The 15 Most Richest Temples Of India and Their Worth

India’s rich history and diverse culture are not a secret to anyone in the world. The country is full of legendary stories of Gods and Goddesses. It holds various beliefs, leading to one of the most beautiful, religious, and richest temples of India, built with utter devotion and amazing architecture. Several temples in India are known to bestow immense wealth, health, and miracles that draw millions of devotees worldwide to these sacred shrines. To show their gratitude for their achievements, pilgrims donate money, gold, diamonds, and other precious jewels and seek blessings from the divine for themselves and their families. There are several temples with an estimated donation of trillions! 

One of the wealthiest temples in india is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Revered by devotees of Lord Vishnu, the temple gained international attention when its underground vaults were discovered to house an astonishing amount of gold, silver, and precious gems. Another of the richest Indian temples on the list is the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, this temple witnesses a staggering number of pilgrims yearly. The donations and offerings made by devotees contribute to its immense wealth.

The richest temples of India stand as testaments to the deep-rooted religious fervor and the incredible generosity of devotees. While these temples amass vast fortunes, they also engage in philanthropic activities, contributing to the well-being of society at large. These spiritual and financial facets make them architectural marvels and integral components of India’s cultural blend. 

Top 15 Richest Temples In India and their Wealth

1. Tirumala Tirupati Venkateshwar Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Sree Venkateshwar Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu, and is believed to be constructed in 300 CE in Dravidian architecture. About 30 million pilgrims, on average, seek blessings and make donations, making it the richest temple of India in the world. The temple is situated in the hill town of Tirumala in Tirupati. The temple is also called the Temple of Seven Hills, which lies on the seventh peak of Seshachalam Hills- Venkatadri. The temple has around 433 festivals in 365 days.  As donations from pilgrims, the temple receives more than USD 120 million in the form of cash, gold, and other offerings every year. The entire value of the temple is 37,000 crore. Every year, the donation to the temple is converted into 3000 kg of gold bars for easy storage.

2. Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala

The famed Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The temple is solely dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is designed in astonishing Dravidian-style architecture. This gold-plated marvel is the richest temple in India and the world, with an estimated yearly donation of over a hundred million. Lord Vishnu’s idol is worth Rs. 500 crore and is ornated with priceless ornaments and precious jewels. It is believed that the city Trivandrum gets its name from this temple. Hence, around 2 lakh people visit the holiest shrine every day to pray to the vibrant spiritual power of Lord Vishnu. The temple has more than 1,00,000 crores of assets in the form of gold, precious stones, silver, statues, crows, and much more.

3. Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra

Situated in the Trikuta Hills in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, Vaishno Devi is India’s second most visited temple. Nestled at an altitude of 5,200 feet inside a million-year-old cave, the temple is one of the major 52 Shakti Peeths dedicated to Maa Vaishno and receives over 10 million pilgrims annually. With almost 16 billion dollars and about 1800 hundred kilos of gold in annual donations, it makes one of the richest temples in India. Embark on a holy pad-yatra, or trek, of 13 km from Katra and be blessed with the Darshans of Mother Goddess. The net worth of the temple is around INR 500 crore.

4. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Maharashtra

Nashik, the abode of Lord Shiva, is famous for the Kumbh Mela, which is held once every 12 years, and the wealthiest pilgrimage site, Shirdi Sai Baba. This beautifully constructed shrine was built in 1922, and the idol of Sai Baba is placed on a seat of 94kg pure gold and many donations in dollars and pounds. Indians strongly believe in the miracles of Sai Baba, respect and follow his principles and teachings, and believe that the saint will grant their requests. On average, around 75,000 devotees visit the temple to seek solace amid a peaceful aura. It has a huge hall that can accommodate over 600 devotees and serves food to around 40,000 visitors. The throne on which the deity is seated is made of 94 kg of gold, worth more than 10 crores.

