Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Padmanabhaswamy temple at Tiruvanandapuram is one of the most important Vaishnava temples in India. Historians and Scholars expressed that the temple might have been established in the fifth century. This temple in its present form is built by Maharaja Marthanda Varma. In 1750, the Maharaja decided to dedicate his kingdom to Lord Padmanabha, the presiding deity of the kingdom and assumed the title Padmanabhadasa (the servant of Lord Padmanabha). The temple located by the side of a tank, named Padma Theertham (the lotus spring). The temple architecture is a mixture of the Kerala and Dravidian style. It is the best example of South Indian architecture, with an impressive seven -story gopuram covered with beautiful stone carvings. The walls of the temple are covered with beautiful mural paintings describing mythical stories. The main entrance in the eastern side is known as the Nataka Sala where the famous temple art Kathakali is playing in the nights of the ten-day festivals ('uthsavams') conducted twice a year. The temple is well known for the Mural paintings and stone carvings.

Temple assets

This temple has six vaults (secret chambers called 'Nilavara') and all are filled with antique gold ornaments, golden vessels, golden crowns, golden bow, diamonds and other precious stones. According to the Supreme Court of India to generate an inventory, the temple's five underground vaults was reviewed. The estimated value of the monumental items is about 26.76 billion US Dollars. One vaults is not opened yet. The antique value will be ten times of the current market price.

Arattu Festival

The major event to this temple is Arattu festival, which is headed by the royal family of Travancore. Related to this festival there is a beautiful procession with decorated elephants. This procession takes place in the evening and culminate with the holy bath to the Shankumugham Beach. The main idols of the temple are given a ritual bath in the sea and are taken back to the temple.

Dress Code: Men must wear Dhoti and without shirts. Women must wear Sarees. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.

The nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) Airport.

The nearest railway: Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) Central Station.