Assam approves 25 acres for Sri Venkateswara temple in Guwahati

The Assam government has given its in-principle approval to increase the land allocation for the construction of a Sri Venkateswara Swami temple in Guwahati from 11 acres to 25 acres, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) announced on Saturday.

This decision comes in response to a request from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who personally wrote to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging that the temple project continue in Guwahati and that the land allocation be expanded.

The Assam government has also agreed to provide financial support for the necessary development work on the proposed temple site.

Earlier, the TTD had allocated 10.8 acres in Guwahati for the temple. However, Assam had suggested relocating the project to other rapidly developing cities like Silchar or Dibrugarh, citing potential conflicts with the existing Sri Balaji temple and cultural community in the Garchuk area.

Chief Minister Chandrababu emphasized that the new temple should remain in Guwahati, the main center of northeastern India, to serve the spiritual and cultural needs of devotees. He also highlighted that Andhra Pradesh had already allocated 25 acres for a Sri Venkateswara temple in Amaravati, requesting a similar land area for Guwahati.

In his letter dated December 18, Chandrababu stressed that TTD and the Andhra Pradesh government are committed to promoting Hindu Sanatana Dharma by establishing at least one Sri Venkateswara temple in every Indian state and union territory. He requested that the Assam government provide not only the land but also financial assistance for development activities, including facilities for devotees and spiritual programs like annadanam (free meals).

Following these discussions, Assam’s Chief Minister gave in-principle approval for 25 acres of land in Guwahati for the temple and agreed to support development activities financially.

The TTD, the official managing body of the Tirupati Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in Andhra Pradesh, oversees one of the wealthiest and most visited Hindu temples in the world.