Photo 1 / 6East gopuram over Padmatheertham tank. Photo: T M Cyriac, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
About the Temple
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple stands in Thiruvananthapuram’s East Fort area. Vishnu is worshipped reclining on the serpent Anantha, viewed through three sanctum doorways. Stone corridors, murals and the entrance tower are important features of the temple, which admits Hindus and enforces traditional dress.
Why visit
- See Vishnu in the Anantha-shayanam posture.
- Explore the temple’s Kerala and Dravidian architectural traditions, within permitted areas.
Temple Timings
- Morning
- 3:30 AM – 4:45 AM
- Morning
- 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM
- Morning
- 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- Morning
- 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
- Morning
- 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Evening
- 4:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- Evening
- 6:45 PM – 7:20 PM
Official source, checked 22 Oct 2026 · Source
The active official timetable gives dated festival schedules. Its ordinary timetable is inactive. Confirm your travel date; these festival sessions cannot be represented as recurring weekday windows. On 18 October 2026: 03:30–04:45, 06:30–07:00, from 10:30 with no closing time stated, and 17:30–18:00. On 19 October the evening session is 17:30–17:45. On 20 October: 05:15–06:00 and 08:30–10:00, with no evening darshan. The separate Kalasabhisheka darshan notice lists 08:00–10:00 for 7–19 and 21 October.
Before You Go
- Time to allow
1.5 hours to 4 hours inside the temple. This is a planning allowance, not a queue time; festival days take longer.
- Dress
Men must wear a dhoti, with an optional angavastram, and leave the head uncovered. Women may wear a sari or a traditional long skirt with a blouse. The women’s guidance also permits a dhoti wrapped over trousers. Salwar sets and other modern outfits are not accepted.
Official source, checked 18 Oct 2026 · Source
- Phones
Mobile phones are banned inside, according to a report quoting the temple administration. Confirm the current deposit location and arrangements before joining the queue; no storage charge was verified.
Reported by timesofindia.indiatimes.com, checked 17 Oct 2026 · Source
- Special entrance
Official temple tariff. Buy only at the temple counter or the official website.
- Suvarna Darshan ₹20000 · Official
Official source, checked 18 Oct 2026 · Source
- Access
Step counts and a continuous accessible route were not confirmed. Ask the temple about the appropriate entrance and assistance before travel.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Photography
No photos or video inside. Recording devices are banned and filming has led to arrests.
Reported by thesouthfirst.com, checked 22 Oct 2026 · Source
Highlights
- Anantha Sayanam idol
The reclining Vishnu is about 18 ft long and seen through three doors. Its core holds 12,008 salagrama stones from the Gandaki river in Nepal.
- Ottakkal Mandapam
The platform before the sanctum is a single granite slab about two and a half feet thick.
- Sreebalippura corridor
A stone corridor round the shrines rests on 365 and a quarter monolithic pillars; processions pass through it during Sreebali.
- Kulasekhara Mandapam
A carved stone hall on 28 rows of pillars, whose corner pillars ring with musical notes when tapped.
Sources: spst.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
How to reach Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
- By air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV) · about 4 km
- By train: Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) · about 1 km
- By road: The temple stands inside East Fort in the city centre. Thiruvananthapuram Central station faces the central bus stand at Thampanoor, about a kilometre away.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Nearby Places
- Kuthira Malika palace museumA Travancore royal palace beside the temple, now a museum.0.2 km away
- Attukal Bhagavathy TempleGoddess temple famous for the Attukal Pongala.1.9 km away
- Napier MuseumA 19th-century museum of art and natural history in a Kerala-style building.3.2 km away
- Shankumugham BeachA city beach on the Arabian Sea, west of the old town.3.4 km away
Sources: wikidata.org, en.wikipedia.org, wikidata.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Can non-Hindus enter Padmanabhaswamy Temple?
No. Kerala Tourism confirms that temple entry is restricted to Hindus.
What is the dress code at Padmanabhaswamy Temple?
Men wear a dhoti, with an optional angavastram and no head covering. Women may wear a sari or traditional long skirt with a blouse; the official women’s guidance also permits a dhoti wrapped over trousers. Salwar sets and other modern outfits are not accepted.
Can I take a phone inside Padmanabhaswamy Temple?
Phones are banned inside according to reporting of the temple administration’s rule. Confirm the current storage arrangements before entering.
Are the opening hours the same during festivals?
No. The official October 2026 festival timetable changes by date, including no evening darshan on 20 October. Check the temple’s current timetable.
Does an archana booking include ordinary darshan?
The portal lists ritual offerings separately from packages with stated entry limits. Do not assume an archana alone includes darshan. Check the temple’s terms for the exact booking.