Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Samoa Apia Baha'i House of Worship of Samoa

Baha'i House of Worship of Samoa

The "Mother Temple of the Pacific Islands" stands at the center of 20 acres of lush, tropical prayer gardens.

Apia, Samoa

Added By
Elizabeth Gartley
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Baha’i House of Worship of Samoa.   Michael Coghlan/cc by-sa 2.0
Baha’i House of Worship of Samoa.   Michael Coghlan/cc by-sa 2.0
Baha’i House of Worship of Samoa.   Michael Coghlan/cc by-sa 2.0
Garden path.   Michael Coghlan/cc by-sa 2.0
Baha’i House of Worship of Samoa.   Michael Coghlan/cc by-sa 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Lush greenery surrounds this enormous, simple temple. Called "the Mother Temple of the Pacific Islands," it was the first Baha'i house of worship in the region.

Plans for building a Baha'i house of worship in Western Samoa began in the mid-1970s. In January 1979, Malietoa Tanumafili II, one of four Samoan paramount chiefs, laid the first cornerstone, symbolically beginning construction. Malietoa, the first head of state to be a follower of the Baha'i faith, also dedicated the temple upon its completion in 1984.

The temple was designed by Iranian-Canadian architect Hossein Amanat. As is required according to Baha'i scripture, the temple has a nine-sided circular shape. Like other Baha'i houses of worship around the world, the Samoan temple honors local cultural and environmental elements. The temple sits among 20 acres of prayer gardens comprised of over 60 species of plants, flowers, and tree, all native to Samoa. The dome of the temple itself is reminiscent of traditional Samoan architecture, the Samoan fale.

Related Tags

Temples Religion Architecture Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

The temple is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for prayer and meditation. Sunday service begins at 10 a.m. A free bus service leaves the Lelata Bahá’í Center in Apia at 9:15 a.m. and returns around 11:30 a.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

theliz

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

January 30, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.bahaisamoa.ws/
  • http://www.transindiatravels.com/bahai-temples.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malietoa_Tanumafili_II
Baha'i House of Worship of Samoa
Cross Island Rd
Apia
Samoa
-13.896706, -171.778312
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Robert Louis Stevenson Museum

Apia, Samoa

miles away

To Sua Ocean Trench

Apia, Samoa

miles away

Pulemelei Mound

Samoa

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Apia

Apia

Samoa

Places 3

Nearby Places

Robert Louis Stevenson Museum

Apia, Samoa

miles away

To Sua Ocean Trench

Apia, Samoa

miles away

Pulemelei Mound

Samoa

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Apia

Apia

Samoa

Places 3

Related Places

  • Horyuji Temple

    Ikaruga, Japan

    Hōryū-ji

    Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

  • Enlightened Heart Tibetan Buddhist Temple in the Kinta valley.

    Tambun, Malaysia

    Enlightened Heart Buddhist Temple

    On the outskirts of Ipoh, this sprawling temple complex is home to one of the world's tallest pagodas.

  • The Telestrion and the Church of Panagia Mesosporitissa

    Elefsina, Greece

    Church of Panagia Mesosporitissa

    Only open for two days a year, this church links ancient Greek and modern Christian celebrations.

  • Sculpture of a Hindu goddess.

    Gwalior, India

    Sasbahu Temples

    A pair of nearly 1,000-year-old temples profusely covered in meticulous stone carvings.

  • Side view

    Bensalem, Pennsylvania

    Wat Mongkoltepmunee

    A glittering Thai Buddhist temple in suburban Pennsylvania.

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir exterior.

    Toronto, Ontario

    BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto

    This Hindu temple is an architectural marvel designed and built according to ancient Indian principles.

  • Jagannath Temple.

    Puri, India

    Jagannath Temple

    This 11th-century temple gave rise to the word "juggernaut," as well as some mysteries that defy scientific explanation.

  • Chausath Yogini Temple of Hirapur, Odisha

    Mitaoli, India

    Chausath Yogini Temple

    This ancient goddess temple inspired the design of India’s Parliament House.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.