Which Temple Earns and Pays the Most – Ayodhya, Tirupati, or Padmanabhaswamy?

[{"selector":"#anim-f29231f6-ecd4-4e3c-920a-d277bd5565d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffac49df-06ea-4b07-aa9b-fabcc97addba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ee16608-e710-4081-adf1-0c000bf08d97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -883.86589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Neha Mewari | May 2, 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-76e768eb-7705-476e-8cd3-badbd1e6d8bb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1dc424d9-0436-42bb-b87a-41fb9af530a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff34c61b-c5db-422a-a4cd-113d6483e3d7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b544378-3adf-4bd7-8874-2cd1a19b661e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5330134b-eb15-4ed8-a877-4c76a5ea45b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] India’s temples are not just spiritual centers but also economic powerhouses. Let’s explore which temple earns the most and pays the highest tax to the government! Image: Canva

Ayodhya – Shri Ram Janmabhoomi

[{"selector":"#anim-b5e689bf-040b-4ef8-a86b-9eb40c698d89 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75bc9803-fbd5-431b-ab9a-a31143a76280","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e97d0fb5-1c39-454b-918e-dd1a2c56a25a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2b0b5ee-7d9d-4ff9-9684-b9734212e245","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7257c8d7-2b85-4d4b-b403-ea9a0ee2b520","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a8ae05a-5bbd-453e-9c14-5f2137c0bcf4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61ceb15a-88a1-4fb2-a27d-1c5fcfde94e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust has paid ₹400 crore in taxes over five years, with ₹270 crore in GST alone. Ayodhya’s tourism boom has made it a religious economic hub. Image: Canva

Tirupati – India’s Richest Temple

[{"selector":"#anim-652e21fa-8199-4463-84c8-b30bf7e95927 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71dc73f1-2a51-4b37-8663-6fbe5ec961b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7894ff15-aacb-4bb8-abd7-9c4fff78948e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9edae174-7355-43b3-a529-3d676b880c7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-deb623f2-dbd5-4923-837b-a4798f94d137","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c3f2bf0-23b8-423f-9368-29099ab6630d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64cf156c-e5fb-48b8-a723-7b9afd5bcc75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) earns ₹4,774 crore yearly, with over a third from Hundi donations. Its tax liability in five years was ₹130 crore under GST. Image: Canva

Vaishno Devi – Jammu’s Wealthy Shrine

[{"selector":"#anim-2643b25b-8ba5-4a35-b212-eccace96df28 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84f6e61a-737a-4c3e-bb92-4b05fd72637e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00b808ff-6ce2-4806-ae42-b186729ece7f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1f303b9-ba4b-4646-a3ea-b1077f14db8f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5763dfba-4e54-49e0-a1e8-d25be112bcfd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b283648-7bbf-4af6-a76e-c1e97553199d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-165dfbf9-69a3-428a-ba72-d4707e5366ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Vaishno Devi earned ₹683 crore in FY24. While offerings of ₹255 crore are tax-free, it made ₹133 crore from interest earnings, making it a major financial force. Image: Canva

Padmanabhaswamy – Kerala’s Gold Vault Temple

[{"selector":"#anim-842eeb49-8868-4d30-9e03-d18b726d4b1e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3a203bc-3142-4f22-8647-5457d6c14609","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c942393a-4885-414d-9926-3cfcb093139d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f923416c-1e88-411f-91b9-2be5762e1283","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9511b03-7834-4e8e-9f66-e75ed11a5a0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10014aeb-adf8-4719-a624-c153757d8fa7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4a7accb-11af-4900-adf8-6f4cbcf6dfc3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, one of the wealthiest, was asked to pay just ₹1.57 crore in pending GST over seven years, despite its massive wealth. Image: Canva

Temple Earnings on the Rise

[{"selector":"#anim-5def53da-4db4-455a-a451-ccbff833730b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c12f892-a24a-4a21-976c-8baaa42da864","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-112482b9-4c06-4708-a39f-99e2ed93a6f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32e03dfc-53a4-4d2a-9099-26cbc9df3617","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62fabb7b-fa0d-45b0-99b0-bfa8239ac74a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8317d2a1-e471-46d4-bcbc-81fd7c87e737","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e66657f-e5fd-4a6f-8d5c-f87f2c753076","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] India’s biggest temple trusts have doubled their earnings. Tirupati’s budget grew from ₹2,678 crore in FY17 to ₹5,145 crore in FY25, while Vaishno Devi also surged. Image: Canva

GST Payments by Temples

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Ayodhya’s Construction Costs

[{"selector":"#anim-45341966-4709-46f1-a899-4477c1763650 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87b64e2f-0b5e-4dce-b6fc-ac65ac61cf90","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6cbf8c11-055e-4c29-9ca7-51602a1f465b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-188f2409-91a6-4151-b466-3b59250d767f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b676fded-80d2-4e4e-a869-5bfcf98cfc97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5645ea73-b6ef-4eff-8eab-0fe680819e8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a58e3398-5377-4459-89ea-71fef9365535","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust has spent ₹2,150 crore on Ram Mandir’s construction over five years, making it one of the biggest temple projects in India. Image: Canva

India’s Temple Economy

[{"selector":"#anim-8bfaa037-26f5-45ae-aeb7-c5982590d306 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aac70789-ba1e-4ac4-b9b9-4bd36281aa6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-675ec38d-b902-4e19-8622-4de226d51b2f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3497ba03-f692-45e7-a9a8-2efdff1e1fe3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0722659d-7989-417e-8ccf-69b661b391ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25ec8bd4-2810-49f6-a459-44dc47684f9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02d817e8-9aaf-44e6-b252-745b804082a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.15211%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Temples in India generate billions in revenue, supporting tourism and jobs. While some temples pay hefty taxes, others enjoy exemptions. Their economic role is undeniable! Image: Canva

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