Malibu Hindu Temple

Visiting the Malibu Hindu Temple was a truly wonderful experience. The moment you arrive, you can feel the peaceful and pleasant atmosphere surrounding the entire place. The temple is located in a beautiful and calm area, and the architecture is absolutely stunning. The detailed carvings, the quiet ambiance, and the spiritual energy make it a perfect spot for anyone looking for a break from busy city life. Inside the temple, everything feels very organized and well maintained. The priests are polite, the volunteers are helpful, and the surroundings are kept clean. It’s a place where you can sit, relax, pray, or simply enjoy the positive vibes. The peaceful environment makes it easy to spend a long time here without even realizing it. The temple also has plenty of open space, and the views around the area make the visit even more enjoyable. Whether you come alone, with family, or with friends, it feels like a refreshing experience. The only thing I would like to mention is that the canteen food was not good. Other than that, everything else about the temple was excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for peace, positivity, and a beautiful spiritual atmosphere.

Beautiful temple . So peaceful amongst all the greenery . Has 2 levels - one is for Lord Shiva and one is for Lord Balaji. It is still a bit under construction but most part of both temples are accessible . There are so many deities inside - you will definitely love this place . I visited on a weekend , there were list of cars , but the way the temple is designed - it never felt crowded at all. A Must visit if you are ever in Malibu .

I’m not of the Hindu faith, but this was a pleasant place to walk around and meditate after a long day. Bear in mind the hours before you go- they close at 12:30pm and then reopen again at 5:30. Also, note the no shoes policy! Beautiful place.

The temple is located amidst hilly terrain surrounded by serene ambiance. It gives warm divine energy and solitude. Its so peaceful place with lots of spirituality and calmness.

We have been visiting the Malibu Hindu Temple regularly for many years, and over the past couple of years especially, we have noticed a remarkable and positive difference in the overall experience. The services have been truly fantastic. The priests are exceptionally courteous, devoted, and welcoming, which greatly enhances the spiritual atmosphere of the temple. The alankarams deserve special mention—they are absolutely outstanding. The Chandhana Kaapu alankaram for Lord Shiva over the past two years, and the New Year alankaram this year—featuring the stunning silver alankaram for Lord Shiva and the exquisite pearl alankarams for Lord Venkateswara and Lord Muruga—were simply breathtaking. The attention to detail, devotion, and artistic beauty in each alankaram is truly inspiring. A heartfelt thank you to the management, priests, and everyone involved for the immense hard work, dedication, and service that goes into maintaining and elevating this sacred space. Please keep up the great work, and thank you for all that you do for the community.

Beautiful devine experience at serene location and peaceful environment. Good to have silent calm time and experience holy atmosphere. The location is quite away from crowdy city and located in between mountain ranges, might face network issue for a bit on the way. Must try canteen food at the temple. Healthy South Indian brunch. Check for the timing before visiting.

We recently had the joy of photographing a Hindu wedding of S&R at the Malibu Hindu Temple, and it was nothing short of magical. From a creative perspective, this location is a dream. The white carved architecture, serene temple grounds, and striking natural backdrops create an atmosphere that is both sacred and visually stunning. The mandap setup beneath the towering gopuram felt surreal, a perfect blend of cultural richness and elegant design. The layout of the temple allowed for a peaceful flow to the ceremony, and we were able to document every meaningful moment with clarity and intention. As visual storytellers, we were inspired by the textures, colors, and spiritual ambiance at every turn. Most importantly, the team and community at the temple were respectful and kind, which made the entire day feel grounded and collaborative. For couples planning a Hindu ceremony in Southern California, this is a truly special place, and for us it's a space we’d be honored to return to. - Anastasia

