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.

We visited this temple for a wedding ceremony and it was definitely A+. The hindu priest was…read morehumorous and also explained many of the Sanskrit texts to us so we would know what was going on. It was a very memorable experience. I do wish they had turned on the vents a little sooner after lighting the fire. It created a lot of smoke and started to give me a headache.

Temple Review: Unfair Treatment and Favoritism by Volunteer (Komal/Reeta)…read moreI am writing this review today because my friends and I finally found out the name of the woman responsible for pushing us away from this temple: Komal (also known as Reeta). For a long time, many of my South Indian friends and I faced continuous issues with her, but because we didn't know her name, we couldn't properly address it in a review until now. Unfortunately, this was not a one-time misunderstanding. This happened to us an uncountable number of times. Here are the main reasons why we, along with many other South Indian families, have completely stopped attending this temple: Targeted and Rude Comments: Komal/Reeta is usually the main person distributing the prasad. She consistently targets South Indian devotees with unwelcoming comments, telling us things like, "You need to volunteer and not just come here for the prasad. These insulting remarks are selectively directed at us while others are welcomed warmly. Favoritism During Kanjak Puja: During Kanjak Puja, she deliberately hoards and distributes the gift bags to her own relatives and circle, completely ignoring the children's ages. However, the moment our kids line up, she suddenly claims that the bags are "finished." It is heartbreaking to see children discriminated against in a place of worship. Gatekeeping the Temple: Multiple devotees have noted that she treats the temple like a private club, making it clear she only wants her specific circle to be there. Enabling a Hostile Environment: Her friends and family members have now started mimicking her toxic behavior. Because her inner circle behaves the exact same way, the temple environment has become incredibly toxic and unwelcoming.

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.

Jai Ma! Visiting the…read moreKali Mandir in Laguna Beach was such a beautiful and divine experience. I'm so grateful they allowed me to play the Veena as an offering to Ma Kali. It was truly special to perform Mahishasura Mardini Stotram in such a sacred space..it felt like a blessing straight from the heart. The temple has such a peaceful and positive vibe, and everyone there was so welcoming and kind. I felt deeply connected, and it's an experience I'll always cherish. If you're looking for a place to feel calm, connected, and close to the Divine, this is the place. Jai Ma!

Gratitude for this place and the people who are managing. Must visit for spiritual seekers. Jai…read moremaaa !!!

This is a wonderful, cultural, religiously, educational opportunity. They also do a vegan feast I…read morebelieve once a week with dancing, etc. We attended, I believe the - fire dance and I'm sure it's not called that! So if you're visiting the city of Laguna Beach, you may want to check this out.

So peaceful and calm. Felt the blessings. Had prasad and left after Darshan. It is close to beach…read moreand shopping area. But parking is problem. Need to park on curbside.

We used All World Gayatri Pariwar priest for our son's wedding recently. The priest was actually…read morePriestess Mrs. Rishma Bhatt. She did the great job performing the Hindu ceremony. Her explanation of all the Hindu Vedic Ceremony rituals in English was wonderful and easy to understand. All our non Indian guests were amazed by her explanation in English. She kept all our wedding guests engaged and captivated throughout the entire ceremony. The entire ceremony in Hindi with the Sanskrit Slokas and then translated in English was perfect, clear, straightforward and comprehensible. She did not waste any time and she was completely thorough and quick. We would highly recommend her for any Hindu rituals and ceremonies.

The trustee told us that we need to Darshan from outside because we are in wheelchairread more

First time visiting this gorgeous Vedanta monastery . Beautiful grounds; meditation room that just…read morefeels so good to get quiet in; library and meeting room where Gerald Heard, Aldous Huxley, Huston Smiths , and other modern seekers sat and talked and thought and tripped and wrote. Lovely little gift shop where you can get their honey from hives on campus; I bought myself a little Tibetan Tingsha bells (they look like tiny thick cymbals connected with a leather thong). I will return to hike the shrine trail for walking meditation

Listen up! Do you want to know where to buy the most delicious honey ?…read more The Ramakrishna Monastery has their own bee hives, clover, and wildflower honey! It is the most delicious honey that I've ever found! I get the wildflower with the honeycomb inside, and by extra bottles to give as gifts. They sell the honey in their store, and the proceeds help support the monastery. Today, while purchasing honey, we had a Swami teach us about "Chaitanya". We learned that Sanskrit means "consciousness," "awareness," or "life force." It can also mean "energy," "enthusiasm," or "intelligence". It was a beautiful ride down living Oak Canyon road. There is a beautiful hiking trail in this area as well. Feeling very fortunate that we have so much stuff to do, and learn about here in Orange County!