MM Hills Temple revenue crosses Rs 100 crore, nears Karnataka top spot

Mysuru: The annual revenue collection of the Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Temple atop the MM Hills in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district has crossed the Rs100-crore mark, making it the second-highest revenue-generating Muzrai temple in Karnataka, after the Kukke Shri Subramanya Temple in Dakshina Kannada.After hovering close to Rs 100 crore for a few years, the temple authority breached the milestone two years ago and has continued its upward trajectory since. With 20 days remaining in the current financial year, the temple's revenue is expected to exceed Rs 130 crore, inching closer to Kukke Temple's annual collection of Rs 137–140 crore.This year's Maha Shivaratri jathra alone fetched a record Rs 3.3 crore in hundi collections, the highest ever for the shrine, according to temple authorities.The 700-year-old temple attracts an estimated 50–65 lakh devotees annually, with the heaviest footfall during Maha Shivaratri, Ugadi and Deepavali jathras, when four to six lakh devotees visit. Significant crowds are also witnessed on Amavasya and other auspicious days.Officials attribute the steady rise in revenue to improved infrastructure and facilities following the constitution of the Shree Malai Mahadeshwara Swamy Kshethra Development Authority by the state govt. The authority has invested heavily in amenities aimed at easing pilgrim movement and enhancing services.Temple revenue, which stood at around Rs 52 crore in 2021-22, nearly doubled to Rs 100 crore in 2022-23, with expenditure of Rs 88 crore. Collections grew by about 20% annually over the past two years, touching Rs 118 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 123.6 crore in 2024-25, with corresponding expenditures of Rs 91.8 crore and Rs 114.1 crore.Major revenue sources include laddu prasadam sales, rental income from shops, dormitories, guest houses and petrol bunks, and proceeds from various sevas, pujas and rituals.Speaking to TOI, Shree Malai Mahadeshwara Swamy Kshethra Development Authority executive secretary AE Raghu said the shrine's growing popularity, aided by improved connectivity and free bus travel schemes, has drawn devotees from across the state. "The revenue is being utilised for the development, maintenance and smooth functioning of the Srikshetra," he said.