Encinitas Gardens of Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage, Botanical garden in Encinitas, United States

The Encinitas Gardens of Self-Realization Fellowship Hermitage cover 30 acres beside the Pacific, with koi ponds holding lotuses and water lilies, bamboo groves, tropical and California native plants, and a subtropical fruit orchard. The collection holds nearly 3,000 plant varieties, among them the rare Encinitas baccharis (Baccharis vanessae). A monastic ashram and retreat center stand on the grounds, and the Golden Lotus Tower rises above the white wall along Highway 101.

Established in the 1930s by Paramahansa Yogananda as a spiritual retreat, the hermitage served as his residence where he wrote portions of his autobiography and developed key teachings for the Self Realization Fellowship.

The site promotes Kriya Yoga and universal spiritual principles through meditation classes, retreats, and educational programs that welcome practitioners from diverse backgrounds seeking inner development and self-awareness.

The gardens are at 1452 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024-4060, at 33°2′23.21″N 117°17′38.03″W. They open daily except Mondays; entry is free and donations go toward upkeep. The main temple and an auxiliary temple stand near Second Street, and the Golden Lotus Tower rises above the white wall along Highway 101 by Swami's Seaside Park.

The Golden Lotus Temple designed by Yogananda himself was lost to erosion in 1942, inspiring the construction of the nearby Golden Lotus Tower that stands as a landmark symbolizing spiritual awakening.