BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chino Hills

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills is truly a breathtaking place to visit. The architecture is extraordinary—every wall, column, and arch is covered in incredibly detailed stone carvings that feel almost otherworldly, as if the artistry was brought from another dimension. No matter how long you look, you keep noticing new figures, patterns, and fine details. Beyond its beauty, the Mandir offers a deep sense of peace. It’s an excellent place to meditate, slow down, and step away from the noise of everyday life. The gardens are beautifully maintained and make the entire visit feel calm and restorative. A great bonus is the cafeteria, which offers delicious food in a clean, welcoming space. If you live in Southern California or you’re visiting the area, this is a place you truly shouldn’t miss.

Amazing aura once stepped in. What a sculpture of divine Indian Religion! Only Earthquake proof temple in world on 20 acre land. Made of Italian marble and Indian pink sandstone, with two large domes, five pinnacles,122 pillars and 129 archways, 6600 hand carved images. Parking available. No entry fee. At reception polite volunteers guide about guidelines. No shoes and photography inside temple. One can click pictures and videos outside. Cleanliness attracts. Restroom facilities and drinking water are available “Premvati”restaurant serves Indian food and snacks, both dine in and take away, with a plenty of dishes. Temple campus time: 9 am to 7:30 pm however for Nilkanth Varni Abhishek timings are 9-10.15 am/. 11.30 am to 12pm/ 4 to 5:45 pm Observe guidelines as its sacred place of worship as far as shoes and clothes are concerned. Inside the temple photography or videography is not allowed except outside the temple in campus. Jay Swaminarayan

Mesmerizing! Stunning architecture and you will feel like a temple in India. They have taken efforts to explain the sholkas in English so that everyone understands. Peace peace and just peace! Near the highway and ample parking available. See the peacock near the entry gate. Go to visitor center first and they will explain few things. Canteen near the visitor center. Restrooms are available at this place.

A lovely place to go to if you have a chance to visit. Do adhere to the dress code rules if you want to walk through the grounds and to go inside. They do offer a sarong to wear if you forget. There was a wedding when we attended so out of respect we did not go see all of the areas. The intricate carvings are amazing. There was not a fee when we went. Remember it is a place of worship so be mindful of who you bring with you. Parking is available. The staff were very kind, informative, and welcoming.

A truly mesmerizing and beautiful temple. The surroundings are exceptionally clean and well maintained. Visiting this place brings a deep sense of calmness, peace, and mental relaxation.

I've been wanting to visit this place after seeing beautiful pictures of Diwali celebrations. Finally made it. I was in awe. Plenty of places to take pictures. The white marble temple was so amazing. All the intricate work and care. I'm surprised that there's so charge to enter. It is truly beautiful. Must visit!

Absolutely stunning, I have no words for the beauty of this place. The employees are all so very nice and informative and the fact that you can park and visit this incredible location for free is an added bonus. Do your self a favor and experience this.

An amazing oasis of awe-inspiring craftsmanship shepherded by a friendly and attentive staff. I highly recommend visiting. Be ready to : - take off your shoes in certain areas - be respectful of those there to worship - not take photos in certain areas Also, don't forget about the museum beneath the main temple. There's is an elevator that will take you there.

I wanted to update my review about this very beautiful temple and religious space. First of all, I have nothing negative to say about this shrine. It is very glorious and a great place to visit. I have been coming here since it's inception, and it's always a very positive experience. The one thing I want to talk about for you people that have not traveled here before is, the shrine has become more of a tourist attraction than an actual Hindu temple. This is not to say that all of the attributes of Hinduism are not in full effect here, but there are now so many tourists that come here, that much of the spirituality is being robbed. This may have actually been the plan of the builders of this temple, I do not know? But, they are now closing the various Hindu god viewing areas, during certain times of the day, and there's are a lot of staff that really have to manage the main temple area because so many people are doing things that are clearly stated as not appropriate. Again, I'm not saying anything negative about this temple. It is a truly beautiful and great place . What I am discussing is for you people who are just traveling here for the first time, be respectful of the people's beliefs who are actually coming here to worship at this temple. The secondary thing I am detailing is for you people who actually do come here to worship, you may have to overcome a vast array of tourists. Other than that, this area of land has continued to evolve, and they continue to add new and beautiful features. Also, if you want to get something to eat, I totally suggest that you go inside the food area and treat yourself to some of the very tasty South Asian cuisine they offer. You can also buy many things from their supermarket area to take them home with you. Plus, they have a great gift shop if you want to buy some Hindu-based religious items. Overall, exceptional place. But, please respect it for why it was constructed.

Love this temple in chino Ca , it's like stepping into another part of the world. Beautiful extricates hand carved marble pieces amazes me each time I am here . During this visit we were welcomed by friendly volunteers whom greeted each visitors at the entrance. Donations box is positioned at different points in the room, all though entrance is free , monetary donations are accepted and can scan the QR code in the marble room to donate electronically . Don't forget to stop in their cafe for snacks and have traditional lunch before heading to the gift shops for souvenirs .

