Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, which is extremely popular for the Brobdingnagian statue of sleeping Vishnu idol has been rated the temple in the world with the costliest security after a sum of Rs 23.61 crores was approved for purchasing the security related gadgets for the temple.

This is also the richest temple in the world as revealed by the Supreme Court Committee in July 2011 which has found that there were over six vaults in this 16th century temple with bountiful treasures. Just the gold and silver dropped in at five vaults is expected to be more than a lakh crore rupeess. (If you didn't realize, one lakh crore is 10,00,00,00,00,000 with 12 zeroes.) One vault is yet to be opened.

Keltron, the electronics corporation of the state government has proposed that the security at the place should be beefed up which resulted in the investment of Rs 23.61 crores for the gadgets. The investment is expected to be done in three phases. The green signal for the first phase has been given while sanctioning a sum of Rs. 9.80 crores, the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told. The revelation was made after the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday night. The temple has been maintained by the royal family of Travancore.

Two separate committees appointed by the Supreme Court are now busy preparing an inventory of the valuables.

(AW- Anil)