Mysuru:  There has been a marked increase in the revenue of Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hill and the figures have increased by Rs. 3.35 crore when compared  to last year. The total income of the temple in the year 2018-19 is Rs. 33,30,68,162. The income in 2017-18 was Rs. 29,95,17,646, according to Temple Executive Officer K.M. Prasad.

The Temple recorded an income of Rs. 24,09,53,742 in 2016-17 and during 2015-2016, it stood at Rs. 21,74,00,250.

While Rs. 11,57,54,977 was collected in the hundis, the temple has generated a total income of Rs. 2,85,91,900 by selling special entry tickets of Rs. 30 and Rs. 7,67,43,547 through direct entry tickets of Rs. 100.

The temple has raised a revenue of Rs. 3,83,12,002 by selling ladoo prasada. The total fixed deposit in the temple’s bank account is Rs. 81.78 crore in 2018-19 when compared to Rs. 78.19 crore in 2017-18 and Rs. 103.20 crore in 2016-17.

According to temple sources, there has been a marked increase in the number of devotees who visit the shrine, an important and popular pilgrimage centre in South Karnataka, annually and the numbers peak during Ashada, Chamundeshwari Vardhanti and Dasara.

Apart from entry tickets, the temple gets good revenue from hundis and is considered as one of the richest temples in Karnataka after Kukke Subramanya, Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara, Male Mahadeshwara temples. Apart from cash, the temple also receives donations and gold and silver as offerings.

Binocular Viewpoint a great hit: Installation of High-Definition binoculars atop Chamundi Hill has drawn overwhelming response from viewers. On an average, over 200 to 300 visitors view the city from the vantage points every day.        

The District Administration has constructed special protruding platforms at the two viewpoints atop the Hill. While one viewpoint has been set up at the junction between Nandi Statue Road and the Chamundi Hill Road, the other has been developed near the WELCOME sign on the same stretch.

For the record, since yesterday, a display signage with letters “Nimma Matha Nimma Hakku” (Your Vote, Your Right) has been lit on the Chamundi Hill which will be visible across the city as part of voter awareness.

A person has to pay Rs. 20 to view the city through the binoculars and a coin is given to the viewer once he pays the money. Once the coin is inserted, the binocular screen opens from where the viewer can see the city for two minutes and after the prescribed time, the screen closes.

The demand is especially for night viewing of the city’s stunning heritage structures. The two binoculars were installed at an estimated cost of Rs. 15 lakh each with the total investment of Rs. 40 lakh to construct the platforms and protective railings around the viewpoints.

As per records, a total of 30,548 visitors viewed the city through these binoculars from Sept. 22, 2017 (the day of inauguration) till the end of December 2017 with a record collection of Rs. 6.10 lakh. While 1,01,394 people viewed through the binoculars in 2018 and registered a revenue collection of Rs. 20,27, 890. Till the end of January this year, over 7,547 tourists viewed the city through binoculars and registered a revenue of  Rs. 1,50,940.