The Richest temples in India

India better known as the land of diversity is also a place where religion is given an utmost importance. Even though we are moving towards modernism yet our culture, rituals and religion are well preserved. Many ancient temples still stand straight to tell the saga of India’s rich religious heritage. Some of these temples are still working and among the richest temples of India. Few among the category of the richest temples are not ancient but because of the immense number of followers and devotees are in this list. So let’s check out some of the wealthiest temples in India.

Tirupati Balaji

Tirupati Balaji is one of the richest temples in India that is located in Chitoor district, Andhra Pradesh and dedicated to Lord Venkateswarwa, a form of Lord Vishnu. Daily the temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 devotees and during festivals the number even goes above 500,000 visitors. In terms of wealth this temple comes after Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Hair tonsuring is one of the main activities performed at the temple. It is believed that once Lord Balaji was hit by shepherd on his head leading to baldness on that area. Neela Devi, a Gandharva princess took notice of his baldness and through magic implanted her portion of hair on Lord’s head as she could not bear any flaw on such a beautiful face of the Lord. Lord came to know about her sacrifice and promised that all the devotees who would come and offer their hair to him would be received by Neela Devi. The temple’s organization organizes auction of hair few times a year. International buyers buy these hair brining over an additional $6 million to the temple’s treasury.

Vaishno Devi

Vaishno Devi is one of the oldest and richest temples in India that is located in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir at a distance of about 14 km from Katra. The shrine is dedicated to Shakti Maa Vaishno Devi. The temple is visited by about 8 million pilgrims each year and after Tirumala Venkateswara temple, Vaishno Devi is the second most visited shrine.

Somnath Temple, Gujarat

Somnath Temple is located in the Prabhas Kshetra on the western coast of Gujarat and dedicated to Lord Shiva. Somnath means ‘The Protector of the Moon God’ and it is believed that the temple was created by the Moon God in gold in honor of Lord Shiva. The temple was destroyed and reconstructed many a times. Somnath temple was recreated in Silver by Ravana, in wood by Lord Krishna and in stone by the kings. Recently it has been restored in 1951 by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The temple is built in the Chalukya style of architecture.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

Siddhivinayak Temple is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai and dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This temple is visited by famous and rich people and celebrities. Siddhivinayak Temple was built on November 19, 1801 by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil but the present generation of the temple’s creator is staying in a very poor condition near the temple. Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the richest temples in Mumbai. Each year the temple receives donations of approximately 100-500 million Rupees.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is situated on the western bank of the River Ganga in Varanasi and dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main deity in the temple is known as Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara that means Ruler of the Universe. It is believed that one can be on the path to Moksha (liberation) by visiting this temple and taking bath in holy river Ganga. Also it is a belief that one who picks up Vishwanath Temple as his or her ending place, gets mantra of salvation directly from the Lord Shiva.

Jagannath Temple, Puri

Jagannath Temple is located in Puri, Odisha and dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord of the Universe). This temple is of immense value for the devotees who worship Lord Krishna and Vishnu. Jagannath Temple is one of the pilgrimages of Char Dham Yatra that Hindus do once in their lifetime. Annual Rath Yatra of Jagannath Temple is particularly very famous.

Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

The Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu and dedicated to Lord Shiva (Sundareshwarar) and Parvati (Meenakshi). As per a legend, it is the same place where Lord Vishnu gave the hand of Parvati to Lord Shiva. Everyday about 15,000 visitors visit the temple and on Friday the number goes to 25,000. 985 carved pillars are the actually beauty of the temple in addition to ts splendid architecture.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala 

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the 108 holy abodes of Lord Vishnu (Divya Desams). Even the Thiruvananthapuram place got its name from Lord Vishnu that literally means “the land of Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy”. This temple has also been mentioned in many great Epics and Puranas. Some scholars believe that the temple was established about 5000 years ago on the first day of Kali Yuga. Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the wealthiest temple is India having a worth of more than 1.2 lakh crore or 1.2 trillion (US$21 billion).

Sabarimala Temple, Periyar tiger reserve, Kerala

The Sabarimala temple, located in the Periyar Tiger Reserve of Kerala, is renowned for lakhs of pilgrims thronging it all through the year and bestow crores of rupees on their favorite deity. Donations amounted to 203 crores in the year 2013. Of the aggregate income of Sabarimala, the turnout from the sale of aravana prasadam alone stood at 74.50 crores. Set amidst beautiful and scenic hills of Pathanamthitta District, the temple is visited by 100 million devotees every year. The devotees are expected to follow a 41 day fast before the pilgrimage. During this period, they refrain from non-vegetarian food of any kind (except dairy), alcohol, and tobacco, and even sex. This ensures cleansing of the soul from the core !!

Amarnath Cave, Anantnag

Every year over 2 lac devotees undertake the strenuous trek to pay obeisance at holy ice lingum of Lord Shiva at Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas. Devoid of any fancy pillars and domes, the pilgrimage proves that it is faith in god’s powers and nothing else that attracts hoards of people every July to August.

Saibaba Temple Shirdi

Sai Baba, the benevolent monk, who lived in the 18th century, has a universal appeal in India. People from all faiths and walks of life believe in him. He is the only figure in the Hindu religion, which has been photographed, unlike other gods who just feature in the ancient mythology. The idol of the saint, who lived with the common folk as a penniless fakir, wearing a torn kafni, sleeping over a mat while resting his head on a brick, begging for his food, sits on a 94-kg gold throne costing a whopping Rs. 100 million devoted by 2 devotees.