QuoteA TREASURE trove of gold and silver jewellery, coins and precious stones said to be worth billions of dollars has been found in a Hindu temple in southern India.

The valuables have an estimated preliminary worth of over 500 billion rupees ($10.49 billion), Kerala Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar said, catapulting the temple into the league of India's richest temples.

The thousands of necklaces, coins and precious stones have been kept in at least five underground vaults at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple which is renowned for its intricate sculptures.

"We are yet to open one more secret chamber which has not been opened for nearly 140 years," Mr Jayakumar said.

The actual value of the treasure haul can be ascertained only after it is examined by the archaeological department, Mr Jayakumar said.

The temple, dedicated to Hindu lord Vishnu, was built hundreds of years ago by the king of Travancore and donations by devotees have been kept in the temple's vaults since.

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A necklace found on Thursday was six metres long. Thousands of gold coins have also been found.