Beautiful temple. Highly recommend if you want to view some gorgeous hand carved pillars and artistry.

Make a special trip to BAPS in Chino Hills, you will feel amazed and spiritual. This a Hindu temple is situated on an expansive campus with the main temple, a visitor building, and an educational building. The main temple is beautifully made with intricately carved figures in marble and sandstone. For Diwali celebrations, there is a special light show set to music. Quite spectacular! Before you leave, grab a snack at their cafe.

My husband and I attended the Diwali Festival of Lights tonight in Chino Hills (they have it yearly) and it was really nice. I went inside the temple years ago and it was beautiful as well. There is also a little restaurant and gift shop. Parking is onsite. A unique experience.

This review is about the sweet and snacks place. The store has lots of variety of it and so much cheaper than Bhanu or Punjab in Rosemead city. See pics . Dec 28,2024.

Excursion in Chino Hills, California... I first learned about this Hindu Temple from Van D.'s review. I bookmarked it and remembered it when I saw James L.'s post on Facebook. I told James that I wanted to go someday... He said he would be able to take us around on Sunday, 11-5-23... And we went! The parking is free even though there's a guard shack at the entrance. The guard just wants to hand out a pamphlet to each vehicle - I think it's a map? We went to the Visitor Center first. There are restrooms, a seated area with an informational video playing, and an entrance to the snack shop/Cafe. We strolled across the garden towards the temple. The arched walkways are very stunning! We wished that the Lotus Pond would have water in it, but it must still be drought season. The plants were healthy and neatly manicured. We placed our footwear in the shelving before walking up the (temperature) cool marble steps to the temple. Inside, no photographs are allowed. The floors, ceilings, walls, and pillars have intricate designs on them. A lot of labor and love went into the creation of this building! The last stop was the snack shop... Wow... There are so many varieties of sweet and savory items. It's overwhelming. I just got a box of colorful, crunchy, spicy chips to bring to a potluck at home. Haha! I'm sure my friends will be happy with this exotic treat!

900 volunteers, 1.3 million man hours, and 35,000 pieces of meticulously hand carved Italian Carrara marble and Indian Pink sandstone!! This incredible Mandir (Hindu temple) is the first earthquake-proof Mandir in the world - and it's quite a sight to behold!! Huge shout out to Yelp Elite @JamesL for showing us around and Auntie Nadine @NadineC for the invite!! I always learn so much from my Yelp fam - What an experience! You start in the visitor center - which is also impressive - check in and they give you a bracelet for entry. There's a gift shop immediately to the right, as well as a cafe and snack shop. The wood carvings inside the visitor center are also extremely intricate and detailed with little figures and hidden delights in every corner it seems! Stepping outside takes you into the sprawling courtyard with a giant lotus pond and lovely walkway circling the Mandir. Unfortunately the lotus pond is dry - probably due to drought. But it's still a nice sight! The centerpiece is, of course, the massive and beautiful Mandir! Outside seems to be primarily comprised of the Indian Pink Sandstone and is so impressive - the longer I stared at it, the more statues and tiny pieces revealed themselves. You must take your shoes off at the bottom of the stairs before you walk up - and they provide ample shoe storage on either side. No photos or videos are allowed inside. I have to admit, I'm kind of glad bc the interior of the Mandir was such a dramatic surprise having never seen any photos...It was so breathtakingly beautiful it made me gasp! It's a labyrinth of the most intricately carved white Italian marble - words would never do it justice! You just have to see it for yourself - and PRO TIP: be sure to LOOK UP!! Bc all the ceilings, inside and out, are the best part!! I recommend to visit before noon or after 4pm bc from 12-4 each day, they close off parts of the inside for "rest" but I believe there are some very nice statues behind the closed doors. Will definitely be coming back to check that out. We were also told they do a worship service at 1115am so that may be interesting to watch as well. On our way out, we explored the snack shop and cafe - there are SO many unique snacks and food and sauces, etc. All the prices are incredibly reasonable as well. I walked away with some delicious savory choices - a colorful box of Chatachat (crispy, puffy rice crackers covered in spices) and Masala Papdi (spicy chickpea flour crackers). I also got some date and nut dessert bites that are pretty good too. Had a great visit - never knew this was here even though it's right off the 71 haha!! So thanks again to my Yelp fam for helping me discover yet another local gem!! Entrance is free and there seems to be plenty of parking on site. It was way less crowded than I expected on a Sunday - Will definitely be back!

Really beautiful temple with amazing architecture. The people working there were very nice. I have always seen this place along my freeway drive and finally decided to stop and check it out. I only had about 15 minutes but it was huge and had a cafe and gift shop and lots of events there. I enjoyed my brief stay!

