Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the most famous Lord Vishnu Temples in Kerala.Also known as Sree Ananda Padmanabhaswamy Temple, this Mahavishnu Temple is located at Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala, India. Lord Vishnu is enshrined here in the Anananthasayanam posture lying on Sri Anantha, the hooded snake.

Significance of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu as per the works of the Tamil Azhvars (saints).

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is also one of the seven Parasurama kshetras in Kerala. The city of Thiruvananthapuram is named after the Lord Anantha Padmanabhaswamy. The word Thiruvananthapuram literally means "The land of Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy".

Importance of the Idol

The idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is made up of 12008 salagramams that compose the reclining lord. They are special because they are from banks of river Gandhaki , Nepal, and they were brought to the temple on elephant top. On top of them "Katusarkara Yogam", Navaratnams, a special Ayurvedic mix, was used to give a plaster. This Ayurvedic elements have protected the idol from natural elements like air and water by acting as a protective cover or shield.It is widely believed that the Lord has personally come in disguise and had saved the Kingdom of Travancore from the clutches of it's enemies.

Pooja Details

General Archanas

Astothara Archana
Sahasranama Archana
Veeda Manthrarchana
Santhanagopala Archana
Vidhya Rahagopala Archana
Swayamvara Archana
Dhanwanthari Archana
Sudarshana Archana
Lekshminarayana Archana

Sooktam Archanas - Suktham

Purusha Sooktam
Bhoo Sooktha
Purusha Sooktam
Sree Sooktham
Bhaghya Sooktham
Aikyamathya Sooktham
Narayana Sooktham
Samvatha Sooktham

Abhishekams and Offerings

Aval (Sree Krishna Swamy)
Aravana
Panchamritham
Thrimadhuram
Unniyappam (Unni Appam)
Modakam (for Sree Ganapathi)
Paal Payasam
Ghee Payasama
Sharkara Payasam
Pongal
Ottayada
Idichu Pizhinja Payasam
Milk Abhishekam
Nei Vilakku
Vada Mala (Sree Hanuman Swamy)

Temple Timing

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple opens daily at 03:30 AM and closes at 07:20 PM. However, there are specific timings for darshan.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Darshan Timings in Morning

03:30 AM to 04:45 AM
06:30 AM to 07:00 AM
8.30 AM to 10:00 AM
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
11:45 AM to 12:00 PM

Evening Darshan Timings of Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple

05:00 PM to 06:15 PM
06:45 PM to 07:20 PM

Please note that the temple worship timings are subject to change during festival occasion.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Dress Code

Only Hindus are permitted inside the temple. And dress codes are to be strictly followed before entering the temple. Men should wear 'Mundu' or 'Dhoti' while visiting the temple. They also have to remove shirt or t-shirt above waist. Women have to wear Sari (Saree), Mundum Neriyathum (set-mundu), Skirt and Blouse, or Half Sari. This means no pants for men or churidhar for women is allowed inside the temple.

Dhotis are available for rent near temple locker room. Nowadays temple authorities allow to wear Dhotis over pants or churidhar for the convenience of devotees.

Contact Details

The Contact Address of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is given below.

Contact Address / Location

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Mathilakom Office
East Fort
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Kerala, India
Pin Code - 695023

Contact Telephone Numbers

Phone – 0471 – 2450233; 2466830
Fax - 0471 - 2450233

Location of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Being its ideal location in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple can easily be reached by bus, train, and flight. The inter-state highway, National Highway 47 (NH 47) connects Thiruvananthapuram to all major cities and nearby states including Kollam, Ernakulam (Kochi), Thrissur, Nagercoil, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Chennai, and Bangalore.

Trivandrum Central Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station is a kilometer away from the temple, while Trivandrum City Bus Station at East Fort is located opposite to Lord Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

Trivandrum International Airport, around 7 km from the city center, is the nearest airport.

Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple treasure trove

With all eyes on God's own country at the moment, Kerala seem to be living up to its name. With the massive treasure haul at the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple stealing the limelight, the temple is inching fast to becoming the country's richest temple beating the likes of the Tirupati Balaji temple that was till now touted to be the richest. The total worth of the treasure is estimated to have crossed Rs 90,000 crore ($20 billion) with the antique value of the treasure yet to be ascertained.

After the sixth continuous day of assessing the contents of the hidden vaults, officials and administration are flabbergasted due to the sheer nature of the contents that have emerged out of the stone chambers. Among the recent findings include a huge idol of Lord Vishnu that is studded in diamonds and precious emeralds. The trove also yielded various adornments of the deity that was worth Rs 13 crore. Two other secret chambers are yet to be opened.

The recent findings of the idol of Vishnu is a whopping one and a half feet made of pure gold. The chamber A also contained figurines weighing a kilo each and a 35 kilo, 18 foot gold jewellery used to decorate the deity. Bags of precious jewels and gold chips were also found inside. Coins from other princely states like Vijayanagar empire and European countries have also been found which might be part of the gifts received by the rulers of the time

Following the massive treasure find, security has been stepped up with additional forces from the special armed police also employed in the temple. The state police have put in place a three-tier security arrangement under the guidance of Additional Director General of Police Venugopal K Nair.

Of the total of the six underground vaults, that has been named A to F, only A,C,D and F have been opened so far. Vaults B and F remains to be opened soon.

While all major temples of the area were handed over to the Travancore Devaswom Board after merger of the princely state with the Indian Union after 1947, control of Padmanabhaswamy temple was retained by the royal house through a covenant with the government