Came here for the America 250 Years Celebration…read more Plenty of parking next to the temple. Had a great time here. The light show was fantastic! The music that accompanied the show was awesome. Very upbeat. It matched the light show perfectly! Had a blast watching the lights and music blended well together. It was a very fun experience. Glad we were able to be here and enjoyed the America 250 Years Celebration. Check out some of the videos I have posted. Make sure you have the sound on. Enjoy!

Helpful Tips for First-Time Visitors…read more Admission/parking are completely free; you only pay for the cafe. Here is what we learned, especially if visiting for architecture. Arrival, Check-In, & Dress CodeGroup Check-In: One person acts as leader, checks the party in at the visitor center, and gets a tracking wristband. Staff: Our group wore summer dresses and shorts. The staff was incredibly welcoming, respectful, and comforting. Sarongs: Knees/shoulders must be covered; no tank tops. Free, one-size sarongs are available at a table to the LEFT of check-in (near the Men's restroom). Drop them in the return basket when done.The Footwear TrickShoes must be removed before climbing the entrance stairs. The stone steps get intensely hot under the sun (reaching ~120°F even on 90°F days). My bare feet were in so much pain that my smartwatch HR spiked instantly!The Fix: Bring thick socks before entering. Walk directly on the white marble stripes by the handrails--white marble reflects heat and stays much cooler. Experience: It was eye-watering hot before I realized the temperature difference midway up. I was stepping on my daughter's sarong to save my feet while yelling at her not to trip! Learn from me and use the white tracks from step one. Hidden Architectural TreasuresThe interior marble carvings (Italian shrine stone, Indian floors) are breathtaking. Each tier tells a story: Floor Level: Peacocks, fish, and turtles are at eye level on column bases. Water creatures represent the foundation of the world, anchoring the temple, while peacocks show nature's beauty. High Corners: Look way up where pillars meet ceiling arches for the alligator-like 'Makara' (mythical guardian). Its open mouth reminds visitors to leave behind their sharp worldly egos. Hidden Pedestal: Near Ganesha's feet is a tiny carving of a rat. Representing human restlessness, the still rat symbolizes conquering busy thoughts to find peace. Ceiling Domes: A massive lotus blooms downward from the center (spiritual enlightenment), supported by a tier of carved artisans honoring selfless service. Cafe & Snack ShopKeep these flavor profiles in mind at the vegetarian cafe: Spiced White Yogurt: Skip it entirely. It does not taste like chai; it tasted like spiced ethanol and almost made me sick. Other Drinks: The mango and green yogurt drinks are much better. Savory Food: Cheese pizza is available. The Pea/Potato Empanadas (Kachoris) are tasty but extremely spicy Samosas are mild and taste great with both red and green sauces. Sweets: They don't have Baklava. The staff recommended a nutty chocolate fudge sweet that tasted like dry Cocoa Puffs--decent, but not sweet or chewy. General AdviceTiming: Visit early morning or near sunset to avoid the blistering midday sun on the stairs. Accessibility: If the stairs look too intimidating, ask the staff for directions to the indoor elevator.

Kedar Maharaj did an incredible job before and during our wedding and we cannot recommend him more…read morehighly. He has a wonderful mix of a traditional and modern approach that we, our families, and all of our guests loved. To start, he was highly organized and professional. We had video calls and text discussions to ensure all of the rituals were well planned in terms of flow and necessary items were prepared. In addition to the wedding ceremony, he led janoi and choora ceremonies which he did a tremendous job on. We loved how well he explained the meanings behind all of the rituals to us as well as our guests, which made the wedding ceremony, janoi, and choora rituals more engaging and spiritual with the added context. He was also so personable and friendly and we consider ourselves blessed that he was our priest for such an auspicious occasion.

