ગુજરાતી
English
6 July 2026
The Ram Temple donation scam of Rs 200 crore and land purchase scam worth billions of rupees has put the wealth of the country’s temples worth Rs 15 lakh crore at risk. Then the details of how much loot took place in which temple are given on the basis of reports. In which the wealth and allegations of the temples of Gujarat are also here.
The total wealth of only the top 10 richest temples of India is more than Rs 9 lakh crore. According to the ‘Global Wealth Index – 2016’ report, Tirupati Balaji Temple of Andhra Pradesh has become the third richest religious place in the world with a net worth of about Rs 3.38 lakh crore. The wealth of Tirupati Temple is more than the total GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of about 100 small countries of the world like Cyprus, Iceland and Estonia.
Tirupati receives an average donation of Rs 1 to 5 crore every day. For example, this year on March 17, 2026, a record-breaking Rs 4.88 crore was donated in a single day.
Annual Income of the Golden Temple: The annual income of the holy Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar is approximately Rs 1260 crore.
Financial position of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple (Ayodhya): The temple earned a total income of Rs 376 crore in the financial year 2023-24. The main source of income of the temple is the donations given by the devotees and the interest received on the money deposited in the bank. The temple trust also has a 70-acre main complex and a large acquired land around it. This does not include the theft of Rs 200 crore.
Lord Jagannath Temple (Puri) – ‘Zamindar’ of the land
There is 60 thousand acres of land in the name of the famous Jagannath temple of Puri. This huge land is spread across 24 out of 30 districts of Odisha. Apart from Odisha, the 395 acres of temple land is also in 6 different states of the country.
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Kerala) King of Old Treasures
99% of the temple’s wealth is in the form of historical treasures, including gold statues, old coins and precious diamonds. The total value of this hidden treasure has been estimated at more than Rs 2 lakh crore.
The 78 grams of gold (biscuits and coins) offered and the precious diamond studded jewelery of Lord ‘Vaira Naam’ from the sanctum sanctorum are missing for several months. A multi-storey gold lamp in the temple was replaced by a silver lamp without any documentation. (Earlier in 2017, an amicus curiae of the Supreme Court had reported the missing of 8 antique diamonds worth Rs 21 lakh from the temple.)
Tirupati Balaji Temple (Andhra Pradesh)
An employee of Temple Management (TTD) was caught red handed in CCTV misappropriating money. It is alleged that a scam of more than Rs 100 crore took place in the temple. This money was invested in real estate. CID is investigating this on the orders of Andhra Pradesh High Court. The case of the temple’s precious ‘pink diamond’ allegedly going missing by the former chief priest has also remained a subject of political debate for a long time.
Kanakadurga Temple (Vijayawada)
Exchange with fake gold: A shocking incident came to light in the counting room during the counting of donation box (hundi) in March 2026. Some servants and staff tried to replace the genuine gold jewelery offered by the devotees with ‘rolled gold’ (fake gold) and were caught by the police on the spot.
When the gem store was reopened decades later, there were allegations of many old pieces of jewelry missing and discrepancies in the weight of the gold.
Gold stolen in making idol in Palani Murugan Temple (Tamil Nadu)
In 2018, Tamil Nadu Police reported that devotees had donated 200 kg of gold to make a new festival idol of Lord Murugan in 2003–4. But investigation revealed that gold was not used in the idol as per the prescribed quantity and the officials and the makers of the idol together had made gold worth crores of rupees disappear. Many big government officials were also arrested in this case.
Gold and silver fraud in Idumban temple, Palani-stock checking
When the newly appointed executive officer of the temple took charge in May 2026 and verified the stock, a huge difference was found between the gold in the government accounts and the gold in the treasury. Investigation revealed that among the jewelery recorded in the records, about 17.75 gold (about 142 grams) and 52 grams silver sacred spear (vel) offered by the devotees was missing. After this serious fraud came to light, Palani Town Police registered a criminal case on May 30 and started investigation.
Meanwhile, suspicious activities of some employees were seen near the donation boxes kept in the priests’ room in the morning. During a thorough investigation, the police found out that some security personnel and employees of the temple had been embezzling around Rs 10,000 from the daily offering amount for several months. After getting the evidence, the police started strict legal action against the accused.
Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai: Temple’s money wasted in the name of ‘study tour’
In 2018, an internal audit of the temple’s accounts revealed that the then trustees had squandered more than Rs 12 lakh in the name of ‘study tours’ between January 2015 and August 2016, ignoring rules, even though there is no provision for such expenditure in the Temple Trust Act. The committee alleged with evidence that ‘an old trustee had paid the bill of a luxury hotel in Goa with the temple money in the name of going to the cancer hospital.’
Gold coins and valuables missing from Guruvayoor temple
The audit department’s investigation report on the temple treasury revealed that Rs 25 crores were offered to the Lord by the devotees.
…gold and silver items were missing.
Several valuable items, lockets, and coins were missing from the temple’s stock register. The administration had no accurate record of these valuables, which had gone missing due to official negligence. There was also significant tampering and negligence regarding the documentation of the temple’s land, worth crores of rupees.
78 grams of gold (biscuits and coins) offered at the temple’s sanctum sanctorum and a valuable diamond-studded ornament of the deity ‘Vaira Nam’ have been missing for several months. A multi-tiered gold lamp belonging to the temple was replaced with a silver one without any documentary record. (Earlier, in 2017, the Supreme Court-appointed *amicus curiae* had reported the disappearance of eight antique diamonds worth ₹21 lakh from the temple.)
Tirupati Balaji Temple (Andhra Pradesh)
CCTV footage related to a money laundering case was recovered. It is alleged that a scam worth over ₹100 crore took place involving the temple; the funds were invested in real estate. The CID is investigating the matter following an order by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Allegations made by the former chief priest regarding the disappearance of a valuable ‘pink diamond’ from the temple also remained a subject of political debate for a long time.
Kanakadurga Temple (Vijayawada)
Substitution with fake gold: A shocking incident came to light in the counting room during the tallying of the donation box (*Hundi*) offerings. Some temple attendants and staff attempted to replace genuine gold jewelry offered by devotees with ‘rolled gold’ (imitation gold) but were caught red-handed by the police. When the *Ratna Bhandar* (treasure vault) was reopened after decades—following High Court orders in 2024 and 2025—the opposition and temple attendants alleged that several antique ornaments were missing and discrepancies existed in the recorded weight of the gold. Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai: Squandering of temple funds under the guise of ‘study tours’
An internal audit of the temple’s accounts in 2018 revealed that trustees at the time had squandered over ₹12 lakh between January 2015 and August 2016. They violated rules and misused offerings for ‘study tours,’ despite the Temple Trust Act containing no provision for such expenditure. The committee alleged, citing evidence, that a ‘festival trustee’ used temple funds to pay the bill for a luxury hotel in Goa under the pretext of visiting a cancer hospital.
Gold coins and valuables went missing from the Guruvayur Temple. A case emerged involving the disappearance of gold and silver items worth ₹25 crore, which had been offered to the deity by devotees. Several valuables, lockets, and coins were missing from the temple’s stock register (records). The administration lacked an accurate account of the valuables. There was also gross mismanagement and negligence regarding documents for temple lands worth crores of rupees.
How many religious sites are there?
At the time of the 2001 census, there were 142,135 religious sites in Gujarat—110,079 in rural areas and 32,057 in urban areas.
According to the 2011 census, there were 181,854 religious sites; the number of religious sites had increased by 39,719 over the decade.
Gujarat accounts for 6.04 percent of the religious sites in India.
Gujarat has the highest number of religious sites in India.
If another 49,000 religious sites were added between 2011 and 2020, the total could reach 2.30 lakh in 2020 and 2.50 lakh by 2026. Population as per 2011 census
Hindu 88.57%
Muslim 9.67%
Jain 0.96%
Christian 0.52%
Sikh 0.10%
Buddhist 0.5%
Other religions
22,000 tonnes of gold in the country and Gujarat
The Gujarat government has been publishing reports stating that temples under its ownership generate an annual income of ₹100 crore. There are two accounts dedicated to gold.
