Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati

The Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala is the most visited and wealthiest religious site in the world, receiving on average 70,000–100,000 pilgrims daily. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara — a form of Vishnu — at an elevation of 853 metres in the Tirumala Hills.

The origins trace to the 9th century CE under Pallava kings, with major additions during the Vijayanagara period. The main gopuram is covered in gold plating, and the vimana above the sanctum is overlaid with a golden dome. The inner sanctum houses a towering 8-foot image of Venkateswara in black stone.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) generates revenues estimated at over ₹1,000 crore annually from donations. The annual Brahmotsavam festival, lasting nine days, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.