Padmanabhaswamy Temple tickets, and what is actually free
General darshan is free. The temple also runs an official online portal for listed offerings and sevas, some of which have limited participant entry; that is different from a general darshan ticket. This guide separates free entry, paid services and separate attractions, and points to the temple's own portal so you can check the current terms and prices.
Official portal prices checked 31 October 2026Quick answer: what you will pay
General darshan: free, no ticket. Counter special entry: travel guides commonly quote ₹150, or ₹180 with prasadam, but it is not on the official online list, so confirm the rate at the counter. Online, on the official portal: archanas from ₹30, Special Seva (Archana) ₹50, Suvarna Darshan ₹20,000 for up to 6 people. Full list in the table below.
What is free, and what has a separate charge
General darshan is free. Paid offerings, museum admission and nearby attractions are separate products; prices, availability and any included access can change. Verify each item with the authority that sells it.
| What you are paying for | Price |
|---|---|
| General darshanOpen to every Hindu devotee in traditional dress. No ticket needed at all | Free |
| Special entry darshan (at the counter)Widely quoted by travel guides as ₹150, or ₹180 with prasadam. It is not on the official online list, so treat it as a guide and ask at the counter on the day | About ₹150 / ₹180 |
| Suvarna Darshan (official portal)Up to 6 devotees, linked to the Deeparadhana darshan at 6:30 PM and 7:20 PM | ₹20,000 |
| Udayastamana Pooja (official portal)Full-day pooja from dawn to dusk, up to 6 devotees | ₹25,000 |
| Archanas (official portal)Sahasranamarchana, Purushasooktharchana, Sreesooktharchana, Dhanwantari and most others | ₹30 each |
| Special Seva (Archana) / NeyvilakkuTwo of the most booked small offerings on the portal | ₹50 each |
| Palpayasam / Neypayasam / AravanaPalpayasam ₹100 for half a litre or ₹200 for a litre. Aravana is collected at 7:45 PM from the Sreekaryam office | ₹100 to ₹200 |
| Annadanam₹101 for one person; a full Annadhanam sponsorship is ₹20,000 for up to 5 devotees | From ₹101 |
| Temple pooja and seva bookingsThe official portal lists offerings with their own inclusions and participant limits. Read the current item details before booking. | Varies |
| Nirmalya and other seva bookingsSome official seva listings include limited entry at specified times; do not treat them as ordinary general darshan. | Varies |
| Temple museumSeparate attraction; confirm current access and fee with the temple | Verify with temple |
| Camera permitPhotography in the outer area only. Never inside the sanctum | Verify with temple |
| Kuthiramalika PalaceThe Travancore palace next door, run separately from the temple | Verify with museum |
| Cloakroom and lockersFootwear, bags, phones and cameras held while you are inside | Confirm on site |
This is not a complete fee card. For online seva rates and eligibility, use the official temple booking portal; for general visitor information, consult Kerala Tourism. Check again before travel.
Most of a visit here costs nothing at all
General darshan does not require a ticket. Offerings booked through the temple portal are separate; a listed seva may carry a participant limit and its own rules.
Free for everyone
- General darshan itself, at every slot of the day
- Entry to the temple grounds and the Padma Theertham tank
- The cloakroom and lockers for bags, footwear and phones
- Drinking water points inside the complex
- Prasadam distributed after the poojas
Only if you choose to
- Special entry darshan, if you would rather not stand in the general queue
- Nirmalya Darshanam at 3:30 AM, which is ticketed on its own
- The temple museum, which sits inside the complex
- A camera permit for the outer area, never for the sanctum
- The Kuthiramalika Palace Museum next door, a separate organisation
Separate services have separate providers
General darshan does not require an advance ticket. The temple’s linked online portal is for specified offerings and sevas; separate attractions and any on-site services have their own rules. Verify the correct seller and current instructions before paying.
Use the temple's official booking portal
The temple links to an official portal for online pooja and seva bookings. Its listings describe the price, date, collection details and any limited-entry conditions for each service. A seva booking is not automatically a general darshan reservation, so read the exact inclusion before paying.