There is a total of 22,000 tonnes of gold in the country’s temples. This is two-and-a-half times the US gold reserve (8,133.5 tonnes) and 4,000 times the Indian gold reserve (557.7 tonnes). The value of this gold reserve is approximately ₹50 lakh crore. Allegations of a ₹200 crore theft have been raised regarding the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya; an investigation is underway. The foundation stone for this temple was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has repeatedly claimed that this temple was built because of Narendra Modi. A trust was formed by the Prime Minister to run it, and it is managed by office-bearers appointed by him—individuals associated with the Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Modi himself comes from the Sangh.
The income and expenditure of temples from 2010 to 2025 are noteworthy.
Income of temples in Gujarat
The Gujarat Yatra Dham Vikas Board released a report on temples under government administration for the years 2020-21 and 2022-23. The administration of 293 temples in the state lies with the government. Among these, the combined income of 10 temples over three years was ₹222 crore.
There are 193 temples that have zero income. 10 Temples – April 2025
Three-year income of the temples:
Ambaji Temple: ₹166 crore
Bahucharaji Mataji Temple: ₹27.65 crore
Dwarkadhish Temple: ₹11.05 crore
Ghela Somnath Temple, Jasdan: ₹4.29 crore
Baliyadev Temple, Vadodara: ₹3.67 crore
Rupal Vardayini, Gandhinagar: ₹3.23 crore
Unai Mataji Temple, Unai: ₹2.89 crore
Harsiddhi Mataji, Rajpipla: ₹2.23 crore
Mota Gopnath Mahadev, Talaja: ₹1.30 crore
Narayan Sarovar, Lakhpat, Kutch: ₹26.80 crore
Temples that did not generate income over these three years did not undergo development. 2010
Ambaji
In the year 2010, Ambaji’s annual income was ₹37 crore. 40 percent of the income was spent on temple maintenance and facilities run by the temple trust, such as hospitals, hostels, restaurants, and Sanskrit schools.
Funds were deposited in banks as fixed deposits.
The highest income is generated during the days of Bhadravi Poonam and Chaitri Poonam.
Somnath
Somnath’s income was ₹7 crore.
The 10th century marked the golden age of Somnath Mahadev.
At that time
The temple’s bell, dome, roof, and walls were also plated with gold. Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the Somnath temple multiple times with the intention of destroying and looting it. The Somnath temple was indeed attacked and looted.
Approximately 85 percent of the funds are utilized by the trust for temple maintenance, new construction, and various development projects.
Income increases during Mahashivratri, the month of Shravan, and Kartik Purnima.
Dwarka
In the year 2009-10, the income of the Dwarka temple was ₹4.5 crore.
Out of this, ₹3.53 crore was distributed to the priests.
Temples of the country
As of 2025
Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Temple (Andhra Pradesh)
It is considered the richest temple in the world. The temple’s total assets are estimated at ₹3 lakh crore—a figure exceeding the total market value of companies like Wipro, Nestlé, ONGC, and Indian Oil. The temple’s annual income is ₹1,400 crore.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
The total assets of this temple in Kerala are estimated at ₹1.20 lakh crore. A new treasure trove was recently discovered at the temple, containing a vast collection of gold, silver, and precious gems.
Guruvayur Devaswom, Guruvayur (Kerala)
Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple possesses immense wealth. A 2022 RTI response revealed that the temple held bank deposits amounting to ₹1,737.04 crore. Additionally, the temple owns 271.05 acres of land.
Golden Temple, Amritsar (Punjab)
The Golden Temple, the most significant religious center for Sikhs, generates an annual income of ₹500 crore. Approximately 400 kg of gold was used in its construction. Somnath Temple (Gujarat)
This temple was reconstructed after independence. 130 kg of gold was used in its interior, and 150 kg was used on its spire (*shikhar*). The temple owns 1,700 acres of land worth crores of rupees.
Vaishno Devi Temple (Jammu)
The Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the major pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Dedicated to the worship of the Goddess, this temple has received donations amounting to 1,800 kg of gold, 4,700 kg of silver, and ₹2,000 crore in cash over the last two decades.
Jagannath Puri Temple (Odisha)
Located in Odisha, this temple is also considered one of the wealthiest in the country. Its total assets are estimated at ₹150 crore. Famous for its *Rath Yatra* (chariot procession), the temple owns over 30,000 acres of land.
