AP temples see sharp rise in footfall, revenues

Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh, home to several iconic Hindu temples — including the world-renowned Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, the ancient Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Srisailam, Kanaka Durgamma temple on the banks of the Krishna river in Vijayawada, Satyanarayana Swamy temple at Annavaram, and Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam near Visakhapatnam — has witnessed a sharp surge in both pilgrim footfall and revenues over the past two years.State endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said the Srisailam temple, dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bhramarambika Devi and located in the Nallamala forests, recorded a steep rise in footfall from 82 lakh in 2023–24 to 1.19 crore in 2025–26. Temple revenues increased from ₹178 crore to ₹217 crore during the period, marking a rise of nearly ₹39 crore.The Kanaka Durgamma temple at Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada also saw a significant increase in footfall from 93 lakh to 1.19 crore, with annual revenues touching ₹141 crore. At Srikalahasti temple, known for its Rahu-Ketu pujas, revenues rose from ₹126 crore in 2023 to ₹131 crore in 2025–26, while footfall went up from 74 lakh to 83 lakh.The minister said the combined revenues of seven major temples — Srisailam, Indrakeeladri, Srikalahasti, Kanipakam, Simhachalam, Annavaram, and Dwaraka Tirumala — rose from ₹759 crore in 2023–24 to ₹800 crore in 2025–26. Pilgrim footfall at these temples increased from 4.6 crore to 5.3 crore during the period.Smaller temples under deputy commissioners across the state have also recorded strong growth. Vadapalli Venkateswara Swamy temple, which gained prominence in recent years, saw revenues jump from ₹23 crore in 2023 to ₹56 crore in 2025–26, with footfall rising from 73 lakh to 85 lakh.Similar trends were observed at other temples, including Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Sri Sathya Sai district, Boyakonda Gangamma temple near Punganur, and Mahanandi in Nandyal district.The minister attributed the increase in footfall and revenues to governance reforms introduced by the TDP-led NDA government under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.“As part of efforts to ensure a hassle-free pilgrimage, we have introduced online ticketing and Arjitha seva booking systems, and improved accommodation, civic amenities and road infrastructure. These measures have enhanced the overall pilgrimage experience,” he said.He added that over 1,137 infrastructure and development works worth nearly ₹1,000 crore have been initiated and are nearing completion to upgrade temple facilities across the state since 2024.