Kateel: The famous Kateel Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple comes under the limits of the Kinnigoli Town Panchayat. As devotees visit the temple from across the country and abroad, the responsibility of developing the area also lies with the town panchayat. Proper development will not only help devotees but also increase the panchayat’s revenue.

The Kateel temple recorded an income of Rs 36.35 crore in the financial year 2024–25, ranking fourth among Muzrai temples in Karnataka. The temple’s income was Rs 24.22 crore in 2018–19 and rose to Rs 32.53 crore in 2023–24. In just one year, the income increased by around Rs 4 crore.

Located on the banks of the Nandini river, the temple and its surroundings have seen major development in recent years. However, with the steady rise in the number of devotees, more facilities are required. Pilgrims and tourists need better amenities such as proper pilgrim accommodation, parking spaces and food facilities. The crowd on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays is especially high, and preparations are needed keeping the next 25 years in mind.

Subramanya model

• Kukke Subramanya Temple, one of the richest temples under the Muzrai Department with an annual income of about Rs 155 crore, is being developed under a Rs 300 crore master plan by the state government. A similar master plan is needed for Kateel as well, according to public opinion

Key requirements

• Roads: Earlier, roads in Kateel were very narrow. Some widening was done during the Brahmakalashotsava to ease traffic. However, with the increasing number of vehicles and devotees, further improvements are needed. Planning should begin now in view of the 2032 Brahmakalashotsava.




• Parking: Existing parking facilities are insufficient during peak seasons. Additional parking spaces are required. During the 2019–20 Brahmakalashotsava, shops and school structures in front of the temple were removed to create parking space.




• Pilgrim accommodation: The Tourism Department has a pilgrim guesthouse with 12 small rooms, which is being increased to 20 rooms. In the future, facilities should be expanded to accommodate at least 100 people. A proposal to build a 100-room guesthouse in 2008 did not move forward due to lack of funds.




• Underground drainage: With hotels, residential complexes, schools, colleges, hospitals and large buildings coming up in the area, a proper underground drainage system is needed with a 25-year vision.




• Bypass road: The road leading to Kateel is narrow, and traffic restrictions are imposed during festivals. A bypass road would help reduce congestion on the main road.

Need for a modern dining hall 

Devotees receive anna prasada at the Kateel temple with devotion. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily. The number of people eating prasada is increasing, crossing 25,000 during peak seasons. Hence, the dining hall needs further development, along with wider access roads and a connecting bridge.

New direction for development

• The waste management unit at Kateel is considered a model, as all waste, including food leaves and coconut shells, is converted into manure. Plans are in place to increase the capacity of this STP unit.




• Kateel already has a well-maintained gaushala, which the management plans to expand further.




• Land has been registered in the name of the temple at Sithla with the help of devotees for parking and pilgrim accommodation. This is expected to change the overall landscape of the temple surroundings.

New dining hall announced

A fully equipped dining hall with seating capacity for 1,500 people will be constructed at a cost of Rs 7 crore. An administrative building is also being built at a cost of Rs 1 crore. A full-fledged sheet-roof facility will be developed in the parking area in front of the temple. Planning for the 2032 Brahmakalashotsava has already begun, said archaka Sri Harinarayana Das Asranna.