Shirdi Sai Baba (Maharashtra)
The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra is also counted among the country’s richest temples. A throne made of 94 kg of gold has been crafted for the idol of Sai Baba within the temple. In 2022 alone, devotees donated over ₹400 crore to the temple.
Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
The total assets of this Ganpati temple in Maharashtra are estimated at ₹125 crore. The temple earns ₹30 lakh daily.
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
This is one of the few temples in the country visited by 20,000 to 30,000 devotees daily. The temple’s annual income is approximately ₹6 crore. There are around 33,000 sculptures within the temple complex. The main idol is that of Goddess Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Sundareshwar (Lord Shiva). It is one of the wealthiest temples in the country.
Temples of the country in 2015
Utilization of donations from 4 major temples in the country
Sai Baba
The average daily income of four major temples in the country (Tirupati, Shirdi Sai Baba, Siddhivinayak, and Kashi Vishwanath) was ₹8 crore. Tirupati
The total net worth of the Tirupati Tirumala temple is ₹1.30 lakh crore. In 2015, the net worth of Mukesh Ambani, the country’s richest man, was ₹1.29 lakh crore.
Donations and Expenses
Learn more about the temples’ income and expenses.
The annual income of the temples was ₹2,691 crore.
On average, 5 lakh devotees donate ₹8 crore daily.
39 percent (₹1,042 crore) comes from donation boxes.
22 percent (₹598 crore) comes from interest on investments made by the temples.
10 percent (₹276 crore) comes from donations.
8 percent (₹209 crore) comes from silver offerings.
21 percent (₹586 crore) comes from other income sources.
This is where the money was allocated:
Expenses on the temples themselves: only 1.40 percent (₹40 crore).
Salaries of priests: 28 percent (₹736 crore).
Taxes or other payments to the government: 2 percent (₹50 crore).
Trust or other donations: 7 percent (₹187.7 crore).
Other expenses: 33 percent (₹872 crore).
Bank balance: 29 percent (₹769 crore).
Tirumala Tirupati Temple, Andhra Pradesh
Total net worth: ₹1.30 lakh crore.
33 percent (approx. ₹43,500 crore): 4,200 acres of land.
14 percent (approx. ₹18,000 crore): Other assets.
46 percent (₹60,000 crore): Gold, silver, and gemstones.
7 percent (₹8,500 crore): Bank FDs and other investments.
These figures are from the temple’s 2013-14 audit report.
The temple sells 850 tonnes of hair annually, collected through 1,200 barbers. Hair from women weighing an average of 283.5 grams is valued at ₹17,900, while long hair weighing 453.6 grams is valued at ₹29,900. Tirumala Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
In 1983, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N.T. Rama Rao, quietly transferred ₹65 crore from the temple to a government trust.
In 2009, a priest associated with the trust stole gold from the temple treasury to fund his daughter’s wedding. Such incidents have occurred eight times so far.
After 16th-century diamonds and gemstones from Lord Venkatesh’s crown went missing, temple staff quietly replaced them with fakes.
Shirdi Sai Baba
Total assets of the Shirdi Sai Baba temple: ₹1,868 crore
37 percent (₹696 crore): Other assets
4 percent (₹74 crore): Gold and silver
59 percent (₹1,098 crore): Bank FDs and other investments
To Sai Baba
It has been seated on a gold throne weighing 95 kg and valued at ₹24 crore. This throne was donated by a Hyderabad-based industrialist.
Income of ₹347 crore and
Expenditure of ₹8 crore
Annual earnings: ₹347.7 crore
51% from donation boxes (₹177.2 crore)
4% from other earnings (₹13.6 crore)
12% (₹40.8 crore) from domestic and foreign donations
28% (₹98.4 crore) as interest on fixed deposit (FD) investments
5% (₹17.1 crore) in gold, silver, and precious stones
Where do these temple gifts and donations go?