The temple is very beautiful and has a peaceful, positive vibe. The cultural atmosphere is truly wonderful. However, I would strongly advise being careful with food from the temple food counter, especially for children. Unfortunately, our experience with the food was very poor. We ordered a dosa with potato masala, and the masala was spoiled. When we informed the staff at the counter, instead of addressing the issue seriously, they moved aside and laughed, which was disappointing. Later, we ordered one coffee and a rose lassi. When we opened the rose lassi, there was visible fungus on top. The staff said it was “malai,” but it clearly was not. Even after showing them, they just kept it aside in front of us. They then replaced it with a mango lassi, saying it was freshly packed. After taking just one sip, it tasted very bad and seemed like old curd mixed with mango flavor. The most concerning part was that after we moved away from the counter, we noticed the person mixing the same lassi again and placing it back into the refrigerator, which felt very unsafe and unprofessional. The temple itself is excellent and truly divine—no doubts at all. I only request the management to please take food hygiene and customer concerns seriously. At the end of the day, we visit temples for God’s blessings for health and well-being, and food safety is an important part of that.

We have been visiting the Malibu Hindu Temple regularly for many years, and over the past couple of years especially, we have noticed a remarkable and positive difference in the overall experience. The services have been truly fantastic. The priests are exceptionally courteous, devoted, and welcoming, which greatly enhances the spiritual atmosphere of the temple. The alankarams deserve special mention--they are absolutely outstanding. The Chandhana Kaapu alankaram for Lord Shiva over the past two years, and the New Year alankaram this year--featuring the stunning silver alankaram for Lord Shiva and the exquisite pearl alankarams for Lord Venkateswara and Lord Muruga--were simply breathtaking. The attention to detail, devotion, and artistic beauty in each alankaram is truly inspiring. A heartfelt thank you to the management, priests, and everyone involved for the immense hard work, dedication, and service that goes into maintaining and elevating this sacred space. Please keep up the great work, and thank you for all that you do for the community.

What a beautiful temple! I attended a South Indian style wedding here and was in awe of how beautiful everything was, both in terms of the architecture and with the facilities inside the temple. The priests were very helpful to myself and the guests, who weren't as familiar with the customs and the event spaces were great for hosting the lunch after the wedding.

Our New Year's experience was disappointing. My family and I used to love coming here, but it felt like a money grabbing scheme and chaotic this time. There is a $20 paid parking to fund a new construction. We opted not to buy an archana ticket to avoid waiting too long with our baby, but navigating the entrance was unnecessarily difficult. We were constantly redirected through a maze because we didn't have a ticket, only to end up in an empty queue right next to the paid one, which we could have entered directly. It made no sense. On top of that, the priest rudely yelled at a lady for using her phone. Isn't politeness expected from someone in a spiritual role?

I recently visited the temple on New Year's Day, and while I was looking forward to a peaceful and spiritual experience, I was deeply disappointed by their practice of charging money for a fast pass for darshan. While I understand that temples require funds for maintenance and operations, it felt disheartening to see spirituality and devotion being tied to a monetary value. Temples should be a place where everyone, regardless of their financial situation, can come to seek blessings and find solace. By prioritizing paid access, the temple risks alienating devotees who may not be able to afford these charges. It felt more like a commercial transaction than a sacred experience, which was truly disappointing. I sincerely hope the temple management reconsiders this approach and ensures that devotion and faith are accessible to all, without any financial barriers. Spirituality should never have a price tag. At least consider having a special line for senior citizens and people with babies who were standing in a line close to an hour just to get inside the temple, but then you could pay money to bypass the line.

This review is specifically for the Prasad Laddu and Mixture we bought at the temple and not for anything else. I visited the Malibu Hindu Temple during the weekend with my family. We're devout Hindu devotees and feeling extremely bad and sad actually to even write this review but we have to write this so the management can actually look into the matter maybe pay more attention. We bought the laddu and mixture at the temple as prasad but just with one bite we had to throw it away, trash it for which being devotees we felt extremely unfortunate. Both the laddu and mixture had an extremely bad smell and taste of cheap oil or god knows if that's even oil or ghee or any other type of adulterated fats they're made in. It is our humble request to the temple/cafeteria management there to look what they're selling as prasad or else someone might report it to food safety department. Again the review is not for the beautiful temple that everyone should visit, but be careful of the prasad you buy there.

Absolutely beautiful place to visit. Easy parking. Remove your shoes and be respectful to other visitors and the temple. If you are new and have questions , find a volunteer or someone who works there and ask - they are very friendly:) every time I visit I learn something new and amazing about Hindu traditions.

