15 Richest Temples In India That Hold Riches Worth Billions

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 15 of the richest temples in India which boast a large income and are also popular tourist spots.

1. 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.

Image source: Wikipedia.org

2. 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.

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3. 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.

Image source: Wikipedia.org

4. 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.

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5. 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.

Image source: Wikipedia.org

6. 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.

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Also Read: 10 Interesting Facts About The Lord Jagannath Temple Of Puri

7. Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu

The Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu is a recognised Shakti Peeth, and is considered the second most visited temple with around 8 million visitors. It has a yearly income of about INR 500 crores.

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8. Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

The Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai is one of the most famous holy places for Hindus. It is frequented by celebrities and non-celebrities alike. It enshrines the statue of Lord Ganesha and is one of the richest temples in India. The temple has an average annual income of INR 48 crore to 125 crores.

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9. Somnath Temple, Gujarat

Despite being looted and destroyed 17 times by the Mahmud of Ghazni for its gold and silver, the Somnath temple built in Veraval in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat stands tall and still ranks among the richest temples in India. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and earns annual revenue of around INR 33 crores.

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10. Guruvayoor Temple, Guruvayoor

The Guruvayoor temple’s main attraction is the idol of Lord Vishnu worshipped in Balkrishna Avatar. The idol is made out of a rare mixture called Padala Anjanam instead of stone or metal which were used more extensively at the time. The temple has a huge number of devotees visiting from all over the world, but only Hindus are allowed entry into the temple. The temple has assets worth INR 2500 crores.

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11. Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Delhi

The Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple houses an idol of Swaminarayan made of gold, while the gurus are covered in leaf. It has its name in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest comprehensive Hindu temple in the world. It is one of the richest temples in India.

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12. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Shirdi

The famous Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi is the third richest Indian temple. The temple constructed in 1922 is located approximately 296 km from the city of Mumbai. It contains about INR 32 crores worth of gold and silver and coins worth INR 60 lakhs. It receives an annual donation of INR 360 crores.

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13. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi has been demolished multiple times in the past. It has three domes, of which two are gold-plated. It receives an annual donation of INR 4-5 crores from more than 3 million domestic and 2 lakh foreign tourists who pay a visit to this holy temple every year.

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14. Amarnath Temple, Amarnath cave

The Amarnath cave is visited by pilgrims all over the world in a famous pilgrimage called the Amarnath Yatra. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and enshrines an image of ice called the Shivaling formed naturally, which resembles Lord Shiva.

Image source: Wikipedia.org

15. Mahalaxmi Temple, Kolhapur

The Mahalaxmi Temple in Kolhapur is said to be one of the six abodes of Shakti. It was built in the 7th century by Chalukya rulers. It attracts a huge number of tourists and is one of the richest temples in India.

Image source: Wikipedia.org

These are 15 of the richest temples in India that have preserved the Indian culture with their sophisticated architectural designs and rituals that attract millions of tourists every year. Tell us about the Indian temples on your itinerary in the comments below.