings in the world, a Baha'i House of Worship that welcomes people of every faith to sit in silence. It stands on Lotus Temple Road in Kalkaji, South Delhi, a short walk from Kalkaji Mandir metro station. This guide covers the full timings, entry, how to reach it, what to expect inside and how long to allow.

I was born in Delhi, and in 11 years showing visitors around the city for Experience My India I have watched first-timers walk in expecting a Hindu temple and leave surprised by the stillness of the place. Knowing the hours, the closed day and the simple rules inside makes the visit far smoother. Here is everything you need.

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Lotus Temple New Delhi at a glance

Lotus Temple New Delhi timings

The Lotus Temple is open from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. Hours can shift a little by season, running longer on summer evenings and closing earlier in winter, and the last entry is usually about 30 to 45 minutes before the closing time so that everyone inside can finish their visit in peace. Because the temple draws around 10,000 visitors a day, arriving soon after opening or later in the afternoon means shorter queues.

Is the Lotus Temple open on Monday?

No. The Lotus Temple is closed every Monday, which is its weekly maintenance day when the building and gardens are cleaned. Plan your visit for any day from Tuesday to Sunday.

Lotus Temple entry fee

Entry to the Lotus Temple is free for everyone, with no ticket or booking required. There are no charges for the prayer hall or the gardens, and donations are entirely voluntary. This makes it one of the easiest major Delhi sights to add to any day.

Where is the Lotus Temple located in Delhi?

The Lotus Temple is located on Lotus Temple Road in Bahapur, Kalkaji, in South Delhi, close to Nehru Place and the Kalkaji Mandir Hindu temple. Its full setting is a landscaped garden of nine pools that both cool the building and mirror the marble petals, especially striking when they are lit after dusk.

How to reach the Lotus Temple

The easiest way to reach the Lotus Temple is by metro. The nearest station is Kalkaji Mandir, on the Violet and Magenta lines, about a 5 to 10 minute walk away, and autos and app cabs reach the gate directly. If you are arriving in Delhi as part of a wider trip, our Delhi Agra Mathura map shows how the city connects to Agra and the Braj towns.

About the Lotus Temple: the Baha'i House of Worship

It is worth knowing what the Lotus Temple actually is, because it surprises many visitors. It is a Baha'i House of Worship, not a Hindu temple, so there are no idols, no priests and no rituals or sermons. People of every religion are welcome to enter and sit quietly to pray or meditate in their own way. Designed by the Iranian-Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba and completed in 1986, the building takes the form of a lotus with 27 free-standing marble petals arranged in nine sides, a symbol of purity that is shared across many of India's faiths. Architects often place it alongside the Sydney Opera House as a landmark of modern expressionist design.

Photography and rules inside the Lotus Temple

Photography is not allowed inside the main prayer hall, though you are free to photograph the exterior and the gardens, which is where the best shots are anyway. A few simple rules keep the atmosphere: remove your footwear before entering the hall, where racks are provided, keep silence inside, and dress modestly out of respect. Food and drink are not available within the complex, so eat before or after your visit.

Best time to visit and how long you need

Allow about 45 minutes to an hour, which covers the gardens, the queue and a quiet spell inside. The most pleasant months are October to March, and within a day, a weekday morning soon after opening has the shortest queues, while sunset is the most photogenic as the petals glow, though also the busiest. Avoid Mondays, when the temple is closed.

Nearby attractions and your Delhi day

The Lotus Temple sits in South Delhi near Kalkaji Mandir and Nehru Place, and pairs easily with the rest of the city on a full day out. For the wider sights see our places to visit in Delhi guide, and for another quick, rewarding stop our Jantar Mantar Delhi timings guide covers the central observatory. To eat well along the way, see our famous street food places in Delhi guide, and to base yourself well on where to stay in Delhi guide lists the best areas.

Plan your Delhi trip with us

We build private Delhi days that fold in the Lotus Temple alongside the city's other highlights, with a car, a driver and licensed guides. Browse our Delhi Agra Tours or compare durations across our Golden Triangle tours, and for the classic Delhi, Agra and Jaipur circuit see our Golden Triangle tour and its Golden Triangle tour itinerary. Want it arranged around your dates? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will set it up.

Experience My India has personally hosted 50,000+ travelers and the service he leads is rated 4.9 from 2,600+ reviews, operating since 2015. Delhi Agra Tour Packages is a unit of Experience My India.