Sacred Spaces
Houses of Worship
Dedicated to the worship of God and open to people of all religions and backgrounds.
Temples of Light and Unity
Bahá'í Houses of Worship, also known as Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs (Dawning Places of the Mention of God), are dedicated to the worship of the one God and are open to people of all religions and backgrounds. They serve as gathering places for prayer, meditation, and reflection.
Each temple has nine sides and a central dome, symbolizing the unity and diversity of humanity. Currently, there are nine continental Bahá'í Houses of Worship, with more local temples being built around the world.
Explore the Temples on Earth
Interact with our 3D globe to discover each House of Worship across all continents. Click on the glowing gold points to learn more.
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Click on the glowing gold points to explore each temple • Drag to rotate • Scroll to zoom
All Temples
The Nine Continental Temples
House of Worship of Wilmette
1953United States • North America
Completed in 1953 near Chicago, this was the first Bahá'í House of Worship in the Western Hemisphere and serves North America.
House of Worship of Sydney
1961Australia • Oceania
Completed in 1961, this was the first Bahá'í House of Worship in the Southern Hemisphere, located in the suburbs of Sydney.
House of Worship of Kampala
1961Uganda • Africa
Completed in 1961, this temple was the first Bahá'í House of Worship in Africa, known as the "Mother Temple of Africa".
House of Worship of Frankfurt
1964Germany • Europe
Completed in 1964, this European continental temple serves as a center for worship and reflection for all people.
House of Worship of Panama
1972Panama • South America
Completed in 1972, this temple serves Latin America and reflects the unity of humanity in its architectural design.
House of Worship of Samoa
1984Samoa • Oceania
Completed in 1984, this temple serves the Pacific Islands with a design reflecting both local culture and Bahá'í principles.
Lotus Temple
1986India • Asia
Completed in 1986 in New Delhi, the Lotus Temple is renowned for its flower-like design and has become one of the most visited buildings in the world.
House of Worship of Ashgabat
2008Turkmenistan • Asia
Completed in 2008, this temple serves Central Asia with its distinctive design combining traditional and modern architectural elements.
House of Worship of Santiago
2016Chile • South America
Completed in 2016, this is the newest continental temple, featuring translucent wings that glow at night and welcome all.
Characteristics of Bahá'í Temples
Nine-Sided Design
All Bahá'í temples feature nine sides and entrances, representing unity and completeness, welcoming people from all directions.
Open to All
Houses of Worship are open to people of all religions, races, and backgrounds—welcoming everyone to pray and reflect.
Devotional Character
No sermons or rituals are performed. Only prayers and sacred scriptures from all religions are read or sung.
Future Development
Each temple will eventually be surrounded by institutions dedicated to social, educational, and humanitarian services.