Lord Sri Venkateswara attracts more pilgrims than any other holy place

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Deccan chronicle

Hyderabad, March 3: The Sri Venkateswara atop Tirumala has surpassed the Vatican

both in terms of income and pilgrims to become the richest religious institution

in the world, Endowments Minister M Satyanarayana Rao said in the Assembly on

Thursday.

 

“Vatican used to occupy the No. 1 place. But Tirupati has now overtaken it. Lord

Sri Venkateswara attracts more pilgrims than the Vatican does. Tirumala’s income

has also surpassed that of the Vatican,” he said. Rao did not provide figures.

The TTD’s estimated income according to the budget for 2005-06 is Rs 675 crore.

The income of the Vatican is put at $174 million (Rs 870 crore). About 50,000

pilgrims visit Tir-umala daily on an average.

 

Officials at the TTD ex-pressed surprise at the Ministers statement and said he

might have meant to say that the temple and Vatican are at par.

 

 

Vijay