Lt Guv lays the foundation stone of long-awaited Sri Shankaracharya Temple in Katra
KATRA, FEB 18: Marking a historic milestone, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone today for the much-anticipated Sri Shankaracharya Temple. Perched on hillocks beside the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, this project takes root after decades, realizing a vision first envisioned in the 1960s.
Total expenditure for the temple complex, amounting to Rs. 31.51 crore, will be fully borne by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
The Lieutenant Governor announced that the Shrine Board will construct 50 commercial shops within the Temple complex, which will be allotted to the landowners who donated it for sacred cause.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the concerned landowners was executed in 2025, wherein the landowners have consented to donate 41 Kanals for sacred cause.
“In the years ahead, the Sri Shankaracharya Temple will serve as a spiritual anchor for millions of devotees. It will be a living emblem of India’s eternal culture, collective faith, resilience, and profound spiritual-cultural consciousness.
Devotee visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi for darshan will also come to Sri Shankaracharya Temple, generating significant economic momentum across the region. This influx will create employment opportunities, strengthen local enterprises, and inject fresh energy into overall regional development,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