Start from the temple's own website and follow its booking link: spst.in → online booking, or open the official booking portal. If a third-party page claims to sell entry, verify it with the temple office before sending money.
Four things to get right before you reach a counter
The order matters more than the money. Tickets are sold inside, so anything you get wrong outside costs you a second trip through the gate.
Where the money actually goes, and where it does not need to
General darshan is free, while separately listed offerings and attractions may involve charges. Prices and payment methods can change; check each official provider before budgeting.
When special entry pays off
- Busy dates, if the temple itself lists a relevant seva and you understand its conditions.
- Only when a currently listed seva matches your purpose and its terms are clear.
- When you understand exactly what access or ritual the selected offering includes.
When it is a waste
- When you only want ordinary general darshan: it is free and does not require purchasing a seva.
- When the online listing does not match the ritual or access you intend to book.
What special entry does not buy
- Assured general entry unless the listing says so explicitly.
- A waiver of temple entry rules or dress requirements.
- An exemption from festival-day schedule changes.
Museum and palace together
- The temple museum, where available, is separate; confirm current access and fees with the temple.
- Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is a separate attraction with its own current schedule and fee.
- Check both providers’ opening times before planning an afternoon around them.
Avoiding the booking scams
Use the portal linked from the official temple site for its published offerings. We cannot verify third-party tour or ticket claims; contact the temple before paying if you are unsure what a package includes.
General darshan is free. A paid pooja or seva has its own terms and should not be represented as a required entry fee.
Payment options
Payment methods depend on the service and seller. Follow the official portal’s current payment instructions and ask the relevant on-site counter if you need a specific method.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple tickets, answered
Questions on free general darshan, official online seva bookings and how to check current fees.
Is there an entry fee at Padmanabhaswamy Temple?
General darshan is free. The temple’s official online portal lists specified paid poojas and sevas with their own inclusions; these are not automatically general darshan tickets.
How much is special entry darshan?
Travel guides usually quote ₹150 for special entry, or ₹180 with prasadam, paid at the counter inside the complex. We could not find it on the official online list (checked 31 October 2026), so ask at the counter before you pay. The only darshan-linked booking on the portal is Suvarna Darshan at ₹20,000 for up to six people.
Can I book Padmanabhaswamy Temple tickets online?
The official temple portal accepts bookings for listed poojas and sevas. Those are specific services and do not automatically reserve ordinary general darshan. Use the link from the official temple website and read the listing before paying.
What does Nirmalya Darshanam cost?
Rates and availability can change. The temple portal currently lists multiple Nirmalya-related sevas with different prices and participant limits; check the current options directly rather than relying on a single quoted amount.
Do they accept cards or UPI?
Payment methods may vary between online seva bookings and on-site counters. Follow the payment instructions shown by the official seller and carry some cash for incidental needs.
How much is the temple museum?
Museum access and fees can change. Confirm availability and the current rate with the temple before planning around it.
Is photography allowed if I pay?
Follow the temple’s current photography rules and on-site signs. Do not assume a permit is available or that it allows photography in restricted areas.
Is the Kuthiramalika Palace ticket included?
Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is a separate attraction with its own hours, visitor rules and fee. Check its official information before visiting.
Are these prices fixed?
Rates, dates and availability can change. Use the official temple portal or the relevant attraction’s current information rather than relying on an older quote.
Is special entry worth paying for?
We could not verify a standard shorter-queue ticket in the official listing checked for this update. Review the live portal or ask the temple what each currently listed seva includes.
Money is the easy part. Timing and dress are not
You can turn up with nothing but a mundu and get darshan. Turn up in trousers with a full wallet and you will not get past the gate, whatever you are willing to pay.
Temple Timings
Every darshan slot from 3:30 AM to the last window at 7:20 PM.
Read the guideDress Code
Mundu for men, saree for women. Sorted before you reach any counter.
Read the guideVault B & Treasure
Six vaults, five counted, and the one door never opened.
Read the guideHow to Reach
Thiruvananthapuram Central is 1.2 km away. Airport, buses and autos.
Read the guideDarshan is free. Everything else is optional
General darshan is free. For any paid service, verify the current amount and payment method with its official provider.