Hyderabad: A temple visit to Yadadri is increasingly being turned into an unofficial “package” by touts, who allegedly charge devotees for facilitating quick darshan, taking vehicles up the hill without paying toll, and arranging other services, raising concerns over revenue leakage and the monitoring of devotees at the shrine.
The tout also offered special darshan for a group of 10 for ₹2,000 through UPI, indicating that the services were being offered as a package rather than through the temple’s official ticketing system. The practice came to light through conversations between touts and devotees planning visits to the Yadadri temple. In one such conversation, a tout offered to arrange darshan, food and accommodation, besides taking the devotees up the hill in their vehicle.
Recently, a family of 11 from Hyderabad stayed at a private lodge near the foothills and planned to visit the temple early in the morning. They paid ₹1,500 for the service. The ₹150 quick-darshan ticket generated around ₹10.3 crore in 2023-24, ₹13.6 crore in 2024-25 and ₹12.8 crore in 2025-26. Similarly, the ₹300 break-darshan ticket generated around ₹7.6 crore in 2023-24, ₹7.4 crore in 2024-25 and ₹7.5 crore in 2025-26.
No official tickets are issued for several of these arrangements, making it difficult to ascertain the number of devotees being routed through such channels and the revenue lost by the temple. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Hyderabad | Silver Rate in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Petrol Price in Hyderabad | Diesel Price in Hyderabad | CNG Price in Hyderabad | LPG Price in Hyderabad Stay updated with the latest Hyderabad news.
M Venkatesh, who availed of such services, touts facilitate entry into the hill area without the usual toll payment and arrange direct access for darshan, according to a devotee. Akula Srinivas, a native of Yadagiripally, a village near the shrine, told TOI , “The touts operate through a network involving local brokers, small-time political leaders and intermediaries who have established contacts with some persons associated with temple operations. Private lodges, choultries and even areas around temple accommodation facilities are said to be points where such touts approach devotees and negotiate packages”, he added. Temple executive officer Bhavani Shankar said steps would be taken to curb the practice and strengthen surveillance at the temple. We will ensure that stricter procedures are implemented,” he said.
They also allegedly offer to arrange Veda ashirvachanam and, where possible, anna prasadam. The lodge management contacted a person who offered to arrange the visit. The family was taken up the hill and managed to complete darshan and return within about an hour. The operation appears to involve different groups handling different stages. One group allegedly facilitates taking devotees and their vehicles up the hill, while another helps them secure access for darshan after reaching the temple premises. The arrangement allows the touts to offer devotees a quicker and more convenient visit while bypassing parts of the established ticketing and access system. The problem is likely to be more pronounced during the ongoing Sravana month, when the number of devotees visiting Yadadri increases. With devotees willing to pay for quicker access and convenience, touts are allegedly using the rush to expand their operations. The unofficial arrangements also raise questions over temple revenue. Devotees who are taken through such channels may not buy the prescribed darshan tickets, resulting in potential revenue loss to the temple while creating an unofficial parallel system for access to the shrine. The temple’s own figures show the scale of revenue generated through its regular darshan ticketing system. The revenue figures underline the importance of ensuring that devotees seeking paid darshan are routed through the official system. “We will take necessary measures to prevent such practices in darshan arrangements. The surveillance system will be strengthened and the issue will be brought to the notice of the trust board. Download the TOI App.