I've seen BAPS Shri Swaminarayn Mandir in Chino Hills on my Instagram for ages, but finally decided to make the trip when I went to LA. They have a restaurant on the premises with fully vegetarian food. I highly recommend going during the weekend because they have their full menu and it's apparently quite good. There's so much to see around the area including the beautiful structures and if you go during a time when not as many people are around, it's pretty quiet and you can take some stunning photos of the outside. Every building was absolutely stunning and so intricately carved. It was amazing to experience even once.

We visited BAPS for psst 10 years, and it has be constructed for 14 years now. We visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Chino Hills for the first time in the evening and I was amazed by the beauty and grandeur of the temple. The temple is a masterpiece of traditional Hindu architecture, made of hand-carved stone and marble. The temple is also the first earthquake-proof mandir in the world. The lights illuminated the temple in a stunning way, highlighting the intricate details and patterns of the carvings. The temple complex also has a cultural center, a gymnasium, and classrooms. I also had a chance to taste some delicious vegetarian food at the temple cafeteria. I ordered a samosa, a thali, a masala tea, and a lassi. The food was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. The cafeteria staff was friendly and helpful. I also shopped at the grocery store, where I found a variety of Indian snacks, spices, and products. I highly recommend visiting the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Chino Hills to anyone who is interested in learning more about Hindu culture, spirituality, and art. It is a peaceful and inspiring place that will leave you with a lasting impression. Start your with BAPS, it should be auspicious. Happy new year

Feels weird to rate a place of worship but I must give it five stars. Hardly out in this area of Chino Hills but had an opportunity to visit with a group of Elites and it was well worth the trek. This is a functioning Hindu temple that is open to the public. Enter through the Visitor's Center and then meander the exterior areas before heading inside to view this majestic marble masterpiece (photos are prohibited inside). You'll then exit and go through the gift shop and cafe. I would allow at least 1-2 hours for this visit. Interesting facts (shared by a friendly volunteer/member)...temple is made to last at least 1000 years; hand-carved marble throughout the interior; took 12 years to complete the structure. Ample parking in their dedicated lot. Pass through security. Be prepared to remove shoes before perusing the exterior/interior areas. Restrooms are available. Personally, I have never seen a structure like this one nor have ever had the opportunity to visit the grounds. Cafe is very busy/bustling. Visitors can purchase deli food or packaged items to go. Admittedly, I wasn't familiar with 90% of the items but it seemed that many people were purchasing things based on their long, but fast-moving queue. If you're out in this area and drive past on the 71 perhaps, I suggest stopping by!

This is such a cool Hindi temple!! Wow what a sight!!! The people were so welcoming when we visited. This temple is open daily and open to the public. They have different worship items, so if yo I go during that time, especially inside the Mandir temple, you would have to follow their guidelines to be respectful to their faith. The Mandir temple is all hand carved in India and was brought to chino hills to put together like a puzzle. The outside stone is pink stone and the inside is Italian stone. You just have to see it for yourself, these pictures cannot do it Justice. There are only a couple of Mandir temples in the United States. Us Californians are lucky this amazing work of art is close to home. If you go inside the Mandir temple, they want you to remove your shoes. If it is during service, they may provide you some type of clothing/shawl according to their signs. The grounds are so clean and peaceful. The water fountain was off when I visited. I'd like to go back and see it. I'd also like to see this temple light up at night.

I haven't visited such a beautiful place for a long time. even if you are not a tourist, but live somewhere nearby, I highly recommend visiting this place. Parking is free. There are also rules in clothing: you cannot come in a short skirt and you cannot wear short trousers either. There is a gift shop on site, a traditional grocery store and a café where you can grab a bite to eat. There is also a toilet; When entering the main temple you will need to take off your shoes, put on socks beforehand. I highly recommend this place.

What a beautiful spacious place that you can easily see off the freeway. It looks quite strange but when you enter the grounds there is such a peaceful feeling about it. They definitely have a no shoe policy in the temple so make sure to wear socks with no holes. On a hot day I recommend just carrying socks because I would not like to walk barefoot in the place that everybody walks on. The marble is also quite slippery so maybe a non-slippery sock will be great. It is really majestic looking at all of the architecture and carvings. You can take your time here just to meditate yourself outside or wait for the prayer sessions. It is a donation place but you are not charged for anything. Plenty of parking and also a great shopping area inside for everything spiritual and everything for your tummy

Beat and very clean mandir near Irvine California. Easy parking and friendly staff. The Mandir is not too far from irvine and Tustin. We can get snacks and breakfast inside the mandir

I have always driven by this place and wanted to see it. I just had the chance to see it and Im so glad I did. Its a really beautiful place with so much to offer. The architecture was beyond amazing. It was a fantastic opportunity to be able to visit this place. I would highly recommend visiting this place. Its Free and parking is easy. will return again and take my husband here.

