Visit India's top 5 richest temples

Here are a few captivating facts and insights drawn from the wealth and legacy of these revered temples:

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple's mystery vaults
The infamous Vault B, one of six underground chambers in the temple, remains unopened due to religious beliefs and ongoing legal debate. Legend holds it could be protected by a curse or house unmeasurable treasures yet untold.
The treasure discovered in the other vaults in 2011 included antique gold ornaments, golden idols, thousands of gold coins from different eras — even jewel-encrusted ceremonial items.

Vaishno Devi’s high-altitude devotion
Situated at an elevation of about 5,200 feet in the Trikuta Mountains, the temple requires a 12-km uphill trek or pony/doli/helicopter rides — yet it draws over 10 million pilgrims a year, ranking among the most visited religious sites globally.
The gold reserve of 1.2 tonnes is symbolic of enduring faith — built more by sheer devotion than royal patronage.

Tirumala Tirupati’s hair offerings turn to gold
Devotees donate their hair as an act of humility. This is auctioned, earning over ₹100 crore annually — a stunning transformation of sacrifice into sustenance.
Despite its immense wealth, the temple’s daily annadanam (free meal service) feeds around 1 lakh people, blending infrastructure efficiency with sacred service.

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple’s global reach
The cash donations here include foreign currency — testimony to the saint’s global following across continents.
Though Sai Baba lived as a simple fakir, his teachings on faith and compassion have attracted offerings that built an infrastructure supporting healthcare, education, and welfare initiatives for lakhs.

Golden Temple’s living legacy
The renovation by Maharaja Ranjit Singh wasn’t just gilding for grandeur — it was a deep spiritual gift. That gold still gleams nearly 200 years later.
Its world’s largest free kitchen runs 24/7 and serves everyone — from farmers to foreign tourists — showing how wealth here nurtures equality, not opulence.