AP to develop temple tourism

Kurnool: Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya set her sights on monetising temple assets by making them more accessible to pilgrims from across the world. Rayalaseema is home to the world's second largest temple in terms of gross revenues which is situated at Tirumala. Other faith-based assets in the Rayalaseema region include the ancient Srisailam temple, Mantralaya Ragahavendra Swamy Mutt and the Putaparthi, the abode of world renowned Satya Sai Baba.

The meeting of the State Tourism Minister with Union Tourism Minister Alfonso on Monday once again brought the focus back on temple tourism, said B. Venkateswarlu, district tourism officer. In Rayalaseema, apart from Srisailam, he said that there are plenty of visiting places. Mantralayam, Ahobilam, Mahanandi Yaganti, Kadiri, Kasapueam, Puttaparti, Tirupati, Srikalahasti,Siddavatam, Bramhamgarimatam, Gandi and Pushpagiri are some of the towns to be linkef in the temple tourism circuit.

Air connectivity is already there at Tirupati , Kadapa and Puttaparthi. What is required is well appointed accommodation with good guides well versed in the history and sociology of the region, said a professor of marketing.

What is holding back development of temple tourism in Rayalaseema is the lack of awareness among government employees about the potentiality of travel and leisure industry, said another expert on the subject. 

Nandyal Institute of Development Studies (NIDS), an organisation founded by management experts, has been lobbying for making the Rayalaseema region a magnet of attraction for world travel is gathering dust. Prof Narayana Reddy said that it is high time to tap the potentiality of the region by thinking beyond temples and mausoleums.