ram mandir ayodhya

10 Richest Temples of India: From Tirupati to Siddhivinayak, Before Ayodhya Ram Mandir

by

Here is a list of the top 10 wealthiest temples in India:

1. Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh

This temple in Tirupati welcomes 50,000 visitors daily and is worth Rs. 3 lakh crore, more than the market capitalization of Wipro, Nestle, ONGC and IOC. According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Lord Balaji’s Hundi here has an annual income of Rs. 1,400 crore. The temple earns through various sources like precious metals, hair, fixed deposits, and donations to TTD-run trusts. It was built in the 10th century and is spread over 16.2 acres of land.

2. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is the richest temple globally with assets worth Rs 120,000 crore, including gold idols, emeralds, diamonds and brass. In 2015, a hidden treasure vault was discovered beyond the already well-documented Vault B inside the temple. Only Hindus are allowed entry, and legend has it that two enormous cobras are protecting the innermost hidden chamber.

3. Guruvayur Devaswom, Guruvayoor, Kerala

This ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Krishna attracts devotees from across the globe. It has bank deposits worth Rs. 1,737.04 crore, land spanning 271.05 acres, and a vast collection of precious metals. The temple is in Thrissur district and hosts an annual elephant festival where magnificently dressed elephants perform for devotees from around the world.

4. Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu

Located at an altitude of 5,200 ft, this temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to the goddess Durga, who is worshipped as Vaishno Devi. It is considered one of the richest temples in India, having received over 1,800 kg of gold, 4,700 kg of silver, and a whopping Rs 2,000 crore in cash donations over the last two decades (2000-2020). Although the exact history of the caves and how they came to be remains unknown, various studies carried out on the sacred caves suggest that the temple is a million years old.

5. Shirdi Sai Baba, Maharashtra

This temple, located 296 km from Mumbai, has a daily footfall of 25,000 devotees. The throne on which Sai Baba sits is made of 94 kg of gold. The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) received over Rs 400 crore in donations in 2022, including cash, cheques, demand drafts, online payments, gold, and silver. The trust also runs two hospitals that provide free treatment and medicines and a prasadalaya that serves free food to 50,000 to 1 lakh devotees each day.

6. Golden Temple, Amritsar

The Golden Temple in Amritsar is a famous religious centre in India. It was built with the help of Guru Arjan, the Fifth Sikh Guru, and it took eight years to finish. Guru Nanak used to meditate here. The upper floors of the temple are covered in 400 kg of gold. The shrine earns an annual income of Rs 500 crore.

7. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Meenakshi Temple, located on the banks of the Vaigai River, is known for its architecture and 14-tiered gopurams. Dedicated to goddess Meenakshi, it attracts more than 20,000 pilgrims and visitors daily, generating an annual revenue of 60 million. The temple’s most popular event is the 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival in April-May with a chariot procession.

8. Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

A two-century-old temple in Mumbai’s Prabhadevi is among the richest in India, with a net worth of 125 crore rupees and a daily income of 30 lakh rupees. The main deity, Lord Ganesh, wears four kilograms of gold and has a unique tilted trunk to the right side. The idol has four hands, holding a lotus, an axe, holy beads, and a bowl of modaks.

9. Somnath Temple, Gujarat

This temple in Gujarat is believed to be the birthplace of the first of the twelve holy Jyotirlingas in India. It has 130 kg of gold inside and another 150 kg on its shikhar. Shivratri and Kartik Purnima are celebrated here with great enthusiasm.

10. Sri Jagannath Puri Temple, Puri, Odisha

Jagannath Temple is a revered Hindu pilgrimage site, built in the 11th century by King Indradyumna, home to Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple’s net worth is Rs 150 crore, and it owns about 30,000 acres of land registered under Lord Jagannath’s name.

Leave a Comment