Malibu Hindu Temple

A Serene Oasis: Malibu Hindu Temple I recently had the privilege of visiting the Malibu Hindu temple, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. Nestled in the heart of Calabasas, California, this stunning temple is a haven of peace and tranquility, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of South India. ## Architecture The temple's architecture is breathtakingly beautiful, with intricate carvings, vibrant colors, and majestic towers that seem to touch the sky. The moment you step into the temple premises, you're struck by the sense of grandeur and serenity that pervades the atmosphere. The temple's design is a perfect blend of traditional and modern elements, creating a unique and captivating visual experience. ## Organization What impressed me most about the Malibu Hindu temple was its impeccable organization. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and efficient service. The temple's staff and volunteers are clearly dedicated to ensuring that visitors have a smooth and enriching experience. The temple's activities, including daily pujas, festivals, and cultural events, are well-planned and executed with precision. ## Peaceful Ambiance The temple's peaceful ambiance is truly remarkable. As you step into the sanctum sanctorum, you're enveloped in a sense of calm and tranquility. The soothing sounds of chanting, the fragrance of incense, and the gentle glow of lamps create a meditative atmosphere that's perfect for introspection and spiritual growth. Whether you're a devout Hindu or just looking for a peaceful retreat, the Malibu Hindu temple is an ideal destination. ## South Indian Cuisine One of the highlights of our visit was the delicious South Indian food served at the temple's cafeteria. The dosas, idlis, and vadas were all prepared to perfection, and the flavors were authentic and mouth-watering. The temple's kitchen is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of South India, and the food is sure to delight even the most discerning palates. ## Conclusion In conclusion, the Malibu Hindu temple is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in exploring the rich cultural heritage of South India. With its stunning architecture, impeccable organization, peaceful ambiance, and delicious South Indian cuisine, this temple is a true gem in the heart of California. Whether you're looking for spiritual growth, cultural enrichment, or simply a peaceful retreat, the Malibu Hindu temple is an experience you won't want to miss. Rating: 5/5 stars I highly recommend visiting the Malibu Hindu temple and experiencing its beauty, peace, and warmth for yourself.

Very divine and excellent location after us ocean front drive. And then a valley run driver, the path takes you to one of the most beautiful temples created in California. It has gods from all areas, starting with Ganesh ji tu, Shankar. The decoration is impeccable. And everything is maintain to the latter state-of-art. All the priest are so devoted and involved in doing the rchanas pujas. After a warm, warm, welcome at the reception where they offer the receipt. Who performing the Archana, definite timings? There are chantings and poojas performed The atmosphere in the temples first and 2nd floor is very divine. It is interesting to see how much of devotion and decoration is involved in keeping it the whole place, beautiful. The temple also houses a nice canteen with about seating for 50 people. Way, you have to buy a 2 Ken and pay by A Card for the eatables, the menu is attached in one of the photos for the place. It's a very good facility offering you right from Dosa, 2 charts, Pani police and also beverages on the house payment is to be done beforehand and your name is called out. You go and collect The dishes After that, you have to finish your food and drink. Dispose off with the garbage menu. Also, there is a nice footwear. Store to keep your footwear before entering the temple.Beautiful location and divine a board.I enjoyed the visit to the malibu hindu temple

Malibu Hindu Temple is such a peaceful and spiritual place. The temple architecture is beautiful, and the atmosphere is filled with positive energy. A perfect place to pray, meditate, and feel connected. Truly a divine experience!”