The Pooja was amazing. The feeling was serene and divine atmosphere. Highly recommend. Food was great too! Lovely temple

Calming, beautiful scenery, solitude and good food, balaji cafe!!!! This is our second time coming, and we felt really happy, joyful and calm to be here. The temple is vey clean, the lines for pooja are well organized. They sell food as well, when we came it was balaji cafe, must say their idli with coriander is best!!!! Along with their vada, happy content soul, calm ambience and good food! Oh yeah we're blessed!!!

A place of worship that exudes spirituality. An unexpected gem nestling amongst the hills. Easy to reach along the coastal route from Santa Monica, the drive is scenic and premises have ample parking.The temple has typical Southern Indian architecture and is served by very pleasant welcoming, courteous staff working on voluntary basis. Their website provides useful links, and contact numbers. It is advisable to pre-book if you want to conduct puja for special events. We were unable to pre-book as their manager was away, but staff were very welcoming and went out of their way to accommodate us. Thank you for making our day memorable!!

I am fascinated by architecture and the Malibu Hindu Temple is such a hidden gem in Southern California. Built in 1981, it is located in Calabasas, California, minutes away from Malibu. In fact, my family and I were visiting Malibu and decided to take a spontaneous trip to the temple. Although it was an impromptu opportunity, it was saved in my places to visit for a couple of months. The temple is off of Las Virgenes Canyon Road and has plenty of free parking. Due to the current global situation, all indoor services are temporarily suspended until further notice. However, the temple is open and available on weekends, but do check the website before visiting to see if it is open. Overall, it's a beautiful piece of architectural history and if you want to feel like you are not in LA, this is the place to marvel at the diversity that is Southern California.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the temple. It was a truly awe-inspiring and magnificent place.

Volunteers were good and helpful Organized well on a rush day like Newyear They charged $20 for parking and $30 for Archana.Doing Archana is your choice. Happy to donate for Temple maintainence.

Beautiful and peaceful place. One would really feel close to the Gods. The place is well maintained with friendly staff

This is a very nice temple based around the Hindu religion in Calabasas. Yes, it is called the Malibu Hindu Temple but it is technically in Calabasas not far from Malibu Creek State Park. First established in the 1980s, this was one of the first large scale Hindu temples created in the greater Los Angeles area. What it provides is a very traditional place for Hindu worship plus they have a very nice auditorium for shows and a restaurant where you can grab a traditional Indian food boxed meal. So, it is a one stop shop. This temple is very beautiful. In fact, it very much reminds me of temples in India. Having spent a lot of time in India, I can say this with authority. The moment you leave your car and walk towards the temple, you truly get the vibe of being in India in the way that the temple is constructed, situated, and maintained. Overall, whether you are a practicing Hindu or not this is a great temple to visit. The staff, the monks, and the people who you will encounter here are all very nice and very welcoming.

This was such a beautiful and unexpected find while driving from Malibu to Calabasas. Nestled in the Santa Monica mountains, the buildings are breathtaking. Take off your shoes and wander the property and take it all in. Very clean and welcoming, not too busy, even on weekends.

Smaller than the pictures seemed, but still legit and felt calm and peaceful. Beware there is no cell signal~

So amazing I wish they'd have a Kali Temple section in the Lord Shiva Complex It's like walking into another realm

Mood- prayer This temple is situated in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is the temple of the Hindu God Venkateswara. It was built in 1981 and established in 1984. This is considered to be one of the largest temples on the west coast. The founding president of temple was Mr. Srinivasan who was a civil engineer. He was key in raising funds from local families and actually bringing priests from India. The priests who preside over services, live on the grounds. The temple has two complexes. The lower complex is for presiding deity Lord Shiva, while the upper complex is for the presiding deity Lord Venkateswara. Both of these complexes have shrines for other deities as well. I would suggest to be mindful of other people's belief system when you walk thru. At each shrine there are areas to leave money or food as your offerings to the deity. I personally noticed some people who weren't aware of this and were off put by the items left by the shrines. For some people their absolute best is a piece of fruit or whatever was left. It is not up to us to judge their offering ~ JS Fun facts: 1. Brittany Spears had her son blessed by the Hindu priests from this temple 2. A scene from Beverly Hills Ninja was filmed here. Would def recommend- the grounds contain many areas for praying, meditating, or just sightseeing. Please remove shoes before going thru main entrance as there are several signs posted of this as well. The kitchen is open only on the weekends and holidays. Location is Las Virgenes Canyon Rd/ Las Virgenes- Calabasas, ample parking

