Mysuru: There has been a marked increase in the revenue of Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hill and for the year 2017-2018, the temple has earned a revenue of Rs. 29,95,17,646, marking a 24.30 percent increase from the revenue accrued in 2016-17.

According to temple sources, there has been a steady 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 its hundis (offering box) and is considered as one of the richest temples in Karnataka after Kukke Subramanya, Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara and Malai Mahadeshwara temples. Apart from cash, the temple also receives donations and gold and silver as offerings.

In 2016-2017, the temple touched a revenue of Rs. 24,09,53,742 (10.83% increase), in 2015-2016, it collected a revenue of Rs. 21,74,00,250 (18.55% increase) and in 2014-2015, it had garnered a revenue of Rs. 18,33,69,828. The temple’s hundi revenue in 2017-2018 stood at Rs. 10,25,37,945 while in 2016-2017 it was Rs. 9,17,66,587. In 2015-2016, the temple collected Rs. 8,84,00,363 from hundis and in 2014-2015, the hundi collection figure stood at Rs. 7,69,40,131. Apart from revenues from the hundis, in 2017-2018, the temple collected Rs. 2,37,32,530 from special entry fee of Rs. 30 per devotee and it garnered a revenue of Rs. 7,47,41,926 from direct entry fee of Rs. 100 per devotee in 2017-2018.

From the auction of sarees donated by the devotees to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the temple raised an income of Rs. 1,73,55,516 in 2017-2018 while it collected Rs. 1,49,02,620 in 2016-2017. Apart from revenue from various puja rituals, the Hill Temple gets revenue from the sale of prasadam, rent from guest houses, money orders and demand drafts sent by devotees, interest from fixed deposits, online and e-sevas, different contracts by the temple and the rent from Dewan Poornaiah Hall and from different contracts at temples located at Mysore Palace premises.

According to Chamundeshwari Temple Executive Officer K.M. Prasad, the income generated at the temple will be kept in the temple fund and will not be transferred to the State Treasury and will not be used for any other expenses by the government. Instead, the revenue will be used for development works at the temple and its surrounding areas.

Among the devotee-friendly steps taken by the temple administration in 2017-2018 are to distribute free ladoos for those who have taken Rs. 100 direct entry tickets, provide free breakfast and prasadam (like puliogare) distribution in the morning and evening along with free lunch.

To attract more and more tourists, the temple administration has set up two Viewpoints near the Nandi Statue with binocular facility, said Prasad. He added that almost all the sevas of the temple including Chandika Homa and saree donation have been made online and devotees can also make online payments on the temple website. Devotees can even interact with the temple management through the interactive website, he said.

At the temple premises, card swiping machines have been installed so that tourists can make the payments conveniently. “Rs. 78,19,10,742 has been kept as fixed deposits at various nationalised banks. To ease the drinking water shortage atop the hill, the temple management has initiated a project worth Rs. 6.95 crore and works are under progress,” the Executive Officer added.

RISE IN TEMPLE INCOME

Year	Amount in Rupees	Increase in percentage
2014-2015	18,33,69,828	Not available
2015-2016	21,74,00,250	18.55 percent
2016-2017	24,09,53,742	10.83 percent
2017-2018	29,95,17,646	24.30 percent