MEDITATION GARDEN, Encinitas, California: A Place to Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Nature

Meditation Garden, Encinitas, CA

On a recent Sunday Art and I did a day trip from Los Angeles to visit the beautiful Meditation Garden in Encinitas, CA, at the top of a bluff overlooking the Pacific. As we walked up the steps from the entrance we found a network of paths—some through shaded bowers, one to the koi pond and waterfall, some to nooks with benches, another along the clifftop which leads past the former site of the Golden Lotus Temple and then on to a cactus lined walkway ending in an artistically arranged bed of cactus and succulents surrounded with black lava rocks.

Variety of cactus and succulents.

The garden is part of the Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Temple, located in Encinitas, California, a coastal community just north of San Diego. In 1938 the Golden Lotus Temple was built by Paramahansa Yogananda on a point of land at the top of the cliffs that is now part of the garden. 

Former site of the Golden Lotus Temple.

During the next four years, thousands attended the Thursday and Sunday services conducted by the Guru at this site. However, in 1942 the instability of the cliff required that the Temple be removed. A plaque now documents its location.

Bromeliads in a planter box, with variety of other plants.

The plants in the garden are all perfectly tended and vary from cactus and succulents to shade loving plants by the koi pond. For home gardeners, walking the garden paths is a place to get inspiration for new things to plant. For everyone, the garden is a place to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Sunny path through the garden, seen through agave plants.

It was a perfect California November day—sunny but not too hot and not a cloud in the sky. (Later in the week, rain was predicted.) In the ocean below, we watched surfers waiting for the next big wave. Although quite a few other people were also visiting the garden, it still felt peaceful and not too crowded.

Stairway to J Street viewpoint.

We had a picnic lunch afterward at J Street Viewpoint park nearby, climbing stairs from the street level to an overlook with several picnic tables and a spectacular view of the ocean.

Surfers on beach below the garden.

Entry to the Meditation Garden is free and near the entrance are restrooms and information about the Self-Realization Fellowship.
For more about the Self-Realization Fellowship and Paramahansa Yogananda, often referred to as the “Father of Yoga in the West”, go to the SRF website.
The Meditation Gardens are located at 215 W. K Street (between 2nd and 3rd Streets)
Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday

Closure dates: 11/23, 12/16, 12/23, 12/25, 1/1, 1/5, 1/13

The Meditation Gardens are also closed when it rains.

Flowering Aloe, a succulent, overlooking the ocean.

For more information about visiting the Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Hermitage and Meditation Gardens: https://www.encinitastemple.org/visiting/

Quiet nook with seating, honoring St. Francis of Assisi.

For more photos of the Meditation  garden, taken on a previous visit, see my post from March 13, 2017, a report my first time in the garden.

SRF MEDITATION GARDEN, Encinitas, CA: A Quiet Haven at the Edge of the Sea

View of the Pacific Ocean from the SRF Meditation Garden, Encinitas, CA

Perched on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean is a beautifully landscaped garden retreat. Its paths wander through shaded passageways, past a running stream and series of koi ponds, a variety of flower beds and open patios, to spectacular vistas of the ocean and beach below. Throughout there are benches where one can sit and just enjoy the quiet beauty.

Internationally renowned gardens offer a diversity of colorful plants, meditation nooks, koi ponds, and spectacular ocean vistas

The garden is part of the Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Temple, in Encinitas, California, a coastal community just north of San Diego. In 1938 the Golden Lotus Temple was built by Paramahansa Yogananda on a point of land at the top of the cliffs that is now part of the garden. During the next four years, thousands attended the Thursday and Sunday services conducted by the Guru at this site. However, in 1942 the instability of the cliff required that the Temple be removed. A plaque now documents its location.

Site of the first Golden Lotus Temple

Since 1977 Temple services have been held in the Temple building a short distance from the entrance to the garden. The garden remains as a place where people can enjoy a “a unique inspirational setting where one can pray, study, meditate, or just sit quietly enjoying the expression of God’s beauty in nature.”

Protea flower

I visited the garden last week for the first time with my brother who was visiting San Diego from his home in New York. It was a warm, sunny day and quite a few other people were there as well, but it didn’t seem crowded. We entered through the gate at the bottom of the hill and made our way up the path to the koi ponds.

One of several koi ponds in the garden

We then followed the path parallel to the cliff top, stopping to explore side paths to enclosed patios, an empty swimming pool fronted by a beautiful tiled wall, and the site of the original Golden Lotus Temple, ending in a patio planted with a variety of cacti and plants appropriate to the Southern California climate. Birds were singing and as we gazed at the ocean below we could see dozens of surfers waiting for the next big wave. It was a perfect way to spend the day together.

Garden Entrance

Entry to the garden is free and near the entrance are restrooms and information about the Self Realization Fellowship.
For more about the Self-Realization Fellowship and Paraamahansa Yogananda, often referred to as the “Father of Yoga in the West”, go to the SRF website.
The Meditation Gardens are located at 215 W. K Street (between 2nd and 3rd Streets)
Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday