Arasavalli Sun Temple Gets ₹55.74 Crore Tourism Upgrade Under Central Scheme

Arasavalli Sun temple in Andhra’s Srikakulam to get ₹55.74 crore under Swadesh Darshan 2.0

The Union Ministry of Tourism has brought the famous Sun God temple at Arasavalli in Srikakulam district under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, clearing the way for ₹55.74 crore in Central funding for development in and around the temple.

Centre selects Arasavalli for tourism upgrade

The Union government selected 57 destinations across the country under the scheme and sanctioned funds for 17 of them.

Arasavalli is among the sanctioned destinations, with the Centre set to provide ₹55.74 crore for developmental activities linked to the temple and its surroundings.

The inclusion is expected to bring more facilities to the temple, which is known as a prominent Sun God temple in Srikakulam district.

Experience centre, riverfront and heritage protection planned

The works proposed with the sanctioned funds include an Arasavalli Sun Experience Centre, a dome structure on the sun deck area, a restaurant block and a shopping area near the temple.

The project also includes supporting infrastructure, landscaping, an open-air theatre, Nagavali riverfront development, protection of a Dutch heritage structure and other works.

At the suggestion of Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu, Srikakulam Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar and tourism officials prepared a detailed project report for the inclusion of the Arasavalli temple in the scheme.

After a thorough verification, the Centre announced that spiritual tourism would be developed at the Sun God temple.

Rammohan Naidu says project will widen temple’s reach

In a press release, Mr. Rammohan Naidu said the developmental activities to be taken up at Arasavalli under the project would make the temple’s importance known in every corner of the country.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for their support.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Pundkar said the scheme would boost spiritual tourism in the district.

Mr. Pundkar also said more pilgrims were likely to come from different parts of the country once facilities improved.

Officials expect spillover to nearby temples

When contacted, Srikakulam Tourism Officer N. Narayana Rao said Srikurmam, Srimukhalingam and other temples would also see large numbers of pilgrims in the future.

Mr. Narayana Rao said this was because pilgrims visit those temples after darshan of the presiding deity, Sri Suryanarayana Swamy, at Arasavalli.

Arasavalli is 2 km from Srikakulam, according to the source information.

Source: The Hindu