Srisailam temple income as much as ₹217 crore; Anam Reddy credit CM Naidu’s tourism push

<!–[if IE 9]>

<![endif]–>

Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy. File
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has attributed a pointy rise in temple income and pilgrim footfall in Andhra Pradesh over the previous two years to the eager curiosity of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in temple tourism.

Temples maintained by the State Endowments division recorded an enchancment in pilgrim footfall over the past two years, which translated into progress in Hundi collections. The interval coincides with the NDA authorities’s two-year tenure within the State.

Other than the temples ruled by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), an autonomous physique, different main shrines are categorised as main and minor, and administered by officers of the Joint Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner cadres.

Repairs and renovation in scores of temples, together with improved facilities equivalent to Prasadam distribution, ready halls, shelter and public bathrooms, contributed to a pointy rise in footfall at a number of main temples.

Srisailam was the most important beneficiary. The temple’s income rose from ₹178.8 crore in 2023-24 to ₹199.9 crore in 2024-25, and ₹217.2 crore in 2025-26.

Footfall on the Srisailam temple grew from 82.18 lakh in 2023-24 to 101.51 lakh in 2024-25, and 119.71 lakh in 2025-26.

After Srisailam, the temples that recorded progress in each income and footfall have been the Sri Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada, the Srikalahastheeswara Swami temple in Srikalahasti, the Simhachalam Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple in Visakhapatnam, the Annavaram Sri Satyanarayana Swami temple in Kakinada and the Dwaraka Tirumala temple in West Godavari.

Among the many temples ruled by Deputy Commissioner cadre officers, the income of the Lova temple in Kakinada district greater than doubled, from ₹23.09 crore in 2023-24 to ₹56.48 crore in 2025-26.

The Mahanandi, Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi, Penchalakona, Mopidevi and Kadiri Narasimha Swami temples additionally recorded a pointy rise in income.

“The NDA authorities is dedicated to restoring the misplaced glory in all of the temples. Devotees anticipate first rate infrastructure and fundamental facilities at any temple, which we have now supplied over the past two years. Therefore the seen end result,” Mr. Reddy informed The Hindu

The minister attributed the rise in turnout to the reformative measures initiated by the federal government, and significantly to the eager curiosity proven by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in boosting temple tourism within the State.

He stated he hoped that the influx of devotees from the neighbouring States would proceed to rise.

Printed – Might 13, 2026 02:25 pm IST