In 2024, the Vatican, according to Reuters, announced profits worth $72.5 million. The Vatican's total wealth, you can imagine, is several umpteen times that. But India's shrines are not to be left behind. Many temples rank among the richest on the planet, possessing cash, jewels, relics and estates.
Info courtesy to estimates by The Economic Times, Money Control, thebusinessrule.com
This sacred hill shrine in Tirupati is home to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and is believed to be the richest temple in India, with an estimated net worth of over ₹3 lakh crores.
Located in Thiruvananthapuram, the ancient mixed Dravidian-Kerala architecture temple, located in pretty environs, of Lord Vishnu gained fame after hidden chambers revealed immense treasures -- gold, jewels, artefacts worth around ₹1.2 lakh crores. The wealth all belongs to the deity.
One of Kerala’s most beloved temples, famous for its four-armed standing murthi of Lord Guruvayurappan (a roop of Lord Vishnu). Its estimated worth around ₹2,500 crores. Its treasures were raided by the Dutch 1716 and after that by Hyder Ali of Mysore who was paid a ransom.
Dedicated to the revered saint Sai Baba, the Shirdi temple, built in 1918 across 200 acres, attracts millions of devotees from all over the world each year. Its estimated wealth is around ₹1,800 crores.
The Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, also known as the Golden Temple, is a glorious architectural beauty and symbol of Sikh faith. Clad in gold and surrounded by a quiet pool, it generates over ₹500 crores annually.
Nestled in the Trikuta mountains, the shrine attracts lakhs yearly. With annual revenues of ₹500 crores, it’s one of north India’s most prosperous shrines.
Expected to generate ₹327 crores annually (FY25), this monumental temple to Lord Ram is fast becoming one of India’s richest and most-visited pilgrim destinations.