I have seen this temple for years as I drive on the 71freeway, but never took time to visit. I am so glad I did. The visit was free, including parking. You enter through the visitor center and are greeted by an employee who explains to you how to see the main temple, where the gift shop and the restaurant are located The gift shop and restaurant are connected to the visitor center. To see the temple you go outside of the visitor center and to the left. There are benches on each side with cubicles underneath to place your shoes. Women must cover their shoulders and knees. Everything is very neat, clean and organized. There is an elevator go to the temple, or you could take the stairs. Inside the temple is a piece of art, but no pictures are allowed. The details of the stonework is incredible and breathtaking. The grounds outside are beautiful and clean. Weddings are held here after the temple is closed.

Thank you to Yelp friends James L and Nadine C for the invite! What an amazing place to visit... 4 stars!!!! Have passed by this temple in Chino Hills while driving on the 71 freeway and always wondered about the place. Mystery no more! Admission is free, although donations are appreciated. Yes, it's a place of Hindu worship, but anyone can visit just to admire the breathtaking architecture with its intricate carvings and painstaking details. Definitely countless hours of labor and love went into the temple's creation. According to the temple staff member who welcomed us inside the temple, all the marble inside the temple originally came from Italy and sent to India for carving before construction in its current site. No photography is allowed inside the temple, which is actually a good thing since one can really take the time to appreciate the beauty rather than capturing a bunch of pictures for Yelp! Both the temple and the garden grounds are also the perfect place for quiet contemplation and reflection. Although still beautiful, I wished that the lotus-shaped reflection pool was in full display with water when we visited. It's probably for water conservation, but it was still a sight to behold. There's a gift shop, snack shop, and a cafeteria available at the end of your tour. Parking is not an issue since there's plenty of parking spaces on site after passing through a security gate.

It was a beautiful experience. Please DO NOT take small children inside. It a very sacred place and small, loud children are not conducive to the prayer and meditation. The architecture is incredible. Free parking. Be prepared to remove your shoes in certain locations. No talking. No picture taking. Need a quiet place to reflect? Give it a try. The grounds are expansive for a quiet walk or just to sit by the huge lotus-shaped fountain. 4:00pm is a good time to visit as they open the shrines. It's beautiful to see. . There's a "restaurant", but it's more like a snack shop. Mostly dried goods, cookies, candies, soft drinks.

My friend showed me the pictures, but the pictures did not show how beautiful the temple in person. The architecture is beautiful with great details. You cannot take picture inside the temple. Wear appropriate clothes and please be respectful of people who come to worship if you are tourist like me. It can get busy later on. I came when it first open. We stopped the gift shop, they are reasonably price. The cafe has vegetarian food and snacks. We got some Samosa (I am not sure exact name). I do recommend to come and visit, it is free.

What an amazing place. It was so spiritual to me. I always want to visit and finally went on my birthday! I did take pictures and wanted to post them, but I feel it's better to go and enjoy the day. There was a beautiful wedding ceremony there. The restaurant has amazing food and we even bought a bunch of sweets. We had no idea what we were purchasing, but let me tell you. They're so good with tea. I wish I knew what days they have service I would love to attend.

What a hidden gem, and absolutely free! I was casually driving on the freeway and found what could be a world wonder in this Mandir on my right hand side. If you're like me and you geek out on unique architecture, you'll understand why I immediately took the nearest exit to go here. The security guard at the front was friendly and shared a map where I could find the nearest visitor's parking spot. From there, I parked and took in the breathtaking views of the Mandir in front of me before entering the visitor area. A kind staff member filled me in on the do's and don'ts once inside the temple, along with where to generally navigate around. You can snap pictures of all areas outside, which fortunately includes the captivating Mandir and the lush green gardens & ornate walkways leading up to it. You will NOT be allowed to take pics or videos once inside however. Just make sure you take your shoes off before stepping foot inside the temple, and leave them in the convenient shoe storages placed outside, or inside the exhibition area if that's first on your list. The exhibition museum really helped connect me to my roots, embedded with the rich history of Indian culture, the Hindu religion, and background on the process of building this magnificent place. You can either take the elevator or stairs to enter the temple area, but I recommend the stairs if you're able as it's an epic build up. Inside, it's otherworldly (just be sure you don't make a sound and observe respectfully!). Decked out with what I believe is intricately carved marble from all surrounding areas, it was a moment of zen mixed with awe. Being a Mandir, it was naturally a place to give offerings and worship to gods and goddesses in Hindu culture, with plaques providing info on each, along with history of famous gurus. My favorite part of this experience was when I believe a Hindu priest (I apologize if that's not who they were), opened up a row of doors to present these absolutely gorgeous statues of Hindu gods and goddesses dressed and covered in gold and a variety of other colors. The experience was paired with hymns and gentle music which only added to it being as mystical as anything I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. Worshippers can share offerings such as fruits and flowers, as well as make donations. Before leaving entirely, I wanted to check out the cafe/market area, and I was absolutely taken away. Super clean and structured, I'll admit it was a few steps above other Indian markets I've been to. It was like my parent's dream. Everything they'd snack on growing up could be found here, including a vast assortment of mithai and chivda. I picked up a decent haul to take home, along with a childhood favorite in chatachat, which are mixed flour crackers tossed in spices. My only knock is the cashier was a little rude. No acknowledgement to me saying hi, thank you, etc. just an absolute brick wall of convo and devoid of pleasantries. You also have to bag your own groceries. But it's alright, everything else was perfect.

