Bengaluru: The road to muzrai temples in Karnataka runs through the Shakti scheme, one of the flagship guarantee schemes of the Congress government that allows women to travel on no-frills KSRTC buses for free. What was initially launched as free bus travel has slowly taken on shades of temple tourism, with women passengers particularly visiting temples of goddesses in large numbers. Along the way, revenues of Karnataka’s top 15 temples have seen a significant uptick.
Revenue Growth in Major Temples
The temples where cash registers are ringing include Bengaluru’s Banashankari Temple and Ghati Subramanya Temple. For 2025-26, temple revenues rose from Rs 613.5 crore to Rs 666.2 crore — an 8.6% increase over the previous financial year. Sri Kukke Subrahmanya Temple retained the top position among Karnataka’s highest revenue-generating temples, with collections increasing from Rs 155.9 crore to Rs 167.8 crore.
Minister's Remarks on Shakti Scheme Impact
Transport and muzrai minister Ramalinga Reddy conceded that the Shakti scheme, introduced three years ago, has contributed significantly to the growth of pilgrimage tourism across Karnataka. “When women travel, they are often accompanied by family members. State-run road transport corporations operate extensive services to temple towns across Karnataka,” he added.
Decline in Some Shrines
On the flip side, a few major shrines reported a decline in revenues. Collections at Male Mahadeshwara Temple in Chamarajanagar district dropped from Rs 123.6 crore to Rs 117.6 crore. Similarly, Shrikanteshwara Temple in Nanjangud saw revenues decline from Rs 36.1 crore to Rs 28.9 crore, while Shri Siddhalingeshwara Temple near Kunigal recorded a fall from Rs 29.8 crore to Rs 27.7 crore.
Autonomy and Management Improvements
Reddy said the government had granted greater autonomy to the administration of A-category temples to improve basic amenities and streamline temple management. “This has helped improve pilgrim inflow. The revenue generated is utilised for the respective temples. Contributions to other temples under the muzrai department are permitted only after government approval,” the minister said.
KSRTC Bus Services Boost
A KSRTC official said occupancy on bus routes connecting major temple towns has witnessed considerable growth after the introduction of the Shakti scheme. “KSRTC operates a fleet of 8,900 buses, of which more than 7,000 ordinary services provide free travel facilities under the Shakti scheme. These buses are operated extensively on routes connecting important temple towns across the state. Besides, additional services are operated during festive seasons and school vacations to cater to the increased rush of pilgrims and tourists,” the official said.
Revenue Figures for Key Temples
The following table shows revenue in crore rupees for select temples in 2024-25 and 2025-26: Kollur Mookambika, Udupi: 71.9 to 84; Chamundeshwari, Mysuru: 50.6 to 79.6; Durgaparameshwari Kateel, DK: 35.1 to 42.4; Renuka Yellamma, Belagavi: 29.9 to 31.3; Huligemma Devi, Koppal: 17.3 to 19.3; Durgaparameshwari, Mandarti: 16.5 to 18.3; Banashankari, Bengaluru: 11.8 to 13. Source: Muzrai department.
