A must-visit temple. It's in an isolated area, surrounded by nature, so it's quiet peaceful. The view is breath-taking & the drive there is pretty scenic. You might not get much network around the area though. It's easily accessible to the public on Tuesdays & Saturdays from 6 am to 7:30 am when the arati happens. At all other times, a reservation is required to visit the temple & Mount Madonna Center. The cafe is closed early morning, so you can enjoy food there only when you make reservations. They give you prasad after the arati. It can be crowded in the mornings, so if arati is not a priority, it's better to make a reservation. It's rushed during the arati hours. By reserving, you can enjoy a quieter environment, pray more, and stay for longer without being overwhelmed by the crowd. The restrooms are clean. Pets are not allowed. They always have volunteers who are great at helping you & distributing prasad. read more

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Place the phone ringer on silent. There's no cell connection (so grateful for that!) Ladies: PLEASE PUT YOUR HAIR UP ..... our scriptures say so! There's no confusion about that! Don't show up in denim and jeggings,please! Please. This is not a requirement of this temple. But our elders say so... "In Hinduism, women are often encouraged to put their hair up as a sign of modesty and to avoid attracting negative energies. Loose hair is sometimes associated with vulnerability and can symbolize a lack of control or discipline, which is why tying it up is seen as more appropriate." Untied or loose hair is considered bad or inauspiciousness in Hinduism as it invites negative energy and destruction. Loose and open hair is a symbol of death and mourning. During puja and when entering temple, the hair should be tied and not left loose. Even while sleeping, it is advised to keep the hair tied. Untied or loose hair is also a symbol of sex, thus a women shows united hair only to her husband. In the Ramayana, Sita's mother Sunayana advices her to keep the hair always neatly tied as it a symbol of bond and auspiciousness." The first question from yelp is what went well I would say everything!! It was a certain moment that emissaries of God talked about Sankatmochan and within a few hours, I found myself there! Visiting this temple requires an appointment - sign up online. Get there by 4pm. Aarti & Pooja are 6pm. There might be other prayers. There's a lot of Bhajan and chanting....... So good for the soul and to center oneself. Ladies: PLEASE PUT YOUR HAIR UP ..... our scriptures say so! There's no confusion about that! Don't show up in denim and jeggings, please! One does not see any woman dressed in leggings and denim at a mosque, a gurdwara, a Jewish temple, a church. read more

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Not a traditional temple as they do not take any puja offerings. They will say no. Prasad they take prepackaged or fruits. Download maps there is no internet there so google maps or apple maps will not work or use car navigation. Lighting oil/ghee diya for puja is allowed but no camphor and no breaking coconut. read more

Have visited this temple more than 10 times and love it every time we go there. Just the feel of temple in the nature and good views make it feel good even though I am not that religious read more

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Title: A Tranquil Retreat Worth Planning For If you're looking for a peaceful escape from the bustle of the Bay Area, theSankatMochanHanuman Temple in Watsonville is a hidden gem--but you'll need to be quick on the draw. Here are the highlights from our Saturday visit: * Reservation‑only entry (and they go fast). Reservations open weekly and the spots vanish within a minute--set an alarm and have your details ready. I initially wondered why reservations were necessary, but once on the grounds it's clear: the controlled numbers keep the environment clean, quiet, and spiritually focused. * Remote location, unreliable cell service. Once you turn onto the winding forest road, signal drops. Download maps or directions beforehand and let friends/family know you'll be off‑grid for a few hours. * Serene hilltop setting with a small pond. Nestled among towering redwoods, the temple grounds feature a tranquil pond that reflects the trees and adds to the meditative vibe. The gentle hum of chanting, incense drifting through the air, and panoramic valley views create an atmosphere that's immediately calming. * Well‑organized visitor flow. Despite the reservation rush, check‑in was smooth. Volunteers guided cars to designated spots and politely reminded everyone to keep noise low. * Offering essentials--plan ahead. There are no shops nearby, so buy coconuts, bananas, or other fruits in advance if you'd like to make a traditional offering inside the shrine. * Pleasant rituals, prasad, and the Anjaneya Café. The Saturday aarti was intimate; priests welcomed every devotee and encouraged quiet reflection. Afterwards we enjoyed tasty prasad and grabbed a cup of chai plus piping‑hot samosas from the little Anjaneya Café. * Practical tips. Wear layers (weather can be chilly), carry water, bring cash for donations, and savor the mandatory digital detox. Bottom line: With a little planning, a visit toSankatMochanHanuman Temple offers a refreshing blend of spirituality and natural beauty. The reservation system keeps the experience serene, the pond and café add extra charm, and the remote location becomes a blessing--it's the perfect excuse to unplug and soak in the peace. Five well‑earned stars. read more

