Padmanabhaswami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram

Padmanabhaswami Temple is a must-visit place situated at the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It is one among the 108 holy temples of Lord Vishnu. The name Padmanabha made with two words – Padma & Nabhi. The Padma means lotus and the Nabhi means the navel. Thereby, Padmanabhaswami Temple depicts the Anananthasayanam posture of Lord Vishnu lying on the holy snake named Anantha with a lotus emerged from his navel. The Padmanabhaswami Temple, with huge pylon-like gopurams, heavily decorated and gilded finials, is dedicated to Vishnu and was constructed in its present form in 8th century. The shrine is very ancient, though the structure as it is seen today is the result of renovation and addition by king Martanda Verma of Travancore. Three hundred and sixty-eight carved granite pillars mark the corridors. Only Hindus can go into the temples wearing a dhoti, an unstitched garment. This temple in Kerala is a collection of precious objects comprising statues and ornaments, diamonds, gold throne, crowns, coins and other precious stones. It is large in size having three gateways for pilgrims to worship and each one has its own meaning. As per the mythology, it is believed that there is sea located under the Sri Padmanabhaswami. The temple has countless walls and pillars embellished with mural paintings and other sculptures that depict stories and legends related to the deity.