Sri Padmanabhaswamy — the temple considered the richest in the world

The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), the capital of the state of Kerala. Once there was a rich feudal principality here, and for centuries caravans of merchants passed through these lands. The merchants carried spices and other valuable goods — first into the interior of India, and after the sea route was opened, also to Europe. On arriving in the principality, the traders hurried to the shrines to propitiate the gods with generous gifts. The gold earned from trade with the Europeans also settled behind the reliable doors of the temple treasury. Today Sri Padmanabhaswamy is considered the richest religious shrine in the world.

A shrine a thousand years old

Historians date the first references to the shrine to the first millennium AD, while the present magnificent temple complex took shape in the 16th–18th centuries. Hindus, however, believe that the shrine has existed since 3100 BC. Be that as it may, the abode of Vishnu had stood on this spot for a very long time when one of the rajas decided to erect a whole temple complex here.

Non-Hindus are forbidden to enter some parts of the temple.

The main tower of the temple (the gopuram) raises its seven tiers to a height of more than thirty metres, and each of them is filled with statues, carved ornament and bas-reliefs of astonishing beauty. To appreciate the grandeur of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple it is not even necessary to go inside — some of its masterpieces are always in view.

Interesting photos of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The mysterious treasury

The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is dedicated to the god Vishnu. It was never deprived of the attention of pilgrims and travellers, but it gained all-India fame after 2009. That was when one of India’s influential lawyers demanded that the temple’s storerooms, sealed more than a hundred years earlier, be opened.

The lawyer believed that the treasury needed special oversight, so that the unique works of art and countless valuables kept in it would not disappear into the pockets of dishonest people. The state police sided with the lawyer: it could not provide reliable security systems, video surveillance and the necessary staff. Two years later the court transferred the historical monument to the jurisdiction of the state authorities — and then the fame of the temple’s countless treasures spread all over the world.

Not all Hindus considered the authorities’ act correct. The priests warned against rash actions, cautioning of the wrath of the gods. Soon after the vaults were opened, the lawyer who had first raised the question of the treasures died for an unknown reason — and superstitions took firm root in the minds not only of believers but also of the state authorities.

There is a legend that all the temple’s treasures belong only to the gods. People are permitted to take them only in the most extreme case, when a threat of destruction hangs over the country. And only the priests have the right to open the doors sealed with a special sign.

Hotels located near the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

«Stars in the sky on a moonless night»

With these words one of the officials appointed by the Supreme Court of India to inspect the treasury of the ancient rajas described what he had seen. The spectacle was impressive in everything — in the fine artistic work, in the sparkle of the unique precious stones, and in the truly boundless oriental luxury.

A throne sparkling with diamonds, massive gold items, heaps of rare coins, crowns and necklaces, bracelets and chains produce the impression of luxurious Hollywood sets — so hard is it to believe in the reality of such riches.

Believers and tourists are drawn by the huge statue of the deity, reclining on the giant many-headed serpent Anantha. From the navel of Vishnu rises the stem of a lotus with a small figure of Brahma. And the point is not even that the image is covered with gold — of far greater value is the unique work of the ancient masters.

The temple is located in the heart of Trivandrum, from where more than one Ayurveda tour to Indiabegins: a pilgrimage and wellness are easy to combine.