From Shirdi To Tirupati, How Big Is India's Temple Economy
Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala)
– Total estimated assets: Rs 1,20,000 crore. – Notable treasures: Gold idols, gold coins, emeralds, antique silver, diamonds, and brass. – Gold idol of Lord Vishnu: Valued at Rs 500 crore
Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh)
– Annual offerings: Over Rs 900 crore. – Gold reserves: 52 tonnes. – Daily average donations: 30,000 tourists contributing $6 million
Vaishno Devi Temple (Jammu and Kashmir)
– Annual donations: Estimated at Rs 500 crore. – Gold holdings: 1.2 tonnes. – Pilgrim visits: Over 10 million annually
Sai Baba of Shirdi
– Temple assets: Around Rs 1,800 crore. – Precious holdings: 380 kg of gold, 4,428 kg of silver. – Global following with significant financial contributions
Sabarimala Temple
– Annual income: More than Rs 105 crore. – Plans to employ robots for temple service. – Over one million tourists visit annually