To boost pilgrim traffic in Jammu, Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha, along with Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday dedicated the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, spread across over 62 acres of land, to the devotees.

A large number of devotees thronged the newly-built temple complex to pay obeisance to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu.

The Jammu temple will be the sixth Balaji Temple constructed outside of Andhra Pradesh, with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) having previously built temples in Hyderabad, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Delhi, and Bhubaneswar.

The UT administration is aiming to attract the growing footfalls of Mata Vaishnoi Devi and Amarnath bound pilgrims in Jammu to further help the tourism economy flourish and generate more employment opportunities for the youth.

The holy shrines of Sri Venkateswara, Baba Amarnath, Mata Vaishno Devi, Mata Sharda, Shiv Khori, Adi Shankaracharya Temple, Hazratbal and other prominent religious places and Sufi shrines in the UT will not only boost tourism but also develop Jammu & Kashmir as the cultural-spiritual capital of the country. Last month, LG Manoj Sinha inaugurated Jambu zoo to cater to the rush of pilgrims passing through Jammu Srinagar National Highway near Nagrota.

Currently, work is going on in full swing to complete the phase -1 of Tawi river front by June end while work on the Artificial Tawi lake project is gradually picking pace to create better infrastructure for tourists visiting Jammu.

Before the traditional ceremony, the dignitaries participated in the Maha Samprokshanam of Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams at Majeen village near Sidhra area of Jammu.

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism G. Kishan Reddy, congratulated the people, J&K Government and all the devotees of Sri Venkateswara.  The temple at Jammu will carry the message in the world that Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one. This will be a centre of spirituality and Sanatan traditions, he said.

It is the result of the devotion and commitment of the Lt Governor of J&K and Chairman and Board members of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams that Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is completed in a short span. Now, the devotees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and other prominent religious places can also seek the blessings of Sri Venkateswara Swamy at Jammu, said the Union Minister.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the inauguration of the temple is a historic moment in the Sanatan Journey of J&K and the country.

“The dedication of Lord Venkateswara temple will strengthen the religious tourism circuit in J&K. It will give a boost to spiritual tourism and a major fillip to the economic development and employment opportunities in the Union Territory,” said the Lt Governor.