Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum (Timings, Ticket Prices, Dress Code)

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and one of the best places to visit in Trivandrum City. The temple shot to fame when authorities found wealth worth more than Rs 1,43,000 crores, become the richest temple in the world.  The temple’s name is derived from the word Padmanabha” means “one emerging from the lotus.

At present, the temple is run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. The royal family of Travancore is Cheras and descendants of the great saint Kulasekhara Alwar.

What is Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple’s History?

Since it’s a very ancient temple, if you are interested to know the history, it’s advisable to look at the below link belongs to the temple. SPST.in

What are the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Timings?

Below temple darshan timing is followed round the year.  But this timing may change during temple festivals and special occasions.

Morning  Timings

• 03:30 hours to 04:15 hours
• 05:15 hours to 06:15 hours
• 08:30 hours to 11:00 hours
• 12:00 hours to 12:15 hours

Evening  Timings

• 16:00 hours to 18:30 hours
• 19:00 hours to 19:20 hours.

What are the Poojas and Sevas at Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

Pooja

• Pooja means the lovable offering of light, flowers, fruits, flower garlands, water, food, or money to the divine in the temple is important and essential rituals followed in Hindu temples. When a worshipper offers this to the divine in the temple, the divinity sees the worshipper.
• We offer this to a particular deity in a temple to get blessings and rewards. Some poojas also help us to remove or get rid of negativity and birth star problems (nakshatra doshas).
• Most of the temples offer  “annadanam” (free meals) for the devotees or persons who visit the temple. So, offering a small donation in the form of coins to the box placed in the temple is highly recommended.

Note: You can offer or perform different types of poojas at the temple which are listed on the Anantha Padmanabha temple website. Here is the official website where you can book and pay for a particular pooja.

Website: Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

All You Want to Know About Padmanabhaswamy Temple

1. Can I take my Wheel Chair? 

• If you are coming for darshan and you want to use a wheelchair, your wheelchair will be allowed only up to the main entrance of the temple. On request, the temple administration will provide a wheelchair, but you are not allowed to go in front of the sanctum sanctorum.  You can use this wheelchair inside the temple.

2. Washroom or fresh up facility in Temple

• There is no washroom or fresh up room facility is available inside the temple.  But in front of the main entrance, (East Gate) there are private parties offering this facility on payment.

3. Is there any dress code for the Padmanabhaswamy temple?

• There is a strict dress code is being implemented in the temple by the administration. Gents need to wear Dhoti and need to remove the shirt.  In the case of wearing pants, one needs to wear a dhoti over the pants. Children also need to wear a dhoti over their half trouser or pant. The shirt is not allowed inside and one needs to keep it in a cloakroom outside the temple.

Ladies who are wearing a saree need not wear a dhoti, but in the case of churidar/leggies or pants, one needs to wear a dhoti over their dress.  You can find many shops selling most of the items required in front of the East gate.

4. What are the items I can carry inside the temple?

• You are not allowed any items along with you. Therefore, it’s advisable that all your personal items like a shirt, footwear, wallet, mobile phone, camera, and all electronic items should not carry with you. Do not carry flowers, fruits, garlands, etc as “strictly no items allowed inside the temple”.

5. Should I need to book a Special or VIP Darshan? 

• Generally, there are four entry gates of which the East Gate is the main entrance. Once you enter the temple you need to follow the queue to the Srikovil (sanctum sanctorum). It takes approximately 40 minutes to one hour for the darshan during the early morning (05: 00 hours to 06:00 hours), approximately 2 hours after 7 am on all days except festivals and special days.
• Special poojas need to be performed in the temple during festivals and special occasions therefore darshan may take more than 2 hours due to the huge rush of devotees.
• In case you have a problem due to long-standing in the queue or need a quick visit, there is a special or VIP darshan available.  This special darshan costs Rs 300 per person and tickets are available once you enter the temple or you can book this in advance.
• Persons who booked special darshan are directly guided to Srikovil (sanctum sanctorum) for darshan and can come out from the temple in 15-20 minutes.

• The main entrance being the East Gate, there three more gates from where you can enter the temple.
• Basic paid amenities like bathroom, cloakroom, dress changing, etc are all available in front of the temple.
• Gents and ladies need to adhere to the strict dress code followed by the temple administration.
• Except for coins or cash, you are not allowed to carry any items inside the temple.
• Camera, mobile phone, wallet, baby food or milk, water bottle, or any other items will not be allowed to carry inside the temple.
• Ensure you had a bath, wear clean clothes, and should not have nonveg food consumed while coming for a temple visit.
• Donations in the form of money should be dropped in the boxes inside the temple.
• You will not be allowed to spend time after the darshan in the sanctum sanctorum.

