http://www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.com/50000-crores-treasure-gold-in-temple-secret-chambers.html

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/keralas-sri-padmanabhaswamy-temple-could-well-be-richest-in-country/articleshow/9078711.cms

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/online/malayalam/news/story/1028604/2011-07-03/kerala

It must bring with it so much cultural and art history! Hope it is used and maintained appropriately instead of ending up in politicians pockets!

WOW! Cant wait to see what secrets they reveal. Hopefully will be catalogued well and exhibited to public!

Truly amazing. A very well guarded secret is finally out. Interesting to see that even here court intervened. Was it really required? What now ?

Amita: Significant pieces of the nizams' jewels in custody of the GOI have mysteriously vanished which had been catalogued .Don't keep any hope with regard to the fabulous treasure unearthed from the underground vaults of the Padmanabh temple. 11 billion dollars and counting (Rs 75,000 crore).

How painful it is see our treasures being stolen by our own people who are devoid of any sense of nationalism or self-respect ! God knows how and where all these treasures will slowly disappear. Its all too depressing to even imagine ! Is it too idealistic to expect the authorities to display these treasures in a world-class museum in Trivandrum itself ? Or is it that we have reconciled ourselves for them to be pilfered now that they are in the Government's hands... Let us first learn to take care of the treasures we have in our land...before we scream ourselves hoarse of bring back the others from foreign museums. They are atleast safe there !

The plunder of priceless heritage is still on.The sheer number of statues which have vanished from Khajuraho (world heritage site) is phenomenal. Those were air-lifted at night.In the name of shifting them to the state museum in Bhopal such magnificent pieces simply vanished from the Dhubela museum (in Bundelkhnad). I distinctly remember a magnificent huge single piece intricately carved (with lace like carving) manadala with all twelve signs of the zodiac which was sent to 'Festival of India' in Germany (during Rajiv Gandhi's time) and it came back broken (some pieces never returned at all !).It dated from the 9th Century of the time of the Chandela Kings.It is heart wrenching how priceless heritage is being plundered by our own govt. officials.

How a minor tiff led to the great treasure hunt. It was a minor altercation between advocate T.P. Sunderrajan and the current head of the Travancore Royal family, Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma, that reportedly led to the case which brought to light the treasure hidden within the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/how-minor-tiff-led-great-treasure-hunt-322

Treasure findings: Travancore Royal family elated. The Travancore Palace is yet to officially comment on the dazzling treasure inventory but it’s learnt that the family scion, Marthanda Varma Uthradom Tirunal, is pleased with the attempt to estimate the wealth. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/treasure-findings-travancore-royal-family-elated-318

http://www.spooftimes.com/articles/view/5887-Britain-claim-12-Billion-dollar-worth-treasure-found-in-an-Indian-temple# London: British Prime Minister and Queen of England have claimed recently found 12 billion dollar worth of treasury as that of England and should be returned back to them as soon as possible. British government ruled India from 17th century till 1947 and so they say that anything found in India should be given to them. British government believe that with help of these new found treasures, they would be able to bring new glory to their past colonial empire once existed. Britain, for 200-years, had plundered India and looted all their gold and treasures. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been sent to India, to see that treasury be handed over to them before it is being looted by Indian politicians. Mr. Blair has already reached the temple and is said to be camping in the temple campus.

I am glad to see that India has one or two of satirical periodicals of its own ~ The definition of 'spoof' as in 'Spooftimes': spoof (spf) n. 1. Nonsense; tomfoolery. 2. A hoax. 3. A gentle imitation; a light parody.

...thank you ! : )

Well I think, its about time we had some fun with history concerning..OUR treasures, made by OUR countrymen and in OUR places and temples.. in the name of these spoofs..in an otherwise dark history of subjugation of what is left of the plundered country.

And so much gone from the Asiatic Society, the National Library...

DSK and RBSI.. Why we forget the so called treasure hunt in Jai garh fort in jaipur , during emergency..when whole of treasure was transfered to Delhi n still no clue of that all! Other than that an old fort Timan garh near karauli is literally being robbed by thieves and OTHERS which had lots n lots of statues , which too were said to be lifted by Choppers,last time when I visited this site in 2008, found holes every where in search of more statues..[Timan garh was the one time capital of Jadaon dynasty [at present Karauli royal house]till 11 th centuary after Allahabad ,Mathura and Bayana gradually. We can only hope that this treasure wont meet the same fate.

i am reminded of that Hindi classic "Maajhi jo keshti duboye ussay kaun bachaaye " ( If the oarsman himself is hell bent on drowning the boat who can save it ?)

...or, perhaps Digvijay, the current situation "is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find, as the first balls are being bowled, that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain" (Geoffrey Howe)...

I always wondered why a special provision was made in the covenant about Devaswoms and why a Travancore Devasowm Board was created at the time of Merger. It is obvious SIR CP Iyer, Mr. V.P. Menon and the Royal Family all along knew about the treasure and thus protected Padamanabha Temple was kept out of the Board and it was under the direct control and supervision of the Maharaja thro' an executive officer appointed by him. State paid 6 lakhs annually for its maintenance. VP Menon writes: Travancore had been ruled by an unbroken line of Hindu Kings from the earliest times and had retained throughout the centuries its essential character of a Hindu State. The most important temple in this state has always been , and still is, the Sri. Padmanabha temple, richly endowed and possessing very extensive landed properties. These were originally managed by a YOGAM ( or Synod) of eight hereditary trustees and the Ruler, but at the beginning of the eighteenth century the YOGAM was ousted and the administration of the Temple together with its properties was taken over entirely by the Ruler. No wonder Sir CP wanted an independent Maritime state. Also thank Lord Padmanabha, Tipu sultan failed to conquer Travancore in the battle of Nedumkotta in 1789 and returned a lame man !

There are still several temples which are not under the 'devsthan vibhag' and are pvt properties of the former maharajas.

All the Temples of Mysore Palace including Chamundi Hill were taken over by the State Muzrai dept, within 3 days after the late Maharaja's death in 1974. Rich Melkote Jewels were virtually confiscated during emergency.

Raja Chandra : Where are the Melkote jewels now ? And...what do you think will happen to the Padmanabha treasures based on your understanding of how the State handled such cases earlier ?

Melkote Jewels are in Mandya Treasury ! Since in this case SC is monitoring the case and the larger issue of HC verdict about the Temple take over by the state yet to be decided, one has to wait and see !