Why Temple Hours Change, and How to Check Them Before You Go

Few things are more disappointing than driving an hour to a temple and finding the doors closed. Temple hours change more often than most people expect, and there are good reasons for it.

Why temple hours change

• Afternoon closures: many temples close for a few hours in the early afternoon, when the deities traditionally rest. A temple listed as "9 AM to 9 PM" may actually be "9 AM to 12 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM".
• Festival days: hours are often extended for festivals such as Diwali, Navratri and Maha Shivaratri, and sometimes the temple closes to the public for specific rituals.
• Weekends: many US temples open longer on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Seasonal changes: some temples adjust their schedules in winter or summer, or around daylight saving time.
• Priest availability: smaller temples with one priest may close when the priest is performing a home puja or traveling.
• Eclipses and special days: some temples close during a solar or lunar eclipse and reopen after purification rituals.

How to check before you go

• Look at the temple's own website or social media pages. Many post daily or weekly schedules.
• Call the temple office. A short call is the most reliable way to confirm hours on festival days.
• Check the listing on Temple Navigator for the most recent hours we have, and look for the Verified badge, which means the details were checked against the temple's own information.
• Look for an online calendar. Larger temples often publish a full calendar of pujas, festivals and events.

Reading hours on Temple Navigator

Each temple page shows opening hours for every day of the week in the temple's local time zone, with today's hours highlighted. If a day shows "Not confirmed", we do not have reliable information for it yet. That does not mean the temple is closed, only that you should check directly.

Help keep listings accurate

If you have recently visited a temple and noticed the hours are different, please use the "Update hours" or "Suggest an edit" link on the temple's page. Every suggestion is reviewed by hand before it is published, and corrections from visitors are the main way our directory improves.

If you represent a temple, contact us to have your listing verified. Verified listings are marked clearly so visitors know they can rely on them.

A two-minute check before you leave home can save a long, frustrating trip.