The historical Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple atop B.R. Hills in Yelandur taluk of Chamarajanagar district will be shut for two years for carrying out renovation works.

The Temple authorities have decided to shut the Temple for devotees after the 3-day special rituals that concludes on Mar.17.

The hill temple, which has a history of over 500 years, is one of the important shrines of the district, located amidst serene surroundings.

Devotees had been urging the authorities to renovate the historic hill temple for a long time. The time has come now with the Archaeology Department taking up renovation work at a cost of Rs. 2.40 crore.

The Department will bring down most walls of the temple, while retaining the sanctum sanctorum in its original form.

The temple, which is adored by lakhs of devotees, is also very sacred for Soliga community. With the closure of the temple, the annual two big fairs and small fairs will not take place. In the wake of renovation, special pujas will be performed to the temple deity from Mar. 15 to 17.

The rituals will commence with the performance of Sarvatra Abhisheka to the deity on Mar. 15 morning. The rituals will conclude with Prana Pratishtapane on Mar. 17. The temple will be handed over to Religious Endowment Department on Mar.18 for enabling it to take up renovation works.

The Temple Executive Officer Venkatesh Prasad said that the Temple will be renovated at a cost of Rs. 2.4 crore. It will be shut for devotees after Mar.17 and there will be no darshan of the deity for nearly two years until the completion of renovation. Also, all fairs connected with the Temple have been cancelled, he added.