According to reports, Home Minister Amit Shah virtually inaugurated the Tirupati Balaji Temple located in the scenic Shivalik forests of the Majeen area in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple, constructed on 62 acres of land with an estimated cost of Rs 25 crores, opened its doors for devotees. Present at the inauguration event were Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State Jitendra Singh, and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The Tirupati Balaji Temple, one of the largest temples in the Jammu region, is expected to enhance religious and pilgrimage tourism in the Union Territory. It is situated approximately 10 kilometers from Jammu and around 40 kilometers from Katra. The temple is the sixth Balaji temple built outside Andhra Pradesh by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), with previous temples established in Hyderabad, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Delhi, and Bhubaneswar.

As per reports, during the inauguration ceremony, Union Minister of Tourism Jyotiraditya Scindia mentioned that apart from constructing temples dedicated to Lord Tirupati Balaji across the country, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is also working to prevent instances of religious conversions nationwide.

TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy stated earlier that the temple's construction was almost completed, and it would be opened for devotees free of cost. The rituals were set to commence from June 3. Reddy further emphasized that the practices followed in Tirumala would also be observed in the Jammu temple. The TTD strategically built the Tirupati Balaji Temple on the route between Jammu and Katra, where the revered Mata Vaishno Devi temple is located.

Additionally, a video of the temple was shared by news agency ANI, further highlighting the significance of the inauguration. With its establishment in the serene surroundings of the Shivalik forests, the temple aims to provide devotees with a spiritual and serene atmosphere for their religious observances. This development is expected to boost tourism in the region, attracting both devotees and tourists seeking to explore the rich cultural and religious heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.

Image source: Northlines