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Palo Alto is home to many Hindu and Jain families, but the large purpose-built temples serving them are in the East Bay and the South Bay. Most people drive 20 to 35 minutes for darshan, weekly pujas, festivals and family ceremonies. Many also attend programs at Stanford or in community halls closer to home.
This page lists the temples we could confirm with a current website showing 2026 activity, within about 15 miles of Palo Alto. Hours and puja times are as each temple published them in fall 2026. Festival days change everything, so check the temple's own calendar before you go. There are other large temples in the region whose 2026 schedules we could not confirm in time. We have left them out rather than guess. For other traditions, see our places of worship guide.
A few terms
Hindu worship takes many forms, centered on devotion to one or more deities in the home and at the temple. Temple calendars use a handful of words that help newcomers read them:
- Darshan. Seeing and being seen by the deity. "Darshan hours" are when the shrines are open.
- Puja. An act of worship with offerings, led by a priest or done by devotees.
- Abhishek. Ritual bathing of a deity's image, usually on a set weekday.
- Aarti. A short service of light and song, often in the evening.
- Prasad. Food blessed during worship and shared with everyone present.
Fremont Hindu Temple (Vedic Dharma Samaj)
The Fremont Hindu Temple, run by Vedic Dharma Samaj, is at 3676 Delaware Drive in Fremont. Its motto is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," the whole world is one family. From Palo Alto it is about 15 miles across the Dumbarton Bridge, roughly 25 to 35 minutes by car. The bridge charges a toll only in the westbound direction, so you pay on the way home. Our bridges and tolls guide explains how.
Hours
- Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Regular weekly programs
| Day | Program listed |
|---|---|
| Monday | Sri Shiva Abhishek 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., temple aarti from 7:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | Hanuman Chalisa and aarti 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., temple aarti from 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | Seniors program from 11 a.m. |
| Thursday | Sai Baba Abhishek from 9:30 a.m., Sai Baba aarti from 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday | Maha Lakshmi Abhishekam from 9:30 a.m., temple aarti from 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Balaji Abhishek and aarti from 9:30 a.m., Sundar Kand in the third week from 10 a.m. |
| Sunday | Jagannath Parivaar Pooja from 11 a.m., Arya Samaj havan on the second Sunday, Maa Kali Pooja 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. |
The temple publishes a 2026 calendar of observances. In November 2026 it lists Dhana Trayodashi on November 6, Naraka Chaturdashi and Kali Puja on November 7, Deepawali and Sri Lakshmi Puja on November 8 and the start of Karthika Masa on November 9. Priests can be booked for home pujas and life events through the temple office at 510-659-0655.
Shirdi Sai Parivaar, Milpitas
Shirdi Sai Parivaar is a temple devoted to Shirdi Sai Baba at 1221 California Circle in Milpitas, about 12 miles from Palo Alto. Its website lists these opening hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 6:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 6:15 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday: 6:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The four daily aartis are listed as Kakad at 6:30 a.m., Madhyan at noon, Dhoop in the evening and Shej at 8:30 p.m. The temple hosts a Thursday satsang, Sai Satcharitra reading and a monthly Sai Satyavrata Pooja, with the next listed for November 23, 2026 at 7 p.m. It also runs charity projects such as a sandwich seva and offers annadanam sponsorships. The phone is 408-909-1221.
Jain Center of Northern California, Milpitas
The Jain Center of Northern California (JCNC) is at 722 S. Main Street in Milpitas. It runs daily worship, a Pathshala for children, lectures, youth programs, a library and community service.
| Activity | Time listed |
|---|---|
| Darshan | Daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Abhishek and Dev Guru Shastra Puja | Weekdays 7:05 a.m., weekends and holidays 8:05 a.m. |
| Mahaveer Swami Abhishek and Puja | Weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. |
| Puja open | Every day until 4 p.m. |
| Aarti and Mangal Divo | Every evening at 7:45 p.m. |
JCNC livestreams darshan and major events. Its Das Laxan observance in 2026 ran from September 16 to 25 with daily puja and evening aarti. Recordings are posted on its site. The main phone is 408-262-6242.
Ananda in Palo Alto
Inside Palo Alto, the closest related community is Ananda, a meditation and spiritual community in the lineage of Paramhansa Yogananda. Its temple and teaching center is at 2171 El Camino Real near College Avenue. Ananda describes its Sunday services as including readings and talks from both the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. It also teaches meditation, Kriya Yoga and yoga postures. It is not a Hindu mandir in the traditional sense, but many South Asian families attend its classes and kirtan. Its 2026 calendar includes a Thanksgiving service on November 26 and an eight-hour meditation on December 19. Free parking is in its lot off El Camino and in the city lot at 451 Cambridge Avenue.
Hindu and Jain life at Stanford
Stanford's Office for Religious and Spiritual Life includes an associate dean for Hindu life. Its religious calendar marks Diwali on November 8, 2026. Student groups from the Hindu and Jain traditions belong to Stanford Associated Religions. Our religious life at Stanford page explains the office and its spaces. Our Diwali guide lists public celebrations in and near Palo Alto.
Visiting a temple
Good to know
- Remove shoes before entering the shrine area. Temples have shoe racks near the entrance.
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
- Many Jain temples ask visitors not to bring leather, food or drink inside. Follow posted signs.
- Photography of deities is restricted at many temples. Ask before taking pictures.
- Prasad is usually offered after aarti. Accept it with your right hand.
- Festival evenings bring very large crowds. Arrive early and expect overflow parking.
Practical tips for Palo Alto families
Many families combine a temple visit with grocery shopping, since Fremont, Milpitas and Sunnyvale have large Indian markets. Our guide to Indian and South Asian groceries lists the closest ones. For vegetarian meals near home, see our vegetarian and vegan guide.
Temples also arrange priests for griha pravesh, naming ceremonies, weddings and last rites. Book weeks ahead for popular dates. If you are looking for services in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati or another language, our page on worship in other languages has pointers.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Hindu temple in Palo Alto?
We did not find a Hindu temple inside Palo Alto with a published 2026 schedule. The nearest temples we could confirm are the Fremont Hindu Temple (Vedic Dharma Samaj) at 3676 Delaware Drive in Fremont and Shirdi Sai Parivaar at 1221 California Circle in Milpitas, each about 12 to 15 miles away.
What are the Fremont Hindu Temple's hours?
The temple lists Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On weekends it is open 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Evening aarti is listed at 7:30 p.m. most days. Festival days can change the schedule.
Is there a Jain temple near Palo Alto?
Yes. The Jain Center of Northern California is at 722 S. Main Street in Milpitas. It lists darshan daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., morning puja from 7:05 a.m. on weekdays and 8:05 a.m. on weekends. Aarti and mangal divo are every evening at 7:45 p.m.
When is Diwali 2026?
Fremont Hindu Temple lists Deepawali and Sri Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Stanford's religious calendar also marks Diwali on November 8. Temples hold pujas and cultural programs around that weekend, so expect crowds and limited parking.
What should I wear to a Hindu or Jain temple?
Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is appropriate. Everyone removes shoes before entering the shrine area. Leather items and outside food are often not allowed inside Jain temples, so leave them in the car.