The biggest temple we ever saw in States. Great architecture just like how it's back in India. Many sections with different god and goddesses. Things are little unorganized. You can see things kept here and there. Kitchen has good food with very reasonable prices. Literally very cheap. Snack mixture and ladoo pradam are available to purchase too.

Peaceful temple in a beautiful setting, less than 15 minutes drive from Malibu Creek State Park. On Saturdays and Sundays, the temple sells South Indian food.

I reminded myself to drive slower and be aware of the quiet surroundings and the purpose of this Hindu temple. I didn't know what to expect but I knew I had to put my best foot forward and respect others who came to worship. Remove your shoes upon arrival, rack were at clear sight; immediately a friendly signage telling you donations were gladly accepted for the upkeep of the temple as well as the whereabouts of other facilities. I found myself stopped at almost every other foot step gazing at the white lively sculptures, goddess and elephants. Perhaps I felt the dusk under my feet, but that didn't stop me from wandering further and perhaps the hot ceramic tiles reminds me of overcoming challenges and obstacles, I felt humility. By noon, I must left this temple; but the smile on my face never left my mind. "I am very happy and peaceful."

Hidden South Indian architectural marvel in the natural setting of hills of Malibu. The intricacies of carvings on the exterior walls in what looks lIke pure, white stone are impressive. "The Hindu temple has two complexes - the upper complex with Lord Venkateswara, another manifestation of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, as the presiding deity and the lower complex with Lord Shiva, the Destroyer,  as the presiding deity. In addition to the presiding deity, both complexes have shrines for other deities." Interesting visual contrast between the sacred & profane. Elegantly swathed statues of deities may have an offering placed in front in dented aluminum takeout tray, or bottles of Mazola corn oil used to fuel a lamp are left haphazardly by the sacred flame. Being barefoot seems to show respect and not particulary to maintain cleanliness since the same barefeet can previously walk around outside in the parking area tracking in whatever is outside. You are free to visit the two sites. Be sure to take off your shoes when entering even when it is still outdoors in the upper complex. We went impromptu so not aware of any guided tours if there are any. Apparently, the temple is on facebook so there may be more helpful information there. Visual delight for the eye in a rare look at massive Indian architecture in North America. Soft ragas & chanting as well as well polished stone on one's feet come into play to also engage the senses. 4- Yelp stars.

Yesterday we had to go for a video shoot early morning .It used to be so beautiful but yesterday due to a wedding the night before It was so dirty.Trash lying around and the kitchen area seemed a mess.I don't know if it was lack of staff on a Sunday or mismanagement but the temple didn't feel so good.After seeing the dirtiness I don't think I want to visit this place again.

While visiting King Gillette Ranch, found this gem of a place. This temple of the Hindu God Venkateswara was built in 1981 in Calabasas in the Santa Monica Mountains. Pulled into the parking lot and just viewed the exterior which is just beautiful.

If you never go there, please, take a nice day to spend time in Santa Monica Mountain and visit this place in Las Virgenes Canyon Road. It is really beautiful! It is in a South Indian style. In weekends, they are opening 8:00 to 20:00. You need to take out your shoes inside. It is a gem in L.A.

It's a nice temple in the middle of Malibu by land donated by very generous people. The deities are so well adorned and there's is love, connection, and inspiration in every inch of the place. Large areas of the temple remain closed however due to low number of visitors and volunteers. If you have the time, the temple could really use your help.

Interesting Hindu temple located just a short drive off the 101 down Malibu Canyon. I ventured there on a weekend at approximately 11am. It was still tranquil and not too crowded. I have to admit that I was too shy to enter the temple given that everyone was coming in to pray, I didn't want to offend them by entering to be a lookey loo. But great to experience even from just the exterior. Very peaceful and serene in a beautiful setting, nestled in the Malibu canyon and surrounded by oak trees and rolling hills. At minimum, just do a drive by when in the area. The architecture of the Temple was really impressive.