Bro! Let me pick up my jaw from the ground! Did you know that this structure was hand made and shipped to its location??? If you aren't in awe of that alone, you are dead inside! This is one of the most beautiful structures I've ever witnessed in So Cal (i know it's in Chino, which is hardly so cal, but nevertheless...). It is a real, active place of worship so please be respectful when visiting since they are nice enough to let us not n Hindus in! It is free to see but on the way out, be sure to pick up some authentic snacks and food.

First time at this sacred temple on a chill Saturday arvo. Parking was a breeze, setting the vibe for a spiritual journey. The temple, surrounded by a big compound, emitted divine energy, drawing folks like pilgrims to a shrine. Inside, there's more than just the temple - a snack shop, a cozy restaurant, and a gift shop full of spiritual goodies. The temple itself, is a masterpiece of art and devotion. Handcrafted sculptures adorn the walls, each a testament to dedication. But there's this sad sight of a water fountain not doing its thing, a reminder of life's impermanence and under construction. Exploring the temple had its hurdles, with construction zones blocking some areas. But inside, it's all ethereal vibes with intricate sculptures whispering ancient tales. Photography is cool in most spots, but leave the fancy cameras at home - phone pics only. After soaking up the vibes, hit the snack bar for some munchies. The samosas were a hit, and the gift shop had sweet deals. Picked up some incense and a killer mango lassi, feeling blessed by the temple's abundance. Overall, despite the construction zones, the temple's vibe remained pure, guiding seekers on their path to enlightenment.

Very beautiful Hindu Temple in Chino Hills City. I came here on Saturday afternoon and it was busy especially inside the food area. This is a place if you want to takes a lot of pictures but beware entering the temple inside as you are not allowed to have your shoes in. There are one way and one down stairs. You can not stop while going up or down on the stairs. The security is very nice but the guy who in charge of entering the temple is not. The temple is very quiet as it should be! I didn't know this places existed but it is just one time checking out so I don't think I will be coming back. After wondering around the temple you can come inside for snacks and foods but I felt mostly it just snacks and desserts or cookies.

This Indian temple is beyond beautiful! The visitor center is made of teak wood imported from India, all handmade. No visible nails nor screws noted by looking at the structure pans pillars. The mandir is limited with strict Indian cultural rules to follow and no photography or videography allowed inside. The entire mandir is made with hand carved marbles! Amazing techniques and shows the old age intelligence used back in the old days. Even the selection of stone color on the stairs were thoughtfully constructed. As you may see, there are brownish color stones and white marble stones used on the stairs, when I walked on white marble steps, it's nice and cool although outside temperature was probably in the 90s, where as the darker color steps were very warm to walk on. No shoes allowed if you decide to visit the mandir. There was a lot of constructions and landscaping works being done. The lotus looking water fountain looks like just finished without water yet. There was a food court with gift shop available. Restrooms are also available. What a nice place to visit to learn about other cultures. This place is huge! I felt like I walked into India without leaving the country! Definitely will come back in the future once they finish all the works being done now.

As a part of our Lunar New Year tradition, my mom likes to visit temples for blessings and good luck. The more the merrier. This year one of her friends mentioned BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and she really wanted to go. Just to manage expectations with her, I'm like ugh you know this is a HINDU temple right?? She was just like temple temple... I'm really chill so I'm like okay let's go. When we arrived, I knew that she knew that I was RIGHT. It's definitely not what she had in mind but it was nevertheless stunning and absolutely magnanimous. The architecture of this temple even from afar looked so detailed and thoughtful. You can tell a lot of care went into building this place. We felt like we took a mini vacation out of the country to this little getaway. Upon entering we went in through the visitor center. There was someone in the area greeting us and providing information and direction to get to the temple's main hall/worship area. Even the visitor's area was so beautiful. Look up at the ceiling if you find the opportunity to come visit. Then you pass through a stunning garden. I am not one to be speechless but there are not enough words to describe how glorious everything is. There were a lot of folks here to worship and to take pictures. Please take off your shoes before you walk up their stairs to the worship area/main hall. This is a matter of respect. There were some folks who somehow missed the signs and staff had to tell them to take off their shoes. I was concerned with my mom climbing the stairs since she's older now but we took it slowly with the handrails. I feel like there is an element of respect and faith making the trek up the stairs too. No pictures allowed at the point. I respect their culture and religion so of course I put my camera away. The inside was even more beautiful than what we saw prior or the things I was allowed to take pictures of. I got a lot of compliments about my photos here and I really want to say, go there for yourself it's even more beautiful in the no photo zone. My mom's friend who told us about this place isn't Hindu or Buddhist. They had an American/Hispanic upbringing but they told my mom they were able to come here and pray and get their blessings answered. In Vietnamese we would say the place is very "Linh Thien" but there is no good translation for that in English. I feel like we should all treat everyone's cultures with respect and an open heart and you never know what blessings will come your way.

