WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - A dazzling landmark is coming to West Sacramento.

At 1029 West Capitol Ave., a brilliant 10,000 square-foot temple is planned to be built in the heart of the City of Dharma Realm (CDR).

The City of Dharma Relam is a 14.1-acre Buddhist worship site in West Sacramento, home to Buddhist nuns, students and volunteers.

The land where the site resides has a rich history, having once been the site of the well-known El Rancho Hotel, a tennis resort popular in its time that hosted Frank Sinatra. Remnants of its past, such as the tennis courts and racket emblems on certain buildings, remain visible on the grounds, adding a unique historical layer to the site.

Although it could take one to two years to finalize approval and design plans, the temple’s anticipated grandeur is already turning heads.

Messenger Publishing Group recently toured the site and learned more about the City of Dharma Realm and its upcoming plans for construction. Tammy Wu, a representative of the City of Dharma Realm, and Brian Holloway, president of Holloway Land Company, gave the tour.

Egg rolls, tea and all-natural grape juice produced in Ukiah were served in bounty while further detail of the future temple was given.

According to Holloway, the new temple will be a striking, three-story octagonal structure designed in the traditional Pagoda style. It will have the capacity to fit up to 2,000 people, offering a space for worship, education and community activities, such as interfaith conferences.

The first floor of the temple will include the dining hall and kitchen, which will fit 911 people. On the second floor will be a Dharma Hall, complete with classrooms and a lecture hall.

On the third floor will be the Buddha Hall, which will feature five Asian-imported Buddha statues facing south. According to Wu, Buddha statues traditionally face south, being the “most proper orientation.”

One of the most remarkable features of the design is a sky bridge that will serve as a path from the site’s main entrance (or “mountain gate”) to the third floor of the temple, offering visitors views of the surrounding area. According to Wu, platforms will be built along the bridge to offer breaks during the climb.

Some of the construction renderings refer to the temple as the “jeweled palace,” which is the literal translation of the Chinese word for the structure, said Wu.

“This will be quite the monument for West Sacramento,” Holloway said.

He added that residents will be able to see the roof of the temple from across the highway.

When might residents expect to see the temple’s construction begin?

“It will be a couple years before the groundbreaking happens,” Holloway said. “We’re hoping to get approval from the city in early 2025. Then it will take a year to design all the construction, then it will take the city about six months to approve those plans.”

According to Wu, the City of Dharma Realm was established in 1992 by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua. On its campus is a comprehensive training program for Buddhist nuns as well as classes for individuals to become Buddhist nuns. These nuns live on the campus, as well as a few international students.

Hua also established K-12 schools on the campus, which are called Instilling Goodness Elementary School and Developing Virtues Secondary School.

The existing nunnery, schools and dormitories will remain after the temple’s construction.

As the tour continued, Wu gave insight into the nuns’ daily lifestyle, which begins with waking up at 3:30 a.m. and eating one meal per day.

Wu also mentioned possible plans to open a vegan restaurant on the campus, as Buddhists are vegan, and the kitchen staff on campus “does a great job getting creative.”

As the City of Dharma Realm continues to grow, this new temple promises to become a significant spiritual landmark, enriching the community for generations to come. The project represents not just a physical space but also a deep commitment to promoting mindfulness, compassion and peace in the heart of West Sacramento, according to Wu.

“We welcome anyone who wants to come here,” Wu said.

To contact the City of Dharma Realm, call 916-374-8268 or email [email protected].