5. Jagannath Puri Temple, Odisha

Jagannath Temple is primarily dedicated to one of Lord Vishnu’s manifestations, Jagannath, and is one of India’s Char Dham pilgrim sites. The temple is situated on the eastern coast of India in Puri, Odisha. The must-see attraction of Jagannath Puri Temple is its annual Ratha Yatra, where three principal deities are taken out on a grand procession in a huge decorated chariot. The temple received a bank deposit of more than 150 crores annually, making it one of the richest temples of India. Over 20,000 devotees visit the holy shrine, and over 70,000 pilgrims during the festive season each day. The entire worth of the temple is expected to be more than INR 150 crores. The official net value of the temple has not yet been disclosed. The deity is said to be decorated with 209 kg of gold during important festivals. In addition, the five underground chambers of this temple are still unopened, and no one knows what richness is contained in them.

6. Golden Temple, Amritsar:

Located in the city of Amritsar, the Golden Temple is a preeminent sacred site, or Gurdwara, of the Sikh community that houses the holy book of Sikhism, ‘Guru Granth Sahib.’ Also known as Harmandir Sahib or Durbar Sahib was rebuilt in white marble in 1809 and completed by overlaying the sanctum with 500 kg of gold leaf in 1830, making it one of the wealthiest temples in India. Around 40,000 pilgrims from all communities and beliefs seek blessings from a divine aura. The temple organizes the largest langar seva for over 100,000 people daily, serving free food and offering first-come-first-serve lodging facilities for pilgrims. The upper half of the temple was constructed using 400 kg of gold. With an annual income of ₹500 crores, the Golden Temple finds a spot in India’s list of the highest-valuing temples.

7. Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Assam

This temple is located at Nilachal Hills in the Guwahati state of Assam. It is one of the oldest and most esteemed temples of Tantric practices. Kamakhaya Temple is dedicated to one of the four Shakti Peeths, Kamakhaya, Goddess of Menstruation. According to the Hindu mythological beliefs, when Lord Shiva carried Goddess Sati on his shoulder after her death, 108 parts of her body were scattered here and there, and Kamakhaya is said to be the place carrying Sati’s womb and yoni (vagina). Hence, the temple witnesses millions of devotees from all around the globe.  It has a net worth of INR 900 Crore. It is said that the deity of this temple bleeds in June, turning the Brahmaputra River red.

8. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

A 2500-year-old historic Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is a must-see attraction in India that stretches on the southern banks of River Vaigai. The shrine is dedicated to Meenakshi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati. According to legends, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati tied a holy knot in this temple. The temple is famous for its carved architecture in the Dravidian style and vibrant colors. With over 30,000 sculptures, the temple houses 14 gopurams about 40-50 meters high and 2 golden vimanas. This is also one of the few temples to host only up to 30,000 devotees daily and collects approximately 60 million donations, which is increasing every year, making it one of the richest temples in India.

9. Somnath Temple, Gujarat

Somnath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines of Lord Shiva in India. It is constructed in Chalukya-style architecture with a tomb about 150 meters high. Even after being looted around 17 times, the temple possesses enough fortune to be called the richest temple in India. It is believed to be where Lord Krishna ended his role in the world and went to heaven. The famous Syamantak Mani connected to Lord Krishna is engulfed safely under the Shivalinga.  The net worth of the temple is assumed to be more than INR 11 Crores.

10.  Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

Dedicated to one of the most auspicious Hindu deities, Lord Ganesha, Siddhivinayak Temple was originally built by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patel in November 1801 and is situated in Prabhadevi in Maharashtra. The carvings of Ashtavinayak and the eight illustrations of Siddhivinayak, from the wooden doors to the sanctum, are astonishing; the inner roof of the sanctum is plated with pure gold. Once a structure of plain bricks. It is now one of the richest temples in India, with approximately INR 100 million in donations every year.

11. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi

One of India’s most glorious and religious destinations is Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Situated on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, this temple is dedicated to the main deity of Hindus, Lord Shiva. It is reported that over 300 million devotees, among which 200,000 were foreign tourists, take on a road to Vishwanath Temple annually for param moksha, salvation, reporting to have received around 4-5 crore rupees of donations every year, making it one of the richest temples in India. The temple is built in three parts- the first is the spire on the temple, the second is a gold dome, and the third is the gold spire with a flag and a trident right above the Lord Vishwanath idol. The tower of the temple is covered in 800 kg of gold plating. Thus making Kashi Vishwanath one of the many rich temples in India with a worth of INR 6 Crore.

12. Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, Kerala

The most revered and famous among all the Sastha Temples in Kerala, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple complex consists of three temples- Pampa Ganapathi, Nilakal Mahadev, and Palliyara Bhagavathi. This temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan and is one of the most visited temples in India by 40-50 million devotees. Still, the interesting part is that only men are allowed inside the temple. Nestled amid eighteen hills at an altitude of 1260 meters, the temple has an immense wealth of over 15kg of gold and an annual collection of more than 105 crore rupees.

13. Lingaraj Temple, Odisha

Built by King Jajati Keshari in the 7th century, Lingaraj is the oldest and largest temple in Bhubaneswar dedicated to Lord Shiva. On a daily average, about 6000 devotees come to pay homage and witness the naturally appeared massive Shiva Lingam, which is approximately 8 inches above the floor level. The beautiful Kalinga architectured temple earns an estimated over 3 million of annual income. The complex houses fifty shrines inside and is one of the few places that serve opium as a prasad.

14. Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar

One of the most prestigious sites to behold in Bihar is Mahabodhi Temple. It is the exact place where Buddha meditated and attained salvation; hence, it is also popular as the Great Awakening Temple. The temple is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcoming thousands of devotees every day, turning an estimated net worth of over 100 crore rupees annually, and making its place the richest temple in India. The pilgrims visit the temple to witness the divine Bodhi Tree. Learn about Buddha’s life and his procurement depicted through old scriptures and manuscripts.

15. Guruvayur Temple, Kerala

Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, situated in the heart of Guruvayoor town, is a highly revered pilgrimage destination in Kerala. This temple in South India is highly respected, with Lord Vishnu worshipped as Balkrishna Avtar. The Lord’s idol is beautifully adorned with four hands, each holding a conch, a mace, a discus, and a lotus. He is also known by the name of Unnikrishnan. The Lord is adorned with a beautiful Tulasi or Basil Garland and a pearl necklace, shining brightly as he blesses his devotees. The astonishing idol of Lord Unnikrishnan Guruvayur is made out of a rare mixture called Padala Anjanam instead of stone or metal which was more commonplace in the olden times. Records show that more than 50,000 people visit this temple daily, whereas the entire asset of the temple is around INR 2,500 crores, making it one of the wealthiest temples in India.

FAQs About Richest Temples of India

Q1: Which is the richest temple in India?
Ans: The richest temple in India is the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is renowned for its wealth, primarily from the generous donations made by millions of devotees each year. As donations from pilgrims, the temple receives more than USD 120 million in the form of cash, gold, and other offerings every year. The entire value of the temple is 37,000 crore.

Q2: What is the main deity of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams?
Ans: The primary deity of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is Lord Venkateswara, also known as Lord Balaji. Devotees believe that Lord Venkateswara is a manifestation of Lord Vishnu and visit the temple to seek his blessings for prosperity and well-being.

Q3: What is the worth of the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, and how is its wealth utilized?
Ans: The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is one of the wealthiest temples in India, with an estimated worth of millions of dollars. The temple’s wealth primarily comes from the generous donations of devotees. The funds are used to maintain the temple, provide free meals to pilgrims, and support various charitable activities in and around Shirdi.

Q4: How does the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai rank among the richest temples in India, and what contributes to its wealth?
Ans: The Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai is among the richest temples in India. Its wealth is attributed to the substantial offerings made by devotees, including cash, gold, and precious stones. The temple also generates revenue from donations and the commercial activities on its premises. The funds collected are used for the temple’s maintenance and charitable initiatives in the community.