Amazing architecture. It's hard to believe you're not in India. Free to go and explore, so worth a visit if in the area. If you're there during their worship hours, it's quite interesting to watch. The snack/gift shop is perfect for souvenirs as there's a lot of Indian food I've never seen before. Plus their lassi is delicious.

I was very pleasantly surprised how beautiful this place is. I had driven past here a few times and from the freeway, it didn't look that impressive, but when you do finally enter the grounds, you can see the architecture is absolutely beautiful and everything seems to be hand carved and is incredibly ornate. There is a main temple (mandir building) that has some very beautiful sculptures (for lack of a better word). You do have to take off your shoes, which we weren't prepared for, but well worth seeing the inside of the temple. Also, you do have to cover certain parts of your body before you can enter, but they do provide you with a sarong to help with this. Not a big deal and I'm happy they didn't turn us away and that they even provide these items for the public to use, which is nice. I mean, in the end, this is a temple that is sacred, so it's probably best to visit their website and read their visitor guidelines before you enter. Something we didn't do and now know better. Also, inside the mandir building, you will see people preying, so I can understand their limiting of people taking pictures. Anyway, the ground and temple are really beautiful and someplace I'd like to visit again in the future. Also, they didn't charge any fee for parking or entry, but it does get busy, so I would guess on some days, parking might be hard.

5/5 for the incredible architecture that wowed us at the very first sight. This was our first visit even though we have been in the area multiple times. We were never aware of this temple earlier. Glad we visited here. Architecture is breathtaking and I can bet you would have never seen such a thing in the US. Definitely a rich temple of all we have visited. The premise itself is very huge too. They have a nice cafeteria with plenty of things to take home. Also, the kitchen serves Gujrati food and it was good tasting overall. It is a must-visit place when you are in the neighborhood. Highly recommended.

Teleport to India, Gujrat, to an authentic Gujarati, Hindu religious pilgrim experience that is so unique, it attracts locals in India to visit. Experience the architecture genius and details in the art of creating something so skillful and unique, it hardly can be replicated today. Inside the Temple, you are surrounded with unique white real marble carvings of saints, Hindu gods, and deities with focus on the smallest details. Having experience such amazement, walk over to the kitchen section of the mandir and you will experience pure vegetarian delicacies from Gujrat India. Flavors that will intise the carnivorous and herbivores side of your taste buds. My favorites are their Khaman Dhokla, Thepla, Galabi and mouth watering Gujarati Thali. If you happen to be in SoCal, don't miss this spot. Drop in a like below if you did and found this spot as unique and amazing as thousands who visit here every here!

This place is a must to if you're in the Chino Hills area!! It is so beautiful and the architeture is so intricate and amazing! Parking: - no time limit on parking and parking is free! Things to note: - no large backpacks or purses allowed in - no photography inside the mandir - no clothing exposing knees or shoulders - shoes off if you want to go into the mandir Things to note: - there is a cafe inside! - there is also a gift shop and a sweets/snacks store inside as well

I love and respect this temple and the Hindu devotees here. They are so kind and their culture is just beautiful and peaceful. I just wish the visitors would STOP touching the marble! It's handmade and a lot of work, love, and effort went into those designs so if people keep tarnishing it by touching it, it can wear away. Also PLEASE cover your legs and arms before coming! Bring a light cover up, jacket, or sleeved shirt and long pants. Showing your bare legs and armpits is like going to church naked. Don't be disrespectful! Most visitors do their research beforehand like one should or call for questions and can follow the general rules (thank you!) but some ppl for some reason don't get the memo. For the Spanish-speaking visitors who seem to make these mistakes: ¡No toques el mármol! Y por favor usa mangas largas y pantalones. No muestres piel desnuda. ¡Ten algo de respeto por la cultura!

Hindu temple with a visitor center/cafe there open to the public. Entrance is free and parking is available on-premise. No advance reservations are required. You have to check in at the front when parking and one person in your party will receive a wristband when checking in at the visitor center. No large purses or backpacks are allowed. Kids are allowed. Photography is allowed outside but not within the Mandir. It was cool to see the Mandir, which had very intricate architecture and was funded via public donations( note silence is required). You can't wear shoes in the Mandir either so I'd suggest wearing socks, as the shoe cubbies are located outside at the bottom of the stairs, and you'll need to walk across the concrete.

I will be honest, we went there for the food coz we had heard a lot of good reviews. The Shayona Cafe options are delicious but limited - there is thali (if you are interested in a full meal), and snack options like samosas, khichdi etc. The real draw is the food store where you get what looks like fresh prepared Indian namkeen (savory dry snacks) and mithai (sweets). A good place to stock up your snack shelf for the month.

