Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the great Vishnu temple of Thiruvananthapuram, and one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred sites of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. The main deity is Anantha Padmanabhaswamy, Vishnu in yogic sleep on the serpent Shesha. He is the family deity of the Travancore royal family, whose head is the trustee of the temple. The temple has a tall gopuram in the Kerala and Dravidian style, long corridors of carved pillars, and a large temple tank.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Lord Padmanabhaswamy, reclining on the serpent Shesha
- See the tall gopuram and the long corridors of carved pillars
- See the temple tank and the East Fort area around it
- Visit the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, about 2 km away, on the same day
Ideal for
- Devotees of Vishnu and followers of the 108 Divya Desams
- Visitors to Thiruvananthapuram who want its best-known temple
- Families who are ready to follow the traditional dress code
Good to know
- Reported timings are about 3:30 or 4:15 am to noon and about 5 pm to 7:20 pm, with a midday closure, so check locally
- Kerala's old temples have strict dress codes, reported as a mundu or dhoti for men and a saree or set-mundu for women, with no Western wear, so check the rules at the gate, and rental cloth is reported at the entrance
- Phones, cameras and electronic devices are not allowed inside, and photography is prohibited, so leave them in the locker room
- One source says only Hindus may enter, so check the rule with the temple before you plan
- Expect queues, and allow about 1.5 to 2 hours in all
Spiritual significance
Padmanabhaswamy is the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, and the temple is bound up with the history of the Travancore kingdom. It is among the most important Vishnu temples in India.
Why it matters
- A Divya Desam: one of the 108 sacred Vishnu temples
- Vishnu in yogic sleep: Anantha Padmanabhaswamy on the serpent Shesha
- A royal temple: the family deity of the Travancore royal family