Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
The richest temple in the world, where Lord Vishnu reclines as Anantha Padmanabhaswamy on the serpent Anantha. Darshan timings, dress code, ticket prices, the sealed Vault B and everything else you need before you travel to Kerala.
Everything you need before you visit Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Six short guides covering the questions visitors ask most: when the temple opens, what you are allowed to wear, what darshan costs, and how to reach Fort in Thiruvananthapuram.
Temple Timings
Nirmalya darshanam at 3:30 AM, every darshan slot through the day, and the exact morning and evening closing hours.
Read the guideDress Code
Mundu for men, saree or set-mundu for women. What is allowed, what is refused at the gate, and where to rent one.
Read the guideTickets & Booking
Free general darshan versus paid special entry, current ticket prices, and how the counter queue actually works.
Read the guideVault B & Treasure
Six vaults, an estimated 1.2 lakh crore rupees of gold and gems, and the reason Vault B has never been opened.
Read the guideTemple History
From the Travancore kings and Marthanda Varma’s Thrippadidanam to the Supreme Court verdict of 2020.
Read the guideHow to Reach
Nearest railway station, Trivandrum airport, local buses and autos, plus where to stay inside Fort.
Read the guide
Why Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is unlike any other
Inside the sanctum, Lord Vishnu reclines in the Ananthasayanam posture on the serpent Anantha, seen through three separate doors: the face, the navel, and the lotus feet.
The Travancore rulers surrendered their kingdom to the deity in 1750 and ruled after that as Padmanabhadasa, servants of the Lord. That is why the temple still holds the wealth it does today.
- Vishnu reclining on the serpent Anantha, seen through three separate doors
- One of the 108 Divya Desams praised by the Alwar saints
- The 18 foot idol is built from 12,008 saligramams from the Gandaki river
- Six underground vaults, and Vault B has never been opened
Six vaults, five counted, and one door nobody will open
In 2011 the Supreme Court ordered an inventory of the chambers beneath the temple. Five vaults gave up gold idols, sacks of coins, emerald necklaces and a solid gold cot. The sixth was left alone, and it still is. The temple holds that Vault B is tied directly to the deity, and in 2020 the court left it untouched.
Ten slots decide whether you get darshan or a shut door
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple runs from 3:30 AM to 7:20 PM, but never straight through. The sanctum closes for every pooja and stays fully shut from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, so pick your slot before you leave the hotel.
Timings shift during Alpashy and Painkuni festivals, on Lakshadeepam years and on the Malayalam new moon, so confirm the day before you travel.
What you wear decides whether you get past the gate
Padmanabhaswamy is one of the strictest temples in Kerala on dress. Guards turn people away every single day, and no amount of arguing changes it. Sort this out before you reach East Fort.
What you must wear
- Men wear a mundu or dhoti with the upper body left bare
- Women wear a saree, a set-mundu, or a long skirt with a blouse
- Girls under twelve may wear a long skirt and blouse, or a gown
- Boys under twelve may wear a mundu or shorts, a shirt is allowed
What is refused at the gate
- Trousers, jeans and shorts on men, at any point inside
- Shirts and t-shirts anywhere beyond the entrance
- Salwar kameez and churidar on women
- Leggings, jeggings and any western wear
- Footwear, bags, phones and cameras past the gate
Shops just outside the East Fort entrance sell and rent dhotis for roughly 50 to 100 rupees, so you can fix this on the spot. Free lockers near the gate hold bags, footwear and phones while you are inside.
Darshan costs nothing, everything else has a counter
There is no entry fee at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. You only pay if you want to skip the queue, see the museum, or carry a camera into the outer area. Everything is sold at counters on site, and there is no official online booking.
| What you are paying for | Price |
|---|---|
| General darshanOpen to every Hindu devotee in traditional dress | Free |
| Special entry darshanSkips the general queue, buy at the counter inside | ₹150 |
| Nirmalya DarshanamThe 3:30 AM first darshan, ticketed separately | ₹150 |
| Temple museumOrnaments, vessels and artefacts on display | ₹30 |
| Camera permitPhotography in the outer area only, never the sanctum | ₹100 |
| Kuthiramalika PalaceThe Travancore palace next door, its own ticket | ₹75 |
Prices are indicative and set by the temple administration, so confirm the current amount at the counter or on Kerala Tourism. Carry cash in small notes, since card and UPI are not accepted at every window.
