Tamil Nadu commits ₹213 crore to restore ancient temples, upgrade pilgrim hubs

The Tamil Nadu government has committed ₹213 crore from state funds and donor contributions to restore ancient temples across the state and upgrade pilgrim infrastructure, a move that could funnel work to regional construction firms and tourism-related businesses over the next 12 to 18 months.

State HR&CE Minister Ramesh, presenting the departmental demand for grants, said the allocation covers 64 temples that are over a thousand years old – ₹125 crore of government money – plus five additional ancient temples funded by ₹7 crore from donors and temple coffers. A separate ₹85 crore will go toward 150 fully or partially damaged temples in phased reconstruction.

Pilgrim hubs will see improvements: Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani, and several others are getting mobile phone and footwear lockers, baby feeding rooms, long queue zones with seating, shaded walkways, and modernized sanitation. The announcement also includes a ₹3 crore temple elephant rejuvenation camp at Thekkampatti, publication of 108 rare devotional Tamil texts as free e-books, virtual reality history halls, and annual folk art festivals.