"Malebu Hindu Temple is a hidden gem with a stunning location that exudes peace and tranquility. The moment you step into the premises, you can feel the spiritual energy and calmness of the surroundings. However, the temple area itself appears to be in need of some TLC - the floors and pathways could be cleaner, and some attention to maintenance would go a long way. The outdoor seating area was particularly disappointing, with litter and dirt spoiling the otherwise serene ambiance. Despite these shortcomings, the temple's beauty and peaceful atmosphere shine through. With some improvements to cleanliness and upkeep, this temple could truly be a magnificent place for worship and reflection." With some improvements in these areas, this beautiful temple could be an even more special place for devotees and visitors alike." My point is 4.9 not 4 star

One of the best ever temples in SoCal area. Easy to access and has a Dravidian style architecture and there is a separate gopuram and entrance to visit Lord Balaji and Lord Shiva. This temple is known to perform everyday rituals for all the deities in the temple. They also have a canteen that serves food at a cheaper price.

The temple exuded such wonderful and serene vibes. We had a hassle-free darshan of Lord Balaji, which was truly a blessed experience. In addition to the main shrine, the temple also houses deities of other Hindu gods, adding to its spiritual charm. The food served at the temple was absolutely delightful. The tamarind rice stood out with its authentic flavor, and the masala tea was simply perfect.

The Malibu Hindu Temple offers a serene and visually stunning experience. Its traditional South Indian architecture, with intricate carvings and vibrant colors, creates a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors can explore various shrines dedicated to different deities and appreciate the rich cultural heritage. There is a nice canteen inside the temple that serves a combination of Indian dishes from north and south. Remember to dress modestly. It's a worthwhile visit for those seeking tranquility and a glimpse into Hindu culture !

This temple is a serene and breathtakingly beautiful place of worship that left me in awe. The intricate carvings, stunning architecture, and peaceful atmosphere make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in spirituality and culture.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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!!

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!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

$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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

A MUST DO! IT'S FREE & IT HAS FREE PARKING! If you are looking for something to do that is unusual & off the beaten path then you've got to check this place out. This LA hidden gem looks like you've traveled thousands of miles away to India not a place that's in SOCAL! The Malibu Hindu Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Venkateswara. It was built in 1981 & is located in the city of Calabasas near Malibu, California adjacent to in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Architecture is really beautiful with lots of intricate design elements. There are signs posted as what the rules are & what you can & can't do at this house of worship. You must take off your shoes & there is a place designated where you place them. There is also a place where you can make an offering or donation. Truly this is a little wonder that a lot of people miss when they visit Malibu. Whether you are religious or not it is a Cool place to visit. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have The Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've Been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like A King On A Limited Budget!

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 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!

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.

There is a sign at the entrance that mandates you remove your shoes prior to entering. This was not a problem because the temple is kept meticulously clean. I cannot imagine how many man hours go into cleaning the upper deck of the main shrine. The unique architecture and sculptural motifs make this a must see attraction.

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 .

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

I would give no stars if I could. Biggest concerns: This is a temple, and priests should be impartial to anyone who comes to worship. Preferential treatment based on how one is dressed or donates to the temple. Charging for parking on days like New Years and special occasions. This is ridiculous. Other temples in the same area do not do that and they also provide free food for everyone who visits the temple. Food: not done well, and overpriced. Even the Prasad (holy offering) needs to be paid for. I have nothing against paying for food at temples, but at least a serving of the holy food needs to be given to everyone. Sadly, this temple is so commercialized. I used to love going here but now I stay away as much as I can. Since this is the only South Indian style temple in West LA area, it is abused by the priests and trustees who run the temple. I go to the other temples around the area (north Indian style, Sai baba temple, Udupi Mutt)

I sometimes visit his place when the call from the Almighty is strong, as I'm not a very religious person. Most people here have missed the Shiva temple in the same complex just behind the actual temple, where they do the Hindu fire ceremony or the 'yagna'. It also houses some other Hindu Gods and Goddesses and something unique not found in all temples, a collection of nine statues symbolizing the nine planets of the solar system. There is a vegetarian cafeteria that serves South Indian food and snacks. Although variety is limited, he quality is very good. Nestled in the Santa Monia mountains, just off the scenic Mulholland highway, this is a nice place for people of all faith just to rewind and get a capsule on the South Indian style Hindu faith in a quiet and serene part of LA.

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.