Make time to visit this place once if you're near by. I've been here 5x, with friends and family and visitors. Always know where to take my guests around when they are here for a visit and the temple can't go wrong. I was here when the exhibit on the ground floor was still open. Now, it is closed for renovation. The Madir is on the 2nd floor, a place for meditation and statues of their gods. When entering the building, shoes need to be off, place on the shelf. You can go up the stair or the elevator, shoes off. Be quiet, respect others, don't touch, put your phone away in the bag, pocket, whatever so it is not visible to the volunteer. My dad had his phone around his wrist, turned off, the man came to me demanding to put in my bag. OK. My 1st visit, i was wearing a skirt hang below the knee but above ankle..i was given a wrap to wear to cover my legs...OK. 2nd visit was with a friend, he loves taking pictures, warned him no picture but he won't listen. Busted by the man, demand to delete all the pictures inside the Madir..OK. Why do I still visit this place? Well it is beautiful, FREE!! Just follow direction and you're OK Next, the Egyptian Building is only 4 mins away..so stop by there and tell ppl u been to India and Egypt lol

It was a beautiful day to have lunch at Shayona Cafe with my coworkers. As you walk in, there's a store for Indian food and a cafe. The cafe used to offer different options prior to COVID. Now, there's no option. It's a fixed meal for $12.00. The food was delicious. There's a lot of open space outdoors to eat and enjoy the relaxing view of the surrounding. DJ's rating: 4.70/5.00 Would I come back? Definitely yes.

Wanna travel to India but your bank says 'Heck no! You can't afford to go NOWHERE?" Well, just drive to Chino Hills and visit BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. Not only you would feel like you are in India, but the people of this Holy place are welcoming, friendly, and they don't mind explaining their place to you. I have been coming to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for so many years now. I first saw this place driving from the freeway. When a friend finally took me here, I was in awe. This place is so beautiful and I was surprised at how friendly they are. I have attended their ceremonies and festivities so many times. I live about 20 minutes from here and have been taking my family and friends here a lot. They love the place, never failed. When visiting this mandir, you have to be very respectful. Wear appropriate clothes, you will have to take off your shoes, and NO PICTURE INSIDE. You can visit their website for the inside photos. The inside is a must-see and attending their ceremony, I definitely recommend. Wait, did I sound like Yoda for a moment? haha. anyway, please check the time on their website as they don't do the ceremony all the time. I think it lasts about 20-30 minutes. One time, I took my co-workers here and we missed the ceremony. Either way, they enjoyed visiting this place and we took a lot of photos outside. They also enjoyed shopping at the grocery store near the entrance. Anyway, hope my review help.

Amazing architecture. Free administration You definitely should visit this amazing place

First time coming here, my girl took me here For those who have never been here, it is an amazing experience to come see and experience. Please be respectful of their culture. Once you are inside the temple, on the second floor please do not take any pictures or be too loud. Respect the peace and environment. What to expect here: Wonderful scenery A lot of parking spaces Plenty of amazing places to take pictures if your with your love one Before you go to the second you will have to take your shoes off and take the elevator to the second floor. You will have to cover your knees You will have to cover your top- bring a hoodie to and long pants if your a man. Enjoy the view and read the history behind the scenery. Friendly staff to guide you Once you are done enjoying the second floor , come down to the first floor and enjoy more history and pictures on how the temple was made. The entry is free so is the parking Once we were done with the tour we continue to take more pictures outside and grabbed some vegetarian food.

Visiting here has been on my to-do list for the longest! I finally stopped by this past Sunday, the 5th. Needless to say, the temple is absolutely stunning. It's even more beautiful in-person than the online photos. Also, there is a Visitor Hall that contains a gift shop, a mini mart store, and dining area. P.S. Please read all signs before entering certain buildings. Such as no photography, removal of shoes, covered shoulders, etc. (This mainly applies to the stair-cased temple) So if you're stopping by to check out the architecture, just be respectful since this is a place of worship :) That's all, folks! Parking: free Entrance: free Donations: welcomed Food Hall: Vegetarian

When I first saw this place in a photo of my Friend, I thought she was in overseas. So I clicked on Yelp and I was surprised that this Beautiful place is only 2 Hours away from San Diego. I was very excited to see it in person, when we came there was a gate guard, so I took my Walllet out for Parking, but the Gate Guard said it was Free and that there was plenty of parking inside. We were also given a paper of what not to do while in the Premises, they were simple and easy to follow and reasonable. We were Told to check in at this Building with amazing Arts, I took my Wallet again and the guy said there was No price, it's up to you to donate or not. We donated and went on to the the main attraction. And wow, this TEMPLE is Beautiful! I couldn't wait to get inside. Approaching the Stairs there was a SIGN that said to remove FOOTWEAR and that there must be NO PHOTOS or VIDEOS inside. Luckily, I had extra socks in my Car and proceeded to enter the Temple . We were getting closer and closer to the TOP and omg, the ART the DETAILS in this TEMPLE were so AMAZING!!! When we got inside, the building was all WHITE inside with lots of ART CARVINGS. While going around I saw people Praying and Learned a lot about the Temple. BUT it's a bummer that PHOTOS are not allowed inside the Temple. Everyone is Respectful, no one tried to take a photo, but it's so Nice inside . Come and VISIT this place, it's beautiful! And when you are done visiting the Temple they also have a Small grocery store and Cafe located next to the buiding where you first check in to get in . I love the food we got , they were mostly Spicy but we like it . Before going here, check my photos for VISITOR GUIDELINES so you are good to go when u visit.