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Very peaceful . It feels very calming , and in times of stress and just daily exhaustion .. visiting here for even a few minutes is very very recharging. The serenity it unexplainable. read more

Very scenic and serene atmosphere. The Pujari near the deity was patient to voluntarily ask and take my 3 month child and getting an up close view for my daughter with a Teeka. Not just him, all volunteers/employees right from the entrance person have been patient with giving info and treating every one with respect. Worth going through the hassle of reserving and driving an hour plus from the Bay Area. Could easily spend 2 hours up there. read more

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Just WOW!!! Been there multiple times and every visit turns out to be so serene. Never come across a temple in such a scenic place in the US, so far. Just too good a location. Must visit during the winter season, especially for the weather. The whole place is so well managed and tidy. They have expanded their parking lot and also having accommodation out there now. Good to see it grow over the years. Samosas and Chai on saturdays is something to look forward to as well after paying a visit to the temple. read more

I really like Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple -- it's peaceful, well-maintained, and has a very calming atmosphere. It's a wonderful place to sit, reflect, and connect spiritually. The energy of the temple is very positive, and the surroundings are clean and welcoming. Always a good experience whenever I visit. read more

I am so in love with this temple. We try to go there every once in a while since its bit closer to our home but not like very close..haha If you are going on the weekend then you need to book a slot via their online portal. The online booking starts at 9am on weekdays and closes within 5-10 mins. So be ready at 9am on your phone or laptop to book a slot. I believe you don't need a booking for weekdays. Even though its a little bit of work to get an appointment, the visit will be absolute best. At the temple, there is a main temple with Hanuman diety. Then there is a small temple of Ganesh diety in it. There is a nice cafeteria that serves chai and samosa on weekends. Its very scenic and serene. Parking is plentiful and is well managed since only people who did online bookings can only come. read more

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Terrible reservation system which doesn't work. You have to double click the time slot and it never works. I tried several times and every time it hangs after first click. I guess it is a gimmick to avoid people to come visit. I am going to stop wasting time to try to reserve. read more

I think the temple just doesn't want devotees to visit them. Their reservation system is horrible. Their website is pathetic. I don't even want to try anymore. Let them keep their reservation to themselves. Horrible read more

"This Temple is located on a most peaceful n beautiful hilly terrain. You can have a beautiful foggy drive if you go in the early mornings. I've read that we need to have reservations for weekends/holidays and can be made on temple website,I've been here 3 times but never made a reservation. It's a very beautiful n calm place that you can enjoy its peacefulness. You can have a overlook of pacific on the west side wid clean and fresh air. Would definitely visit this place again n again especially for that amazing early morning foggy drives. Below text some of my clicks from this place, have a look Thank you ......... read more

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Didn't want to leave this bad rating and review for a place of worship but as others have said, this reservation system is nonsense. I tried to make a reservation for today (Jan 1st) on Friday but saw the next "release of tickets" was only on the day of. I had the page ready to go just before 9 am this morning and saw the available time slots light up exactly at 9, and immediately selected my time. The site said to click it again so I did. A minute later, I get a message that its full! Tried to pick a diff time but it made me go back to the beginning and I couldn't even get the date on their drop down list! What kind of crap system is this?? Whomever is running this joke of a system, you've made it such a bad experience that even I no longer want to try to come here. All your temple offers are the views but if one's heart is in the right place, one can worship anywhere and be happy. read more

The reservation system is terrible . The slots are open for exactly 2 min past 9 am . Single click or double click , nothing works. The system just hangs after you choose a slot . I think the management does not care about the feedback from the devotees . read more

For the bay area residents, the trip to the temple itself provides a road trip through the woods. The temple is located in a small hill away from the city hustle bustle. On, weekends and major holidays we have to make reservations, even 2 weeks ahead. The main thing to note is that tickets are released in stages, and it might get over soon if you do not take it at 9 am itself, at which time reservation opens everyday. It is a small temple between the woods, nearby a lake. There are restrooms, yoga centre, cafe, gift shop, and resort. read more