Beautiful and serene. Malibu Hindu Temple is located on the hill and it's a beautiful drive to the temple. Cafeteria was crowded but overall a good place to visit.

Gorgeous architecture! Being unable to travel during a pandemic, visiting this temple made me feel like I took a trip to India, at least momentarily. It's another reminder why I love So Cal and its amazing mosaic of cultures, languages, belief systems, and ethnic communities. So grateful!

Very quiet and peaceful here surround by the nature. They are welcome everyone and also have someone showing you around the temple ( I believed he is also a Swarmi similar to priest or teacher). Sad that cannot take photo inside. Will go back again on morning Saturday Pray.

I absolutely love this temple in SoCal. Beautiful scenery right next door to Malibu. If I'm ever in SoCal, I always make it a point to come here. Lord Venkateshwara is the Hindu god who keeps all troubles away. Lord Ganesha is the destroyer of all obstacles (that temple is in Queens in NYC). With Venkateshwara and Ganesha, who both have my back, I typically never have to worry about anything at all.

Pro(s): - No passport required. - Free parking (if early) - Stunning architecture. - Exposure to a different culture/belief. - Located in a quiet area. - Malibu creek is not too far away for a hike! Con(s): - The main road is only two lanes wide. Traveling does not have to be expensive, it does have require leaving the state or country and it can happen right in our backyard. Hindu temples are magnificent and not a common sight to see. They are large and so detailed. It was a surprise to discover the existence of this temple. My visit was early in the morning.I was in the mood for a nice drive to a place that I have never visited before. There was hardly any other visitors on my visit and it was nice. The sun wasn't out yet but the sight was just as beautiful. There was plenty of parking and locating the temple was not hard at all! The temple is a grand sight when I pulled up. It was white with gold details! I felt like I was not longer in California and traveled to another country. There are families that live on the farther side of the property, so please be respectful if arriving early. They do not allow shoes in the temple and there is plenty of space to places shoes aside. Depending the service provider, phone connectivity can get a little shaky, however, there is only one road in and out. The temple is not difficult to locate at all! A visit to this temple will not be a regret! It is a great place to reflect and be grateful. Also, a few friends have taken photos here and its a great subject matter!

Used to be a Beautiful temple when I visited 20 yrs ago, now it doesn't seems to be not properly managed, maintained and cleaned. One star for their canteen food, worst!

$10 Parking? This temple is already notorious for money-oriented. Now this.!! very disappointing. Have you guys ever thought why there is less crowd and why we prefer other temples in this area? Very sad.

Show some respect and take off those shoes. Keep the noise level down, too. And if you can, don't be distracted. Really take it all in. Adorned in gold and a coral-hued orange, this beautiful crisp white temple is out in the middle of nowhere off Las Virgenes Canyon when crossing from the Valley to Malibu.  And screw the English language because it doesn't quite describe the depth and degree of how much I love this temple, how beautiful the temple really is, and how rewarding the visit. The sweet fragrance radiating from it, filling the air is so thick, it almost seems tangible.   The incense just takes over and captivates you.  And I know that this is supposed to be a spiritual thing, but I was with B. Rene and there seemed to be something slightly erotic about the whole experience.  My senses were on major overload, Yelp.  I mean, there we were, the both of us... sky above, temple surrounding, wind blowing, incense in the air, bare feet.     The feeling was incredible.   I had to ask Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the whole entire crew to grant me grace for my thoughts...but B. Rene and I kept our distance.   No one bothers you while looking around.  People leave you in peace to do your own thing.  Take a few pictures if you'd like, but use discretion.  It is, afterall, a place where people come for personal worship. Thank you, Heaven above, for a truly beautiful experience.  And B. Rene, it may be the end of us, but it wasn't all bad.  Thank you for being there with me.

Peaceful place. Food is very good but only on weekends. So check it before visiting. Because you must have to try the food there.

