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California is home to a wide range of temples that represent the state’s rich multicultural diaspora. Hindu and Jain temples in California serve as spiritual centres for people seeking serenity, cultural connection, and religious practice. Each temple provides a distinct experience, with elaborate architecture, exciting festivals, and regular ceremonies welcoming guests from all backgrounds. Whether seeking spiritual solitude, learning about other cultures, or appreciating gorgeous architecture, California’s temples provide valuable experiences beyond worship, allowing everyone to explore and enjoy their culture.
Top 10 Temples in California
Discover California’s most culturally significant temples, which provide peaceful retreats, exciting festivals, and architectural beauty to people of all religions and cultures. Here is the list of temples in California:
1. Malibu Hindu Temple
Photo: Ganeshk / Wikimedia Commons
The Malibu Hindu Temple, nestled in the gorgeous hills of Malibu, California, is devoted to Lord Venkateswara and is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in the United States. This famous temple in California is designed in the classic South Indian architecture, with finely carved gopurams (temple towers), peaceful gardens, and quiet prayer rooms. It is well-known for celebrating spectacular festivals such as Diwali and Navaratri. It acts as a religious and cultural centre for the Hindu population, welcoming guests from all walks of life. Here guests may discover spirituality while enjoying the beauty of nature.
Location: Malibu, California
Timings: 9 AM – 12:30 PM, 5 PM – 8 PM
Entry Fee: Free
2. Sanatan Dharma Temple
Photo: ELG21 / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Sanatan Dharma Temple in Norwalk, California, is famous for religious and cultural activities. This temple honours many Hindu deities and is intended to provide a pleasant environment for devotees to connect with their spirituality. It is well-known for conducting festivals such as Holi, Diwali, and Janmashtami, which invite a lot of people to celebrate traditional music, dance, and holy ceremonies. The temple also provides religious seminars, youth initiatives, and community services to foster ties within the Hindu community. Sanatan Dharma Temple is a spiritual sanctuary and cultural icon.
Location: Norwalk, California
Timings: 24*7
Entry Fee: Free
3. Shiva Murugan Temple
Photo: 光旭 杨 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The Shiva Murugan Temple in Concord, California, is devoted to Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan, embodying traditional Tamil temple design and customs. Originally built in San Francisco in the 1950s, it was the first Hindu temple in North America devoted to Lord Murugan before moving to its current location in Concord. Regarded as one of the best temples in California, it is known for its spiritual atmosphere, daily pujas, and major festivities like Maha Shivaratri, which draw devotees from all across the region. With its wonderfully decorated idols and ancient ceremonies, this temple provides a peaceful environment, inspiring a strong sense of devotion and belonging.
Location: Concord, California
Timings: 9 AM – 12 PM, 6 PM – 8:30 PM
Entry Fee: Free
4. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Photo: Emduth Juleemun / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, is a magnificent Hindu temple with elaborate marble and sandstone construction. It was built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) to honour Bhagwan Swaminarayan and serve as a spiritual and cultural centre. The temple’s hand-carved pillars, domes, and exquisite sculptures demonstrate traditional Indian artistry. Beyond its architectural splendour, the mandir promotes spiritual growth through meditation sessions, and cultural events, helping to establish an interconnected community.
Location: Chino Hills, California
Timings: 9 AM – 12 PM, 4 PM – 7 PM
Entry Fee: Free
5. Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Photo: David Bartus / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Berkeley Buddhist Temple, located in Berkeley, California, is a centre for Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, a Japanese-influenced offshoot of Pure Land Buddhism. Established in the early twentieth century, this popular temple in California offers a calm setting for meditation, spiritual activities, and community events. It offers weekly services, Dharma discourses, and meditation sessions open to everybody, encouraging mindfulness, compassion, and understanding. The temple commemorates significant Buddhist holidays, such as Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s Birthday) and Obon, a Japanese festival honouring ancestors.
Location: Berkeley, California
Timings: Sunday services
Entry Fee: Free
6. Vedanta Society Of Southern California
Photo: Glavo / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
The Vedanta Society of Southern California, located in Hollywood, California, is a spiritual centre dedicated to propagating Vedanta teachings that emphasise religious oneness and self-realisation. Swami Prabhavananda founded the organisation in the early twentieth century. It is part of the global Ramakrishna Order and serves as a shelter for meditation, study, and spiritual development. The centre provides weekly lectures, meditation sessions, and seminars on sacred books, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. The Vedanta Society welcomes people from all backgrounds and encourages contemplation and excellent knowledge of spiritual ideas.
Location: Hollywood, California
Timings: Open daily
Entry Fee: Free
7. ISKCON Temple – New Dwarka
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The ISKCON Temple (New Dwarka) in Los Angeles, California, is a notable centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple provides a peaceful setting for prayer, meditation, and community meetings. This is a popular temple in California, known for its kirtans (devotional singing) and festivals like Janmashtami and Radhashtami, creating a strong sense of devotion and spirituality. In addition to religious services, the ISKCON Temple features a vegetarian cafeteria and offers spiritual instruction through workshops and activities.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Timings: Open daily
Entry Fee: Free
8. Hsi Lai Temple
Photo: Tktru2 / Wikimedia Commons
Hsi Lai Temple, in Hacienda Heights, California, is one of the largest and most prominent Chinese Buddhist temples in the United States. The Fo Guang Shan Buddhist organisation founded it and represents classic Chinese Buddhist architecture, with large halls, serene gardens, and beautiful sculptures. The temple serves as a hub for cultural and spiritual growth, offering classes in Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. It holds regular Buddhist rituals, meditation sessions, and cultural activities, including Lunar New Year festivities. Hsi Lai Temple encourages interfaith discussion, compassion, and personal growth while offering a peaceful environment for all visitors to ponder and build their spiritual lives.
Location: Hacienda Heights, California
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: Free
9. Sri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir
Photo: Roman Saienko / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Sri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, located in Riverside, California, is a stunning Hindu temple devoted to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. This famous temple in California mixes traditional North Indian architectural forms with vivid, elaborate sculptures. It conducts regular pujas, spiritual talks, and festive events such as Diwali, Holi, and Navaratri. The temple promotes togetherness and dedication via cultural events, educational activities, and community service projects.
Location: Riverside, California
Timings: Open daily
Entry Fee: Free
10. Jain Center Of Southern California
Photo: Dev Patel / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The Jain Centre of Southern California, located in Buena Park, California, is an essential spiritual and cultural centre for the Jain community. The temple is dedicated to preaching Jainism’s critical ideas which are nonviolence (ahimsa), truth (Satya), and austerity, and it has wonderfully sculpted statues of Lord Mahavir and other important Jain saints. The centre holds regular prayer meets, meditation sessions, and cultural events, such as Paryushana and Diwali, essential to Jain traditions. It also provides educational programs for teaching Jain philosophy and ethics.
Location: Buena Park, California
Timings: Open daily
Entry Fee: Free
Temples in California provide peaceful settings that honour spiritual variety, allowing visitors to learn about other faiths, admire the gorgeous architecture, and attend cultural activities. Each temple will enable visitors to experience its tranquil environment, making them must-visit destinations for those looking for spiritual connection. Are you ready to tour these hallowed sites? Allow TripXL to assist you through your tour with smooth travel planning and insights about California’s cultural attractions.
Cover Photo: Rick Han / pixels / Image For Representation Only
