Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams which administers the world’s richest temple, Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, will now construct a replica of Lord Balaji’s temple in Jammu.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has allotted 62 acres of land to the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) for building temples and its allied infrastructure, such as a pilgrim amenities complex, Vedapatasala, meditation centre, office, residential quarters and parking. The land has been given on a lease basis for a period of 40 years. TTD is planning to construct a replica of the famous Tirumala temple on the land.
The proposal was approved by the J&K administrative council, which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday.
According to the press release by the government, the TTD, a board established by government under the TTD Act, 1932 is a “charitable organization of international repute with a proven track record of activities in the spiritual, cultural, social, and educational sphere.”
The J and K government said the TTD’s arrival in the region “will tap the tourism potential particularly pilgrim tourism in Jammu, the city of temples, apart from enhancing economic activities.”
“Once developed, the TTD infrastructure will be an attraction for the pilgrims and tourists in addition to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and Amarnathji Shrine,” the release said.
According to J&K officials, the delegation of the TTD Board led by the Parliamentarian V Vijayasai Reddy had met the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir last year. After the meeting Reddy told the media that it has been a long-pending demand of pilgrims from many North Indian States visiting Tirumala that a replica of the temple be constructed in Jammu. The TTD Board will contribute funds, while money will also be raised from devotees to construct the temple, a Vedic school, a marriage hall and a hospital.
According to J&K officials, “it will enable tourists to come and stay longer in Jammu city” adding “The future development on the campus will also contribute to economic growth of the region” as tourism and employment will increase.
The TTD is also planning to build temples in other locations across India, like Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi and Mumbai. The government of Maharashtra has already allotted land at Bandra in Mumbai, and a temple of Sri Venkateswara Swamy will be constructed soon at a cost of Rs 30 crore.
The Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most visited temples in India. Built by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and is hence a significant Vaishnavite temple. It is the richest temple in the world, based on the donations received and its wealth, and is visited by as many as 3 to 4 crore people every year.
