India is known all over the world for its rich culture, glorious history, and religious practices. The temples of India are visited by lakhs of travellers. Their ancient architecture, buildings, and sculptures attract the attention of many. These temples are not only rich in culture but are also rich according to their wealth calculation. The net worth of these temples crosses hundreds of millions of rupees. Let’s take a quick look at the top 10 richest temples in India.
1. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala
Opening and closing time: 3.30 am to 7.20 pm
Situated in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is dedicated to God Vishnu. Considered one of the world’s richest temples, the net worth of this temple is estimated to be around 500 crore rupees. Unlike other temples of Kerala, this temple is controlled by the royal family of Travancore.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple is quite famous for its tales related to hidden treasures. The architecture of this temple is in the Dravidian style. The idols are made of antique silver, gold, and brass. The jewellery is made of emeralds and diamonds.
2. Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh
Opening and closing time: 2.30 am to 11 pm
Located in between the Tirumala hills of Tirupati, Venkateswara temple is governed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The gold glided dome, Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana has the Lord Venkateswara statue beneath it. Lord Venkateswara is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The statue is adorned with precious stones and is 8 feet tall. People celebrate major festivals like Brahmotsavam, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Ratna Saptama in this temple.
3. Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mumbai
Opening and closing time: 5:30 am to 9 pm
Siddhi Vinayak is one of the most popular and richest temples in India. It is located in the southern part of Mumbai and is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple also grabs the attention of many as it observes regular visits by Bollywood stars and celebrities.
It is believed that people visit the Siddhivinayak temple to pray to Lord Ganesha and fulfil their desire of having children. The temple receives more than 100 million rupees as donations and is therefore considered one of the richest temples in India.
4. Shirdi Sai Baba, Nashik
Opening and closing time: 4 am to 10 pm
As the name itself suggests, Shirdi Sai Baba temple is the home of Sai Baba. It is located at a distance of 122 km from Nashik in Maharashtra. As per the beliefs, it is believed that Sai Baba arrived at Shirdi in 1858 and spent almost 60 years at this place until he attained salvation in 1918.
Apart from the shrine, in the small village of Ahmednagar district lies many other places of religious importance like Samadhi Mandir, Chavadi, Dwarkamai Masjid, and many more.
5. Golden Temple, Amritsar
Opening and closing time: 3:00 am to 10 pm
Another famous and richest temple of India is Golden Temple which is located in Amritsar, Punjab. Also known as Sri Harmindar Sahib, this temple is the holiest shrine for Sikhs. It was built in 1830 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh with pure gold and marble.
The main attraction of this temple is the Amrit Sarovar tank. The temple also houses the Sikh museum. It is located inside the main entrance clock tower.
6. Sri Jagannath Puri Temple, Puri
Opening and closing time: 5.30 am to 12 pm; 4 pm to 9.30 pm
Visited by over 30,000 people every day, Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the richest temples in India as it receives huge donations from devotees. This beautiful temple was built in the 11th century and is dedicated to lord Jagganath, the deity of Lord Vishnu.
The net worth of this temple is around 150 crores rupees. The temple is included in the pious Char Dham Yatra with Badrinath, Rameshwaram, and Dwarka.
7. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
Opening and closing time: 5 am to 12.30 pm; 4 pm to 10 pm
Meenakshi temple which is located in Madurai city of Tamil Nadu is a major tourist attraction of South India as the architecture of this temple catches the eyeballs of many. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi who is considered the shakti form of the Goddess Parvati.
The temple has an average footfall of 20,000 to 30,000 devotees. It receives donations from thousands of devotees and therefore comes under the list of the top 10 richest temples in India.
8. Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, Kerala
Opening and closing time: 5 am to 10 pm
After the Hajj pilgrimage of Mecca, Sabarimala is the second largest pilgrimage centre in the world. Millions of devotees visit this temple every year. Located on the bank of River Pampa, this temple is said to be a version of the feminine face of Lord Vishnu.
People celebrate many festivals like Makarsankranti, Makadavilakku, and Mandalapooja in the temple. The temple generates revenues in crores.
9. Shri Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu
Opening and closing time: 5 am to 12 pm; 4 pm to 9 pm
Vaishno Devi Temple is dedicated to Maa Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani, Ambe, Trikuta, and Vaishnavi. The temple is located in the Trikuta hills in Jammu. It is one of the 108 major Shakti Peethas dedicated to Maa Durga.
About 8 million devotees visit the temple making it one of the most visited temples in India. The temple has a yearly income of around Rs 500 crore, which makes it one of the richest temples.
10. Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Delhi
Opening and closing time: 9:30 am to 8:00 pm
Located in the capital city of India, Delhi, Akshardham Temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. One can see magnificent architectural works, histories of Indian sages, and Lord Swaminarayan’s huge murti.
Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple is also listed as the “Largest comprehensive Hindu temple in the world” in the Guinness Book of World Records.
