Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu place of worship in Thiruvananthapuram on the southern tip of India, dedicated to the deity Vishnu. The central shrine houses a roughly eighteen-foot reclining figure of the deity, assembled from more than twelve thousand sacred black stones carried from the Gandaki River in Nepal.

Construction started in the 6th century and continued through several dynasties. King Marthanda Varma of Travancore carried out extensive renovations during the 1730s that shaped the current form.

Worshipers and visitors witness several daily puja ceremonies where priests chant traditional verses while incense fills the air. The community gathers here during religious festivals, and you can observe temple staff wearing their characteristic white garments and the ritual offering of flowers.

The temple opens daily in the early morning and again in the late afternoon, with a long midday closure between the two periods. Non-Hindu visitors may enter designated areas to view the architecture, though a conservative dress code applies.

Subterranean vaults hold large collections of gold ornaments, precious stones, and artifacts that make this one of the wealthiest religious institutions in India. One of the sealed vaults has never been opened and remains the subject of local legends and scholarly curiosity.

Location: Thiruvananthapuram

Inception: 6 century

Website: https://spst.in

GPS coordinates: 8.48278,76.94361

Latest update: December 12, 2025 19:07