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Great experiences. Booking on the web site was stressful though! But once we got lucky and got a spot, everything was smooth. read more

Heard a lot about this temple from friends and colleagues so planned to visit it with my husband. We visited the temple on a weekday so we didn't need to make any reservation prior to our visit. If you plan to visit on a weekend, you will have to get a reservation per car from their website. They have limited parking and are pretty strict about that. It is a bit of drive if you are coming from South Bay. The drive is nice when you get closer to the temple. The temple is located in a nice and serene place in Mount Madonna Center. It is surrounded by so much greenery and nature and that is the best part. It can get pretty chilly up there. I would definitely recommend wearing something warm or carrying a sweater. About the temple, I was expecting so much more. Thought it was a big temple like the Shiva-Vishnu temple in Livermore but it is a very small temple. There are Hanuman Chalisa books that you can find just outside the temple if you are interested in chanting. We just walked around the temple and it is nice. They have a cafe but they serve samosas and other snacks only during the weekend. So, we couldn't really find anything there. I think this is a one-time visit for me in terms of visiting a temple for worshiping. read more

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Hi I have visited this temple few years back . trying to book a reservation to visit the Sankat Mochan hanuman temple again . But no luck . I try to visit it just 5 min before 9 I book the slot but says full . Calling them doesn't help . Can someone let me know how to get through this booking . read more

Feeling sad leaving a bad review, however I have been trying to book a reservation since long, but never got through. My parents are visiting from India and were disappointed as well. Reservation system looks gimmicky and not sure what tricks work here to book. Getting reservations here feels like a rat race and I have given up on visiting the temple again ever. read more

I have been trying to book the ticket for last few weeks and couldnt book it..the booking system is garbage. I dont know whoever can book the parking ticket , are they super human? do they have ten hands ? how does it work? read more

Drove almost 4 hours and was turned away at the gate because of no reservations, lady at the gate was rude and said we needed a reservation - first of all- no one will be looking at your website and if that's what's needed in order to pray then please put that on google so people can see that when they search for the address or something. It's disappointing that now in order to pray or unwind -you have to reserve a spot weeks and months ahead. This is sad and infuriating and this is not how temples should be ran. Just think of this- you get turned away from a place of god.. a place of acceptance and no judgement---- " No you cannot come in- go make a reservation first and you may return in a month or so" SMH read more

Money making business ... we drive all the way from San Francisco and the rude white lady on the gate told us sorry we take only reservation.. from when in a Hindu temple you need to take a reservation? Earlier the reservations were only on Saturday and Sundays but I was shocked now on week days they implement the same without any notice on website and phone no body pick in there office read more

We finally made it to Hanuman Temple this weekend , the place is beautiful, offers so much peace and warmth ness, we had an amazing experience The Hanuman temple is situated in the vicinity of Mount Madonna Centre ( another great place to hike).. The place is so tidy and the staff puts effort to prove it right which is so evident from whole decorum of the place... Don't forget to visit the 'Anjaneya's world cafe' u will know y when you get to taste their flavorful masala chai and samosa with an awesome view... Moreover they have yoga room , meditation center... RESERVATIONS for parking is must , which you can do online a day before.. read more

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Simple serene temple. Hanuman chalisa recital around 7pm with all devotees together is a highlight.

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is located within the grounds of the Mount Madonna Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences, a residential private retreat and conference center. Established in 1978 by the students of Baba Hari Dass, Mount Madonna Center is a community designed to nurture the creative arts and the health sciences within a context of personal and spiritual growth. Residents are unified by the common practice of Yoga. Many visitors come to meditate and contemplate in a quiet reflection of the self. They have 6am & 6pm chantings where a ritual of singing, meditating and peaceful contemplation occurs. In the end, they bless you with a red dot between your forhead and feed you some yummy sweet paste thing. great experience!! read more

