6 Most Richest Temples You Can Visit In India

The temples in India have been successfully acting to preserve the rich Indian culture for centuries now. Their actions receive appreciation from devotees in the form of huge donations. Here is a list of 6 of the richest temples in India which boast a large income and are also popular tourist spots.

# Tirumala Tirupati Venkateshwara Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Considered the richest temple in terms of donations, this holy place for the Vaishnavi sect of Hindus is located on the seventh peak of the Venkata Tirumala Hill, south of the Sri Swami Puskarini river. The idol of Lord Venkateshwara in the temple is 8 feet tall and is positioned under the Ananda Nilaya Divya, a gold gilded dome. The eyes of the statue are covered with camphor, and embellished with precious stones. The temple gets INR 650 crores in the annual donation and makes around INR 75 crores by selling laddoos alone.

# Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthapuram

The temple features an idol of Lord Vishnu resting on Ananthan, the celestial snake. The city of Thiruvanthapuram also receives its name from this temple. The architecture is a mix of Dravidian and Keralean styles. It is managed by the former royal family of Travancore. The assets of the temple are cited to be around INR 136099 crores, which includes gold, antique silvers, diamonds, and other precious objects. The temple also contains two golden coconut shells studded with precious stones.

# Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

The Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai houses the idol of Goddess Meenakshi, wife of Sundareshwar (Lord Shiva). It contains 14 gopurams, having heights between 45-50 m. The temple also possesses two golden carts. It has famous for featuring the sculptures of more than 33000 deities. This also earned the temple a nomination for the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” The temple earns revenue of approximately 6 crores annually, boasting footfalls of 20000-30000 devotees on a daily basis.

# Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, Kerala

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The temple is open to people from all religions but is not open throughout the year. It is open for worship only on the days of Mandalapooja, Makaravilakku, Vishu and also during the first day of every Malayalam month. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an elevation of 4133 feet above sea level, and it is said that devotees have to observe 41 days of celibacy before they enter the temple. The unique aspects of the temple attract around 100 million devotees every year, making it one of the most visited temples, and earning it revenue of around INR 230 crore during the pilgrimage season. The temple has been the face of controversy for the ban on the entry of women of menstruating age despite orders from the Supreme Court, upholding a 500-year old tradition.

# Golden Temple, Amritsar

The most famous holy place of the Sikhs, the Golden Temple, originally called Sri Harmandir Sahib, is one of the richest temples in India. The canopy of the temple is made up of 400 kg of pure gold, and the altar on which rests the Guru Granth Sahib is studded with diamonds and other precious stones.

# Jagannath Temple, Puri

As per a report of 2010, the Jagannath Temple, which is one of the most important tourist attractions of Puri, had a bank deposit exceeding INR 150 crores. The temple averages around 30000 pilgrims daily, which increases to 70000 during the festive season. It is famous for the Rath Yatra festival. The temple contains nearly 130 kg of gold and 220 kg of silver, and receives huge donations of around INR 15000-20000, which go 6 times more during the festive season. It created a record when it once received a lump sum of INR 1.72 crores from a European devotee.