Very cool spiritual experience. The hand carved details to their structures are amazing. Inside the temple was so beautiful! Was in awe while inside the entire time. FREE admission and there is also a small food court and store to try some unique traditional and cultural flavors. A must to explore and experience.

What a beautiful place that you wouldn't expect in Southern California! I've been here several times. This was the first time that we observed a prayer at 11:15 am in the temple. While those who do not practice Hinduism should stand to the side to observe, we were invited to come and sit for the prayer. I thought that this was a very kind gesture. We did research and keep in mind of their rules, to wear clothing covering the shoulders and knees, out of respect for a religious place. We also put our phones away. Some visitors came in who were super disrespectful (took pictures with phone, showed midriff), which frustrated staff. There are signs clearly saying no photography in the temple. You can take photos anywhere else. It was a great experience overall. We went first thing in the morning because it gets super hot in Chino. It was already 91 degrees F when we arrived at 10:30 ish. The cafe has good food. It wasn't their full menu because it looks like construction was happening. I hope that they fully open soon! Great place to have vegetarian food.

Enter at Gate 1, a Hindu Temple called BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located in Chino Hills. It is free and open to visitors of all faiths, donations are accepted. Tips for visiting inside the Mandir: Wear socks as shoes are not allowed. Wear something that covers your knees & legs but they do provide wraps. Photos are allowed outside only, no phones or cameras inside the Mandir. Check out the huge snack shop on your way out! The pistachio lassi is very refreshing! Thank you to the volunteers who work hard to made this place possible to visit. I look forward to come back during sunset hour.

I have no idea why I waited this long to go visit, I am just 15 minutes away , on a whim me and a friend went to visit in the afternoon, so glad we did, it's breathtakingly beautiful, it's like I just traveled to India ! I could not take photos in the main Mandir but it gave me goosebumps when I walked in , all white Italian marble hand carved intricately, I felt a sense of peace and Just in awe how beautiful it was ! We ate before we went so did not get a chance to try the food, definitely will be back again to try the food they serve in the cafeteria!

This place is absolutely gorgeous! A MUST if you're in the area. Unfortunately due to COVID, they're not giving guided tours right now. I came here around 1:45 PM on a Sunday in mid-January 2022. I knew that have daily gatherings throughout the day so I came between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM when there was a gap because I wanted to be able to go inside the temple since the pictures I saw online were jaw-droppingly beautiful. I came in through the North gates since they're the only gates that are open on the weekends. The person at the booth gave us a map and welcomed us first-timers to the campus. We drove all the way down to the front of the temple where the visitor center was and parked. The parking was free and there were plenty. The map shows you the route they'd like visitors to take when entering and exiting. Everyone was required to wear a mask throughout the campus, even when outdoors, but not everyone paid attention to the signs. The inside of the visitor center was filled with intricate carvings and lovely to stare at. When you go outside onto the exterior of the temple, you are overwhelmed by how big the campus is. After walking through the exterior garden, we took off our shoes at the base of the temple stairs and left them on the shoe racks on the side. Make sure you wear socks if you don't want to dirty your feet. Also, make sure you cover your shoulders and knees when visiting for modesty (it was mentioned in their rules section on their website). The view from the top of the stairs was also quite spectacular. Once you're inside the temple, you cannot take any pictures nor can/should you talk since it's a quiet and sacred space. The interior was probably the most beautiful temple I've ever seen on U.S. soil. The entire interior was carved in white marble. The walls, pillars, and ceilings were just filled with intricate carvings with strategic lighting to illuminate the depth and complexities of every inch of that temple. Truly a sight to behold. From the pictures I saw online, they light up the exterior with magnificent colors at night so I hope to come back in the evening sometime.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is an Indian Temple located in Chino Hills, CA. It is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking architectural gems of SoCal. Located in San Bernardino County, it is less than an hour away from LA. I love that we can travel here and feel like we are on the other side of the world. I've come here a few times, but it was nice to come back to see additions to the location. One fun fact is that the complex is the first earthquake-proof Mandir in the world! This is an actual place of worship, so they ask people of all faiths to take off their shoes when entering the temple. There are no photos allowed inside the actual temple, but it is absolutely GORGEOUS. Stunning architecture and paintings and it's just a beautiful sight. I love architecture and the diversity that is Southern California, so I highly recommend visiting this beautiful Mandir.