If you are looking for peace, stunning architecture, and a traditional temple experience, the Malibu Hindu Temple is a must-visit. Tucked away beautifully in the mountains, the natural surroundings immediately bring a sense of calm the moment you arrive. The architecture is breathtaking--the Gopuram (temple tower) is intricately and beautifully carved, making you feel as though you've been transported straight to India. Inside, the temple is split between the upper and lower levels, housing beautifully maintained idols of Lord Venkateshwara, Lord Shiva, and various Goddesses. The atmosphere is deeply spiritual; the priests perform the rituals wonderfully, and hearing the chanting of the Vedic mantras adds a powerful, divine energy to the space. A few practical highlights: Parking & Facilities: Parking is completely free and accessible, and the restrooms are exceptionally clean. Cafeteria: They have a fantastic cafeteria on-site offering delicious Indian snacks and hot coffee--perfect for a quick bite after your darshan. Whether you are looking to pray or simply want to appreciate the incredible architecture and serene mountain views, this temple is a beautiful sanctuary. Highly recommended! Note: Dress code applicable and have to remove shoes and enter the temple. read more

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This Hindu Temple is absolutely beautiful and peaceful. Took some time a while back for personal reflection at the Hindu Temple in Malibu, a truly beautiful and peaceful sanctuary. It's a SMALLER Hindu Temple with beautiful architecture, do don't expect it to a big temple that you will spend a few any hours there 1 hour is definitely enough for you to walk around and check them out. You have to take off your shoes upon entering the outdoor Temple. The last time I went, there was no fee to enter and no parking fee to the temple. (I read recent visitors got charged and a $10 parking fee so call them first to find out). The temple could also be close for a special events, so do plan ahead accordingly. Take the 10 West all the way down. It's about 25 miles out from the beginning of PCH on the 10 W. read more

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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. read more

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Got married here 20 plus years ago. Immaculately maintained by caring and friendly temple staff. Now, food also available during certain times. read more

Malibu Hindu Temple - A most amazing environment for a temple, surrounded by mountains. Spiritual haven that only gets better with time. - Hindu Temples Near Me - Calabasas, California

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

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? read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Malibu Hindu Temple - Hours - Hindu Temples Near Me - Calabasas, California

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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!!! read more

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. read more

Malibu Hindu Temple - Hindu Temples Near Me - Calabasas, California

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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!! read more

Malibu Hindu Temple - Hindu Temples Near Me - Calabasas, California

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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. read more

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

Malibu Hindu Temple - The other side of the temple entrance - Hindu Temples Near Me - Calabasas, California

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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. read more

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. read more

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

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 read more

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

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. read more

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

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." read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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

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. read more

Malibu Hindu Temple - Hindu Temples Near Me - Calabasas, California

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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. read more

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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! read more

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. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Malibu Hindu Temple - Hindu Temples Near Me - Calabasas, California

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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! read more

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! read more

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$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. read more

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