1. One of the famous Lord Vishnu temples in South India, which was believed to be established on the first day of Kali Yuga (which is over 5000 years ago).
2. This is one of the ancient temples of Kerala that dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The deity in his iconic Anantha shayana posture on the serpent “Adi Shesha” upon which Lord Vishnu reclines upon.  This posture of Lord Vishnu is rarest as in most of the other temples the deity is depicted standing.
3. The temple is one of the 108 “Divya desams” (holiest abode) of Lord Vishnu as mentioned in the literature of Tamil Azhvars (saints).
4. The idol is 18ft long and has 12008 salagramams which were brought from the river banks of Gandaki in Nepal. “Salagrama or Shaligram” is a fossilized shell used in South Asia as an iconic symbol and reminder of God Vishnu. These are usually collected from river beds or banks of river Gandaki in Nepal.
5. This is one of the seven temples in Kerala where Lord Parasurama (6^th incarnation of Lord Vishnu) installed the idol.

• This temple is visited mostly by the locals as well as tourists round the year, therefore, is always crowded. During festival season and weekends and holidays, it’s overcrowded and it may take approximately 2 hours to complete the visit.
• But during the early morning hours, there will be fewer crowds considering the fact that only serious devotees are visited at that time. Considering this, if you are looking for a peaceful visit, the best time to visit this temple is from 05:00 hours to 06:00 hours.

Always I tried to do my best visit to the Padmanabha temple to get Swamy’s blessings. Till now, I have visited this temple couple of times. Here I will guide you on how to visit this temple along with other small temples located inside Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple for darshan and seek blessings.

• Thursday is a very important day for all Lord Vishnu temples. Therefore, most of the weekends, holidays, and Thursdays, it is more crowded than usual.
• I used to go to the temple early morning at 5 am. This time is very suitable as you can visit most of the small temples inside and come out after darshan by 6 am without much crowd even during weekends and holidays.
• Keep all your personal items in the cloakroom on the left side of the main entrance (East Gate). I used to carry a few coins and notes which is necessarily required for the temple.
• Once you get in from the main entrance, you need to walk around 250mtrs via a big corridor from where you need to stand in a queue. On the corridor, enjoy the old Dravidian style of construction of the temple.
• While walking in the queue, you find a small table with a person who receives money and issue tickets. This is for “archana” and “ghee lamp”. I used to buy Archana tickets which cost Rs 30 per head.  You need to give your “ name” and “birth star”  or for whom you are offering this Archana.

• You can also buy a ghee lamp per person or one or two or as much as you want.   The Ghee lamp cost Rs 50 per ticket.
• The queue now enters the iron grilled wall, you can see “Navagraha Mandapa” on the left side. The ceiling of this mandapa displays “navagrahas” (the nine planets). You will be very surprised to know the fact that in ancient times only five planets were known to the people.
• This temple construction dates back to 8^th century and at that time itself, they know about 9 planets which influenced human being. While walking on the side of this mandapam, enjoy 365 and one-quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with beautiful carving.
• Before entering the sanctum sancturom, you can see a small temple. This temple is dedicated to “Lord Narasimha Swami (half-lion, half-man incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
• You can light and place the ghee lamp in front of this temple, pray and put some donations in the box. Then you can enter the small gate towards the sanctum sanctorum.
• Now you will be in front of the deity. Ensure you keep the left side of the queue, as the deity will be on your left side.  This will help you to get a straight darshan.
• There are three doors through which you can have a darshan of 18ft long Lord Vishnu idol.
• Earlier when I went there, they allowed darshan by standing on the Othakalmandapam which is just in front of the deity. But during a recent visit, they did not allow me to go on the mandapam.
• Instead, when the queue ends at sanctum sanctorum, in front of the mandapam, devotees are allowed to have darshan. In either of the cases, it’s always recommended to keep the left side to have a clear darshan.
• The 18ft long deity on Ananthasayanam can be seen from three doors. From the first door, you can have a darshan of face,  hand, and chest, the second door one can have a darshan of abdomen, and the last door legs.
• Handover Archana tickets to the persons standing at the mandapam, have a peaceful darshan, walk further and collect Archana prasadam and came out from the sanctum sanctorum.
• Visit Thiruvambadi Srikrishna temple. Once your darshan of Lord Vishnu is over, you can see Thiruvambadi Srikrishna temple within that premises. There also you can offer a ghee lamp and Archana if you want.

Image Source: Kerala Temples

• Lord Ganesha. Before coming out from the temple, you can also visit the Ganesha temple.

Now your visit to the Anantha Padmanabha temple is over and you can come out from the temple.

How Can I include Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in the Kerala Tour?

• If you are on a tour to Kerala and would like to include Padmanabha Swamy temple in your itinerary, below are some of the important points.
• Those who are on a short visit to Trivandrum / Kovalam / Poovar can easily visit this temple. Even if you are staying in Kovalam or Poovar, you can easily visit this temple as this is just 30 minutes drive by car.
• In case you are reaching Kochi and on a short tour of Munnar and Alleppey, visiting this temple is a little bit difficult as it takes 5 hours by road to reach Trivandrum. If at all it’s not a problem to travel, you can come to Trivandrum, visit this temple and return from Trivandrum.
• Similarly, if you are on a tour to Kerala, you should include and visit Trivandrum/Kovalam/Poovar so that you can visit this temple.
• We recommend you to stay in Trivandrum for an easy visit as Kovalam and Poovar is almost half an hour’s drive.
• You can also visit PAZAVANGADI GANAPATHI TEMPLE and ATTUKAL BHAGAWATHI TEMPLE in case you are on a religious cum Kerala trip.