The Malibu Hindu Temple offers a stunning environment for worship, and the restaurant's food is equally delightful. The masala dosa, in particular, stands out with its delicious flavor.

This is a lovely place to visit. It is a beautiful building and a unique sight to see in LA. It is quite striking as you drive past on the way to Malibu. After passing many times, I finally went in. I was greeted by a volunteer who works there weekly. He gave us a tour and was very eager to share knowledge about each of the Gods and some of the history. I was glad to have the opportunity to learn more. Afterward he even gave me a copy of their religious text. He seemed to be evangelizing a little, but I didn't mind. If you have the time, it's definitely worth stopping by and expanding your knowledge of Hinduism! They were very nice people. They also have a cafeteria here if that entices you to visit!

4 stars for the temple and this 1 star is for their temple food. All the beautiful serene, soulful fulfillment turn upside down once you taste the food there. Laddoo lovers, please don't think about it.

Temple is good.. good service provided by the priests.. but the food services are extremely poor.. it's a moot.. Balaji caters are looting money inside the temple .. the quality of dosa and the rice varieties is a day light robbery ...felt bad after a good darshan .. and total disappointment after making a trip from Pacific north west

This place is so nice. It is an indian temple. The prayers are performed in i think language from the south of india. The chants are just like in movies. All in one vocal. Its quite cold there. The place is really clean and parking is free unless otherwise posted by the temple. The statues are made of stone. Also no shoes allowed in the temple or on the top part of the temple. In addition, the tiles are too cold to walk on barefoot so take socks. It does get busy after like 11.30am. The drive is nice too woth views of the mountains mostly. Also they give fresh made food which is priced $3 box and it tastes so good. The peoplw who go to the temple are mostly who go to pray and also tourists but proper etiqqute is expected at all times. If you're someone who prays to Lord Shiva, which is the main God prayed to, do take milk as offerings of milk is taken since the milk sold on the premises is a little higher than what you'l pay in the store. I had a good time at this place with my family and i bet other visitors will too. It was nice seeing that culture is being preserved and those values being passed down.

It should be called Malibu temple-business! I went to the temple today for Diwali. I was excited to show my 10 year old son our culture. The temple staff at the entry staircase said, you need to pay $15 for Archana. I was taken aback. Then he said, You don't know what Archana is? It was almost like you needed to pay money to enter the temple,. After I paid the money, the lady who was doing transaction said," Are you giving any donation? ..like $50, $100. It felt like a bunch of hawks trying to get to your flesh. There was no sense of festivities or Godliness to the place. Please stay away from this temple! To add to it, the food is not edible.

I have been coming to this location for 23 years the temple at the time was just a pit and stone nothing as it has become today . It's a true gem . The priest also has been the same since it started . He has so much knowledge to share with you please visit this location because it's the only place in California with a real Vedic worship and services .

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Temple. I finally crossed this place off my bucket list! I came when it closed so I didn't get a chance to be there for the actual prayer ceremony but I thought the architecture, the statues and just the overall feel of this place was beautiful. I highly recommend and would com here again.

My father and mother have been coming to this temple since before I was even born. They've been patrons since they moved to California, and were good friends with the priests that started out here. So, of course, that means that I have been coming here probably ever since the plane from India set down at LAX with my mother carrying me in her arms. I've been to other temples in my neighbourhoods, and I never believe your spirituality is dependent on a place of worship (even if religion might call for it), but when I came here as a child - and when I find the rare occasion to come here as an adult - I'm always spiritually inspired, or I can just feel something resonate deep in my core. I can feel the beauty and quiet energy of this place buffet my skin, trying to open me up and wake me to the world. However, as an ignorant little kid, I never grew up knowing what I was looking at or praying to. I only ever went through the motions. Stand here. Press your palms together here. Drink this saffron water here and get it all over yourself because you don't know how to drink it from your hand. Smooth it in your hair. That kinda thing. Now, of course, I know what it is I was doing and what I was supposed to be praying towards, but I never come here for that strict purpose. Instead, I come here and find a little corner of peace I've been missing. On a hot day or cool day, as long as there is a breeze and a bit of shade, I'm always happy here. It is one of my absolute favourite places in California, and I always wish I could get here more often, but I don't drive and no bus comes down this way (elsewise, I'd make the probably 2.5hr metro slog here and back all the time from Pasadena). Be still, my heart. A quick note about clothing: It is important to dress appropriately and modestly. Shorts, T-shirts, and other overly casual clothing should be avoided. For most situations, legs and upper arms should be covered. For women, long skirts are often preferable to pants. (but, as I don't own any skirts, pants are my jive). And note that you will have to remove your shoes and socks before going into the temple grounds.