The temple sits inside Fort, minutes from the station
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is in East Fort, right in the middle of Thiruvananthapuram. Wherever you arrive from, you are never more than half an hour away, and autos run to the gate all day.
Four places worth adding to the same trip
The temple shuts from noon to five, which is exactly enough time for the palace next door or the museum quarter. Everything here is within a short auto ride of East Fort.
Two great festivals a year, and one that comes once in six
Darshan timings change during festival weeks and the crowds multiply, so it is worth knowing what is on before you book. Both Utsavams end the same way, with the deity carried to the sea at Shanghumugham.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple questions visitors ask
Ten answers that cover almost every doubt people have before travelling to Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, from the dress code at the gate to what is actually sealed inside Vault B.
What are the Padmanabhaswamy Temple timings?
The temple is open from 3:30 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 5:00 PM to 7:20 PM. Within those windows the sanctum still closes for Abhishekam, Usha Pooja, Ucha Pooja and Deeparadhana, so the actual darshan slots are shorter than the opening hours suggest.
Is there any entry fee for darshan?
General darshan is free. You only pay if you choose special entry, which costs around 150 rupees per person and gives you a shorter queue. Separate tickets apply for the temple museum and for photography permits outside the sanctum.
What is the dress code at Padmanabhaswamy Temple?
Men must wear a mundu or dhoti with the upper body bare, and women wear a saree, set-mundu or a long skirt with a blouse. Trousers, shirts, jeans and salwar kameez are not allowed inside. Dhotis can be rented or bought at shops right outside the entrance.
Can non-Hindus enter the temple?
No. Entry to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is restricted to Hindu devotees, and visitors may be asked to sign a declaration of faith at the gate. Non Hindus can still see the gopuram, the Padma Theertham tank and the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum next door.
Why has Vault B never been opened?
Vault B, also called Bharatakkon Kallara, has stayed sealed on religious grounds. The temple holds that it is directly connected to the deity and that opening it would invite misfortune. The Supreme Court in 2020 restored control of the temple to the Travancore royal family and left Vault B untouched.
How much treasure is inside the temple?
Inventories of five of the six vaults, carried out from 2011, valued the gold, gems and antiques at roughly 1.2 lakh crore rupees. That figure counts metal value alone and excludes Vault B, which is why the temple is described as the richest place of worship in the world.
How do I reach the temple from Thiruvananthapuram railway station?
The temple is about 1 kilometre from Thiruvananthapuram Central, which is a ten minute auto ride or a fifteen minute walk through East Fort. From Trivandrum International Airport it is roughly 6 kilometres and takes about twenty minutes by taxi.
Can I take my phone or camera inside?
No. Mobile phones, cameras and bags are not permitted beyond the entrance. Free lockers and cloakrooms are available near the gate, so leave everything there before you join the queue.
What is Nirmalya Darshanam?
Nirmalya Darshanam is the first darshan of the day at 3:30 AM, when devotees see the deity still decorated with the previous night’s flowers and ornaments before they are removed for the morning bath. Many consider it the most auspicious viewing of the day.
Which is the best time to visit the temple?
The 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM slot is the longest and least crowded of the day. Avoid the 5:00 PM evening session if you dislike queues. October to February brings the most comfortable weather, and the Alpashy and Painkuni festivals are worth planning around.
Three things decide your visit, sort them before you fly
The temple opens at 3:30 AM, general darshan costs nothing, and the dress code is not negotiable at the gate. Get those three right and the rest of the trip looks after itself.