The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹708 crore [1] to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department for a five-year renovation program.

This initiative represents a significant state investment in cultural preservation and administrative reform. By upgrading infrastructure and changing how temples are governed, the government aims to improve the experience for thousands of pilgrims while shifting away from hereditary control of religious sites.

Under the plan, the state will renovate 3,000 temples [1]. A specific portion of the budget, totaling ₹418 crore [4], is dedicated to the restoration of 213 ancient temples that are over 1,000 years old [4]. The program also targets the restoration of 250 temple tanks [4].

Efforts to preserve religious artifacts include the restoration of temple cars and chariots. Reports vary on the exact number, with some sources citing 84 temple cars [1] and others noting 75 wooden chariots [4].

Beyond physical repairs, the HR&CE Department is upgrading pilgrim amenities. These improvements focus on providing better drinking water, restrooms, and lodging facilities [4].

Administrative changes are also central to the project. The government is moving to appoint non-hereditary trustees to ensure more transparent administration. While one report indicates a total of 9,205 trustees [4], current recruitment calls vary. One notice seeks applications for 757 temples [3], while other invitations target 214 temples [4], and an additional 27 temples [5].

Application deadlines for these trustee positions are occurring this week, with some closing on Aug. 5 [5] and others on Aug. 12 [3].

“The state will renovate 3,000 temples.”

This massive allocation signals a strategic move by the Tamil Nadu government to centralize the management of religious sites. By replacing hereditary trustees with appointed officials and investing heavily in infrastructure, the state is attempting to modernize the administration of ancient sites while simultaneously boosting religious tourism through improved pilgrim amenities.