It's quite the beauty spot. Even as we were pulling up various people were taking pictures of themselves in front before heading in for worship. The urge to photograph it is irresistible. It is a Balaji temple, dedicated to Venkateswara, cradled in the Santa Monica Mountains, across the road from Malibu Creek State Park. We removed our shoes and walked around the grounds. Encircling the complex to Venkateswara, there were vibrantly colored statues behind security gates. There were shrines for Krishna and Radha, Sri Andal, and Rama, Sita, Laxman, and Hanuman. We went ignored up until we entered the lower complex presided over by Shiva. People were chanting in front of statues, and an unhappy-looking priest started to quickly approach us, so we just turned and left figuring we had probably overstepped our bounds. Overall, it's a marvelous place to seek inspiration and ruminate on the divine.

Really cool unique Hindu temple located on Las Virgenes that is very hard to miss due to its shape and size. Very gorgeous structure and not something you see everyday. Very well kept and they do ask you to remove shoes before entering the temple. I was also noticing people turning on a certain water pipe and washing there feet while putting thumb drops on the forehead as if it was holy water. Very intriguing place and a must visit just to see the beautiful architecture

If it's one thing I love about LA - random encounters such as this. Who knew there was a beautiful spiritual retreat in the middle of the Santa Monica mountains? On a whim we drove by this temple and decided to stop and explore more fully (after all, isn't that what holidays are for?) It was a 4th of July Wednesday and yet the temple was quite busy. Whenever you are exploring a religious sanctuary that isn't of your orientation you can tend to feel a little out of place. As we walked in it was if we were transported immediately to India. Most all of the women were dressed in colorful saris, families wandering around, posturing and praying. While this temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Venkateswara, there were plenty of other shrines as well. Priests too, are housed here and we were honored to witness a baptism, complete with incense and chanting. It was beautiful, silent except for the occasional ringing of a bell to send a prayer towards the heavens. A gorgeous breeze playing across the open courtyards added to the brilliance of it all. I do have to say we were looked at more than a few times and I felt it was because something about us was amiss, but what? We had just come from hiking and were dressed in tanks and shorts, yet no one said anything to us. Come to find out bare shoulders are inappropriate here -- whoops. Hats too, so boys if you visit check those baseball caps at the door. You also drop your shoes before entering so during the summer the floor can get a bit hot but its not awful and when you walk into the silent temples as the tiles are as cool as ice. Despite our wardrobe faux pas they still allowed us to explore the grounds. Sometimes unplanned adventures can turn out to be the best ones.

Before I start reviewing, I must remind you to remove your shoes and wash you feet. It may not be your practice or mine but it would be nice to be respectful of their beliefs. Before the ceremony, one of the monks/priests/volunteer came up to us and asked if we had any questions. I guess we stuck out like a sore thumb. He also gave us a really nice tour and description of all the temples and deities. Ommmmmmm Ommmmmmm Ommmmmmm Came here to check out the architecture and temple out and to see what it was all about. We happened on a ceremony of sorts. We all sat on the floor in the outer room, legs crossed (shhhh, mine fell asleep). The inner room seemed to have a few more people stuffed inside with a few official ceremonial conductors...for lack of knowledge and ability to find an appropriate word. They poured gallons and gallons and gallons and gallons and gallons (well, you get the idea) of milk on what looked like to me, a giant cow statue. After the service there were vegetarian lunch plates and snacks for sale down in a banquet type room. While noshing we met a family, an Indian woman, her husband and son that had driven all the way up from Orange County just to attend this ceremony in the Malibu temple. After hearing that, I felt blessed and privileged to have be able to take part in the ceremony.