Sree Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple-Trivandrum

This temple in Thiruvananthapuram is one of the most famous temples in India. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu worshipped as Anantha Padmanabha Swamy and is the key icon of the city. This temple has been in news after discovery of huge treasures kept in the cellars. Due to this the temple has become one of the most protected areas.

The temple construction is a mixture of Kerala and Tamil architecture. In this Vishnu temple Lord Vishnu is in “Ananthasayanam” posture (sleeping on serpant Anantha) . In the sanctum sanctorum, the dharshan to the deity is through three doors each of which reveals different parts of the body. The first one shows the upper portion of body till chest depicting Lord Vishnu worshiping Lingam , the second his mid portion with Brahma seated on a Lotus sprouted from his naval (Padmanabha)  and the third his feet near which Goddess Lakshmi is believed to be seated . The temple also has a large pond called “Padma theertham” . One witnesses Trinity at one place as is believed to be in heaven.

This highly guarded temple has many rules to be complied with. A strict dress code is enforced for entering the temple. Men should be wearing dhoti (Mundu) and no shirts/vests are allowed. One can use a shawl/towel to cover their body and this also should be tied around the waist inside the temple complex during the dharshan. Ladies can wear traditional sarees and those wearing churidhar should wrap a dhoti/mundu over the bottom before entering the temple. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.

Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple. The devotees have to undergo scanning and frisking while entering the temple. The security checks are very rigid. Lockers are available for storing electronic gadgets.

Trip to Thiruvananthapuram  is incomplete without a visit to this temple.