Sri Venkateswara Museum in Tirumala set for Rs 145cr makeover

In a move set to elevate the stature of the Sri Venkateswara Museum in Tirumala, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) held a “Bhoomi Pooja” on Friday to kickstart a ₹145 crore development project. This ambitious initiative aims to transform the museum into a top-tier global attraction, spotlighting the vast heritage and longstanding traditions of the revered Tirumala temple.

TTD’s chairman, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, alongside executive officer A.V. Dharma Reddy, graced the ceremonial event, which observed strict adherence to Agama Shastras. Addressing attendees, Karunakar Reddy laid out a vision for the revamped museum, which seeks to “provide a divine experience” to every visitor by portraying the grandeur of Sri Venkateswara Swamy and imparting knowledge about the temple’s historical significance and age-old traditions.

He further applauded the contributions of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and MAP Systems, who have pledged their expertise on a donation basis to develop various museum galleries. “MAP Systems will craft five galleries with a budget of ₹20 crore, while TCS will curate 14 galleries, involving a lavish outlay of ₹125 crore,” informed the TTD chairman.

Set for completion by December this year, the renovated museum will span three levels.  The ground floor, a collaborative effort between MAP Systems and TCS, will showcase exhibits ranging from Tiruveedhi, temple experiences, Vahanas, Sevas, to 3D Sapthagiri experiences. This level will also host antique displays from Venkateswara Swamy, inclusive of Annamaiah copper plates and rare numismatic artifacts.

The first floor will emphasize musical instruments, weapons, and puja utensils, while the top two floors will spotlight the vastness of the cosmos through the Brahmanda gallery, Viratpurush, and Chaturveda exhibits.

Furthermore, 17 expansive domes will adorn the museum, depicting the unwavering devotion of iconic figures like Ramanujacharya, Madhwacharya, and others, intertwined with tales from ancient epics, such as the Srimad Ramayana and Mahabharata.