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I have the car driving in front of me to thank for leading me astray and to this temple up Mt. Madonna! I was behind them after turning onto Pole Line Road from Highway 152, and figured they'd be a safe guide to Kim Son Monastery seeing as how the backseat passenger was grey-haired and very possibly Asian. After all, what are the chances that they're taking their brittle-boned parent hiking at Mt. Madonna? Ha! What I didn't account for was the fact that there's more up in these hills than the monastery and county park! Who knew?? I'm not sure exactly what they do here, but I believe it serves as a personal retreat. I felt like we stuck out like sore thumbs but no one stopped to ask us what we were doing there, so we gingerly explored the grounds. To get to the temple, you have to fight your way past the guardian monkey statues whilst climbing about a flight of stairs. I honestly didn't go all the way up because it felt like a pretty sacred place and I didn't want to trespass. The deck off of one of the main buildings offers a mesmerizing view of the Monterey Bay. There are picnic tables set up but no outside food or drinks are permitted. No worries, Anjaneya's World Cafe is a skip away and you can return with a chai tea latte in hand to continue basking in the serenity. Aside from what information is on the pamphlet about this temple, I still don't really know much about this place. As an outsider, I'll come back one of these days when I'm in need of a cup of coffee and a quiet place to clear my head. read more

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Second time at Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, pleasantly welcomes me with so much peace & warmth. Soothing hymns & chants are always playing in the background. Quaint ambience, perfect place to offer prayers, for the location being completely away from the busy city life. Very well maintained facility, I can see lots of importance given to cleanliness, Appreciate it ! Every holy place requires great amount of decorum and the staff or volunteers here take good efforts to prove it right. There is small cute cafe, "Anjaneya's World Cafe", to the right as you get down the temple steps. Try their House made masala Chai - very flavorful & refreshing. Indian delights like Samosa (savory) & Laddoo (sweet) are also available. Has decent seating area too. And, don't forget to catch the view of the Monterey Bay Coast to the right of Cafe. There is a Redwood Yoga room inside the woods, relax and medidate if you've extra time. Quick Tip: RESERVATION IS A MUST. Book it online, probably a day before will be fine. And so, Parking is assured if you come reserved. It's also a scenic drive to the temple. You can get to see beautiful wineries & horse stables in Watsonville road. Last stretch towards the temple will be winding uphill road. Visiting this temple gives me lots of happiness, able to realize the supreme power. I will surely go back ! read more

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One of the places I visit often with my family. Its placed right atop the mount madonna center. We visit usually on the weekends so reservations are required. The drive is beautiful and being so closer to nature makes the drive from home worthwhile. One can easily spend time walking around the place after visiting the temples for prayers. We did come once late in the evening and had a very satisfying prayer meeting. The singing and meditation adds to the enchanting experience. If in the Bay Area, do visit. read more

Very sad to see the new system in place for reservations to enter the temple. Being part of the bay area, very disappointing to see a sub standard website and a 1990s system for reservations where we are required to wait for ticket booking to open up (what's the point of having it online!). Reminds me of waiting for train ticket offices to open up to book tickets back in India read more

The hanuman temple is not just one of the spots that you want to check of your list-- this place is in the middle of nature, yet not too far from the city. The drive is awesome but reservation is certainly required, Visitors were turned away because they did not have reservation. We spend about 2 hrs and attended the entire puja. The temple opens at 4:00pm on The weekends, Initially we were planning to stay there for an hour, but decided to stay post 6:30 pm, it was well worth it. The temple has been kept clean and there is ample parking. But please get a light jacket, it gets cold up there. read more

Four stars only for the directions to the temple. Would have loved to see more signs pointing towards the temple hence do not get lost as roads up the Mt is very scary and the fog is dense. Please put signs with the temples name on it!! For the temple once you make your way to the temple it's just pure bliss. Very inviting and calm and the priest us very friendly. Will go there again and again.. read more

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple - A beautiful gem hidden in mt Madonna with the morning fog and Om Chantings just pure bliss. - Hindu Temples Near Me - Watsonville, California

Pleasant and calm environment... Felt at peace on a Wednesday afternoon.... Takes an hour and a half ride to reach the top for the people staying at Fremont. I would recommend a weekday to visit this place. The music at the temple is so mesmerising. Chanting hanuman chalisa I spent around 2 hours and it just passed by so quick. A tip for the people visiting the temple on a Saturday ...please make sure that you reserve the parking online. The view of the mountains is just amazing. I couldn't resist sitting there and watching endlessly. There is a cute small cafe which is open from 9 to 10 am and then 1 to 6 pm. Also you have restrooms located near to cafe. The drive to the hills itself is so beautiful. Only wish it was a bit near to my place i would have made it every weekend.In any case i feel spiritual all over now.... Jai Hanuman!!!! read more