Only 2.3% (₹8 crore) was spent on the temple itself
54% (₹188 crore) was deposited in banks
10.2% on salaries (₹35.4 crore)
7.5% (₹25 crore)
7% (₹24.4 crore) on constructing roads and bus stands
19% (₹66.4 crore) on other expenses
In April 2008, ₹5.5 crore from temple donations was spent to construct a road in the constituency of the then Congress MLA, Jayant Muralidhar (Shrirampur). Jayant was also the Chairman of the Shirdi Temple Trust.
Over four years, the temple received donations totaling ₹1,009 crore. Of this, 50%—amounting to ₹504 crore—was handed over to the trust. Politicians serve as the trust’s presidents.
Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai.
Total assets: ₹306 crore
74% (₹225 crore) in bank FDs and other investments
13% (₹40.5 crore) in gold and silver
13% (₹40.5 crore) in other assets
On November 19, 1801, this temple was built by a wealthy woman named Deubai Patil with the hope of bearing a child. From that time until 1990, not a single penny was spent on the temple’s construction. Seven times the value of total gold and silver donations received from abroad
Annual earnings: ₹70.28 crore
Donation boxes: 36% (₹25.31 crore)
Other income: 11% (₹7.73 crore)
Interest on FD investments: 29% (₹20.22 crore)
Received from abroad: 21% (₹15.12 crore)
Gold, silver, and precious stones: 3% (₹2.30 crore)
Where the money went
Temple expenses: 0.75% (₹53 lakh)
Deposited in banks: 42.5% (₹28.95 crore)
Running the hospital: 13% (₹9.32 crore)
Staff salaries: 8% (₹5.51 crore)
In 2013, 35.75% (₹25 crore) went to government funds. There is no record of how this money was spent.
The government receives crores of rupees in the name of disasters or social schemes. There is no accounting of where the government spends this money. In 2013, this amount was ₹25 crore.
In April 2000, the temple illegally gave ₹1 crore to the trust of Vilasrao Patil, the then Law Minister of Maharashtra. The Mumbai Court also reprimanded the trust for this in 2004.
Temples of the country
Income according to a November 2023 report
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala is considered the richest temple in the world. This temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. Its total assets are worth approximately ₹1,20,000 crore. The temple is managed by the former royal family of Travancore. The temple’s treasury contains diamonds, gold jewelry, and gold idols. The temple’s six vaults hold a total wealth of $20 billion. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum houses a massive gold idol of Lord Vishnu, valued at ₹500 crore.
Tirupati Balaji Temple, Andhra Pradesh
The Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh ranks second among the country’s wealthiest temples. Belonging to the Vaishnava sect, it is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations, receiving approximately ₹650 crore annually. The temple earns significant revenue from the sale of *laddu* *prasad*.
It is believed that the temple possesses nine tonnes of gold and holds fixed deposits worth ₹14,000 crore across various banks.
Sai Baba Temple, Shirdi
The Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, Maharashtra, holds the third spot. According to reports, the temple’s bank accounts hold around ₹1,800 crore, including 380 kg of gold, 4,428 kg of silver, and substantial amounts in foreign currencies like dollars and pounds. In 2017, on the occasion of Ram Navami, an anonymous devotee donated 12 kg of gold to the temple. The temple receives annual donations amounting to approximately ₹350 crore.
Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu
The Vaishno Devi Temple earns approximately ₹500 crore annually.
Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai
Located in Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, the Siddhivinayak Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple features 3.7 kg of gold plating, donated by a businessman from Kolkata. It earns around ₹125 crore annually through donations and the sale of *prasad*.
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
Between 20,000 and 30,000 devotees visit the temple daily for worship. The temple’s annual income is approximately ₹6 crore. The temple complex houses around 33,000 sculptures. The main idol is that of Goddess Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva). The temple possesses two golden chariots. Jagannath Temple, Puri
No one knows the exact wealth of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, but it is estimated that the temple holds over 100 kg of gold and silver items. It is said that a donation of ₹1.72 crore was received from a devotee from Europe.
Somnath Temple, Gujarat
The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is the wealthiest.
Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple
Around 10 crore devotees visit the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple annually. Only men are permitted to enter. It generates revenue of approximately ₹230 crore during the pilgrimage season.
Akshardham Temple, Delhi
The Akshardham Temple complex spans 100 acres of land. Its income has not been disclosed. (Google translation from Gujarati; please refer to the original report.)
