Bahá'í Temple historical timeline

The Lotus Temple is a recent building with an unusually complete construction record. Its history is visible through additions around the main hall and through environmental systems introduced as the heavily visited complex matured.

Chronology

1. 1953 The Bahá’í community acquires the site and lays a foundation stone. The present 26.5-acre precinct grows from that early commitment to a Delhi house of worship.
2. 1980 Construction begins on Fariborz Sahba’s lotus design. Concrete shells, marble cladding and ninefold geometry take physical form.
3. 1986 The temple is inaugurated and opens to the public in December. The main prayer hall and nine surrounding pools define the visitor experience that continues today.
4. 2003 The Information Centre opens opposite the temple. It adds exhibitions and interpretation without placing them inside the undecorated prayer hall.
5. 2017 The Education Centre is inaugurated. The wider grounds expand their community and learning function beyond worship.
6. 21st century Rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, vermicomposting and solar power are introduced. These systems now support the gardens and reduce resource use.

Continuity and care

The temple remains close to its 1986 form because the concrete shells, marble cladding and pool system continue to serve their original architectural and climatic roles. Maintenance must address both a complex shell structure and the demands of high daily footfall.

Later buildings were kept separate from the prayer hall. That choice preserves the interior’s visual restraint while giving visitors places to learn, gather and study elsewhere on the grounds.

• Official website
• Wikipedia