Kedar Maharaj is one of the newer priests at Shri Mandir and he led our wedding ceremony last week…read moreat the BAPs Temple Chino Hills. Leading up the wedding, he answered all our questions over calls and texts to ensure we were all aligned and prepared for the ceremony. He even suggested a zoom call with myself, my husband, and both our Moms a few weeks before the wedding to talk through the whole ceremony to ensure there were no surprises on the day and we brought all the necessary items for the ceremony. During the ceremony, he did a great job explaining the meaning behind the different rituals and making the experience inclusive for all out guests. Many of our guests commented on how much they appreciated his approach and would love to have him lead their family members' future weddings, baby shower ceremonies, etc. Overall, I appreciated his attention to detail and his modern approach. We look forward to building a stronger relationship with Kedar Maharaj for future events.

My kid is learning about new religions so we thought we'd check it out. There was some…read moreinformational material around temple and they welcomed us into the Daily Aarathi even though it was obvious that we didn't know what was happening. Very friendly and educational place and I recommend that anyone who is interested to go check it out in a respectful manner.

It's always a great feeling to see a Hindu temple. I am surprised that no one yet has written a…read morereview for this one. This is one of the biggest temple we have in San Diego. It caters to all most all the gods we worship in india. I would say this is one of a kind in San Diego. Every Monday they have a puja for lord Shiva and Thursday's day have Sai baba. Every Indian festival is celebrated at this temple and it's good outing with family. In that market they have an Indian grocery store, restaurant and many more things. Must visit if you are a devotee!

Disappointing Welcoming Experience…read more While the temple itself is a peaceful and sacred place, the experience at the front reception unfortunately takes away from that serenity. The lady working at the reception desk consistently appears frustrated and unwelcoming whenever visitors enter. A temple is a place of peace where everyone should feel welcome. However, her attitude makes it feel less like a public place of worship and more like you are walking into her private home uninvited. A little warmth and a welcoming demeanor from the front desk would go a long way in preserving the respectful and positive atmosphere this temple deserves.

I've always had a love-doubt kind of relationship with God, but Lord Shiva has always felt…read moremysterious and fascinating to me--the way He's depicted is captivating. We've ended up visiting Siva Kameswari Temple in Costa Mesa a couple of times, and each visit brings a sense of peace. Parking is free, which is convenient, and sometimes you even get to hear live traditional music being played inside, adding to the spiritual vibe. Another unique touch is its location--right next to Santa Ana airport--so you can watch planes land up close. If you have kids, they might especially enjoy that part.

Serenity n peace in safe surroundings humble n helpful pandits priests…read more Felt awesome there in this sanctuary Khaled

While everyone has a right to express opinions, it may be benefit the community better if you take…read morethe time to find out more about the organization. Like many other temples, this Hindu Temple has multiple Garbagrahas for various Gods and Goddesses. Saturday mornings you can witness thirumanjanam for Lord Venkateswara and Lord Shiva accompanied by Vedic Chantings. In addition to paid Priests the Temple is also blessed with the service of well-trained professsionals helping in as priest-helpers. Sunday mornings you can watch special pujas for Lord Lakshmi Narayan. On both these days you may also enjoy lunch if you stay till 2 pm! Monday evenings one may watch Mrithynjaya Homa; list goes on for the rest of a week too.

A gem temple for Hanuman, if you're comfortable with limited space. This is the place for One…read moredeity* Hanuman. Did you know that they sent a monkey to the moon humans?

Good temple Well maintained…read more Super convenient location - Brea downtown. Serene atmosphere, very peaceful and quiet

First time and love it. Love their foods inside the cafeteria. They also have a nice grocery store…read moretoo.

Great Sangha here. Enjoyed the kirtan, Satsang, and Prasad. Chant, Dance, and Feast. Be Happy. I…read morehave been to many Hare Krishna Temples all over the world and recommend this one. It has been here since the 1970s. Recommended.

Culture shock experience the first time I've stepped into this krsna temple. Lived in San Diego and…read morewas amazed by the kirtan & Prasad they provide. Some live in thee ashram. SOLID morning and afternoon program held by senior monks. Youthful Association always brings fire to conversations and discussions at the krsna lounge held every Thurday. Whole lot of humbleness to thee young youthful monks whom you may be familiar with over there who consistently strive to make the movement pushing forward.