India's famous temples are accompanied by precious gifts of gold and wealth, along with the devotion of devotees. The gold, gems and donations collected as offerings over the years in many temples make them one of the richest and gold-rich temples in the country. Here are some of the major temples in India, famous for their vast gold reserves and ever-growing devotion:
1. Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh)
One of the richest temples in the world, it attracts millions of devotees daily. The temple boasts a vast gold reserve, precious jewelry, and vast annual offerings. It holds over 1,200 kilograms of gold, as well as jewelry donated over the centuries. Know more about
Tirupati Balaji
2. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
The temple's mysterious vaults have been found to contain immense amounts of gold, gems, and ancient treasures, making it considered the richest temple in the world. Known for its hidden vaults filled with unimaginable treasures, Vault B remains undiscovered; other vaults have yielded trillions of dollars' worth of gold statues, gems, and coins. It is considered the richest temple in terms of total treasure value. Know more about
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
3. Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), Amritsar (Punjab)
The entire sanctum sanctorum and dome are covered in pure gold. A remarkable symbol of devotion and service. The sanctum sanctorum and dome are covered in over 500 kilograms of gold. The entire upper floor and exterior are covered in gold. It is one of the most visited spiritual sites in the world. Know more about
Golden Temple.
4. Shirdi Sai Baba Samadhi Temple (Maharashtra)
The Sai Baba Temple receives a large amount of gold, jewelry, and cash as offerings. The temple trust is among the wealthiest in the country. Gold jewelry is worth over ₹32 crore. Daily donations are the highest in India. The idol of Sai Baba is also regularly adorned with gold ornaments.
5. Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
In this famous temple of Ganpati Bappa, gold and silver ornaments worth crores and the ever-increasing offerings of devotees give it a place among the wealthy temples. Filled with gold and silver offerings worth crores of rupees, this temple is one of the richest and most visited temples in Mumbai. Know more about
Siddhivinayak Temple.
6. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
The spire and dome of this Jyotirlinga temple of Mahadev are heavily adorned with gold. Offerings and donations are also abundant here. Know more about
Kashi Vishwanath.
7. Vaishno Devi Bhawan, Katra (Jammu and Kashmir)
This Shakti Peeth of Mata Rani receives the faith and donations of millions of devotees every year, due to which its gold and jewelry reserves are vast. Know more about
Vaishno Devi.
8. Jagannath Temple, Puri (Odisha)
As per Bhaktibharat, the temple's treasure trove of gold, silver, and gems has been preserved for thousands of years. Jagannath Temple is considered one of India's wealthiest temples. Know more about
Jagannath Dham.
9. Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
As per Bhaktibharat, historical donations, royal ornaments, and gold-decorated architecture make this temple one of India's richest temples. Historically, it received substantial royal donations. It boasts gold-plated minarets and a vast collection of jewelry. Know more about
Meenakshi Temple.
10. Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, Gujarat
Rebuilt after historical invasions, this temple is once again renowned for its prosperity, devotion, and generous donations. A gold-plated urn (kalasha) adorns its peak. Although it was repeatedly plundered throughout history, it has now regained its wealth through donations and charitable efforts. The gold-plated urn (kalasha) is enshrined at the summit. Know more about
Somnath Jyotirlinga.
The grandeur of these temples is not only a reflection of the abundance of gold, but also of the devotion, faith, and charitable traditions of millions of devotees. These temples of India are incomparable cultural, spiritual, and historical treasures.