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Beautiful and spiritual Hindu temple in the hills around Santa Cruz, adjacent to a forested park. On a good day, you can view the ocean. The temple is dedicated to Hanuman (Hun-oo-maan): He is an incarnation of Lord Shiva and the embodiment of devotion. For various reasons, He is generally depicted in a monkey form, but can assume any form. He is most popular among devotees of the avatar Lord Ram and others following a devotional path. There are more temples and road-side shrines to Hanuman than any other deity in all of North India. For Hindus, Hanuman is one of the finest exemplars of a life of love and service of God. Located on the grounds of the Mount Madonna Center, the temple is adjacent to an excellent vegetarian cafe, the Mount Madonna School and Mount Madonna Institute. Retreats and classes are held there to promote yoga, meditation and spirituality. The views from here are incredible. Note temple timings, particular during festivals and weekends, when crowds exceed parking, and when reservations are needed. Come during festival time for an experience. This temple has a good number of both Indian and non-Indian Hindu devotees. The temple was inspired by Baba Hari Dass. read more

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Reading a handful of reviews about this temple getting packed during weekends and that reservations are mandatory during weekends, we decided to make a visit to the Hanuman temple during a weekday morning. The drive to the temple is long and winding, not too bad but be prepared for that and make sure your car's gas tank is full before the drive. The temple grounds are pretty big, with the mandir, yoga & conference rooms, bookstore, anjaneyah cafe. There are restrooms in the property as well, one inside the entrance to the bookstore and another one in the mandir itself. When we came here on a Tuesday morning, we were the only ones in the mandir. There was a calm background music playing in the temple - it felt very peaceful. Unfortunately the anjaneyah cafe was closed when we were there. Overall it was a nice experience and I'd definitely like to visit the temple again read more

This temple is on the top of a mountain in Watsonville,CA and just the drive is worth coming here. But the temple is beautiful and every time I come here, I feel this sense of calm--maybe it's the weather or the air. I visited the temple of Sunday eve with my family, parents & friends. Always feel blessed to visit this temple. I appreciated the tranquility and isolation of the place. We saw some deer & peahens that casually strolled through the greater temple area without paying attention to the humans around them. Do reservations so that they know you are coming and temple can accommodate you, URL: temple.mountmadonna.org/ Jai Hanuman! Jai Shree Ram!! read more

Calm and peaceful vibes in the temple. It's a small temple on top of the hill with a seemingly wide impact. Cafe is also great with the many variations of traditional chai. Just stay clear of the racist old man near the cafe. read more

Temple is in awesome and quiet location. The Aarti in the evening shouldn't be missed. Make sure you book appointment for car parking on their website before you go there. read more

Administration sucks! Very rude people. We drove 3 hours in traffic , when we got there, staff did not let us in. they said we need to make appointment. we wanted to show our kid beautiful temple. Sad thing staff did not let us in. Definitely bad karma read more

** Be very very very careful about the route you pick. ** This is not really a review of the Temple or the premises. Just listing down my experience of the drive there so that some of the readers could benefit from it. A coworker dropped in a hint about this temple. Had to take my folks there. First time was all fine. Jotted down the directions given on the temple website (http://www.hanumanfellowship.org/temple/home/). And, it was all fine. For those driving from San Jose side, it's from Hecker Pass/HW 152 to Pole Line Road to Summit Rd. I could look at the mail boxes and reach the temple campus, eventually to my left. It's the second time, while driving up there, we got the scare of our lives. VERY BAD CHOICE- I relied on my GPS device. This was the route- From 101 S -to- Tennant Ave -to- Monterey Rd -to- Watsonville Rd -to- Redwood Retreat Rd -to- on to The BAD Part- Mt MADONNA RD And eventually to Summit Rd. The last stretch of less than 2 miles on Mt. Madonna Rd. was the scariest. Fact that it was pouring heavily did not help. The Road is, SORRY, THERE IS NO ROAD THERE. Whatever you may call it, is a sad excuse for a path. It's muddy, narrow with no signs. There were fallen trees, branches, mud-stones through some mudslides I believe, perhaps due to heavy rain. I had to drive at around 5 mph to survive those 1-2 miles. My dad couldn't sleep that night even after we had returned to the safety of our home. Again, it might be the rain that made this scary. But it's certainly not a paved road. Forget driving, I have even trekked on better paths than this. Look this route up on google maps and you will know, the Mt Madonna Rd is only seen if you zoom in enough and it doesn't even look like a real road. So, all is well if you stay away from this road. read more