Which Is World’s Richest Temple?

Spread across the globe, temples attract millions of devotees every day. Some are small, some are big, some popular, some not so well known, but such things really don’t matter for true devotees. However, the one thing that differentiates specific temples from others is the quantum of donations they receive. People donate as it signifies their faith and beliefs, which is about doing good to others. Part of the donations is also used for charitable purposes.

Donations to temples can come in various forms such as cash, coins, gold, silver, etc. To better understand the topic, here’s a look at some of the richest temples in the world.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the richest temple in the world. It is managed by erstwhile royal family of Travancore. Assets available with Padmanabhaswamy Temple include gold ornaments and sculptures and diamonds. The temple has 6 vaults, wherein various valuables worth around $20 billion are kept. The golden idol of Lord Vishnu kept in the sanctum sanctorum is itself valued at around Rs 500 crore.

Tirupati Balaji Temple

Located in Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati Balaji Temple is considered as the second richest in the world. It is estimated to receive donations worth Rs 600 crore every year. The temple is dedicated to one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu known as Lord Venkateshwara. A number of celebrities visit Tirupati Balaji quite frequently.

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

This is probably the third richest temple in the world. It is located in Shirdi in the state of Maharashtra. Shirdi Sai Baba temple is famous across the country and attracts devotees from all faiths. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple receives donations worth around Rs 350 crore every year. Many devotees donate anonymously and even foreign currency has been found in the donation boxes.

Vaishno Devi Temple

Vaishno Devi Temple is regarded as one of the most sacred places in India. It is one of the Shakti Peeths in the country. It is estimated that the annual revenue associated with the temple is around Rs 500 crore per year. Just like Tirupati Balaji, Vaishno Devi temple is also visited by celebrities frequently.

Siddhivinayak Temple

Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Siddhivinayak Temple is among the preferred destination for celebrities and businessmen. That’s apparent because Mumbai is the financial hub, which also happens to be the headquarters of top businesses. The city is also home to entertainment industry. As per estimates, around Rs 125 crore is generated annually via donations.

Somnath Temple

Located in Gujarat, Somnath Temple has been immensely rich throughout the centuries. Coupled with the fact that it is located along the border, it explains why it was repeatedly plundered by invaders like Mahmud Ghazni. Somnath temple has been rebuild several times and it continues to be one of the richest in the country.

Jagannath Temple

Located in Puri, Odisha, Jagannath Temple is considered among the richest temples in the world. While exact donation numbers are not known, it is estimated that gold and silver used in the temple weighs around 100 kg. Jagannath Temple is famous for the annual Rath Yatra, which attracts devotees and tourists from across the globe.