Himachal News: ₹550 Crore Approved for Heritage Preservation and Temple Development

₹56.26 Crore Sanctioned for Chintpurni Temple to Promote Religious Tourism

The government has approved ₹550 crore for the preservation of the state’s heritage, with a focus on modernizing religious sites and improving facilities for devotees.

A government spokesperson said, “Around ₹50 crore has been sanctioned for the restoration of ancient temples, forts, and archaeological sites. Nearly ₹37 crore has been allocated for development works at temples.” He added that to promote religious tourism, ₹56.26 crore has been approved for the Chintpurni Temple, where work is underway to construct a grand complex.

He further stated, “In addition, ₹100 crore each has been approved for the development of Shri Jawalaji and Shri Naina Devi temples.”

For the convenience of pilgrims, a streamlined Sughma Darshan system was introduced at Shri Chintpurni Temple in August 2023. Alongside regular crowd management, special facilities have been made available for the elderly and persons with disabilities. To maintain the sanctity of rituals, priests are being provided specialized training. Recently, 15 priests from Shri Chintpurni Temple and 10 from Shri Naina Devi Temple completed online training through Banaras Hindu University, and more priests will be trained in phases, the spokesperson said. Financial assistance has also been extended to cultural and religious institutions.

The spokesperson highlighted the restoration of Shimla’s historic Bantony Castle as a milestone. “Since its inauguration in September 2023, the site now features a light-and-sound show and will soon include a digital museum. Around ₹25 crore has been sanctioned for this project,” he said. “The complex also promotes local crafts and cuisine through Pahari Aangan stalls modeled after Delhi Haat.”

“These initiatives are not only preserving heritage,” he added, “but are also transforming temples and cultural landmarks into vibrant centers of tradition and modernity.”