Karnataka Tourism Corporation to Manage State Choultry at Tirumala
The proposal envisages transferring the management of rooms and restaurants at the choultry to KSTDC, a government agency with expertise in tourism and hospitality management, according to a cabinet note by the Karnataka Revenue Department (Muzrai),
The Karnataka State Choultry, functioning under the Religious Endowments Department of the Karnataka government, is spread across six acres and 47 cents at Tirumala.
The government had accorded permission in June 2020 for developing basic facilities, including guest houses and a Kalyana Mantapa, at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore.
Of the proposed expenditure, ₹202 crore was released directly to the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) through government orders issued in October 2020 and July 2022.
The TTD subsequently constructed the guest rooms, Kalyana Mantapa and other facilities to upgrade the Halebidu building.
The completed facilities include 71 air-conditioned rooms and 39 AC suites in the Hampi Block, 132 non-AC and 12 dormitory rooms in the Aihole Block, a Kalyana Mantapa with a seating capacity of 500 and a dining hall accommodating 250 people, 36 VIP rooms in the Sri Krishnadevaraya Block and 86 rooms in the Halebidu building.
The cabinet note stated that maintenance of the completed accommodation facilities was being handled by private contractors on an outsourced basis, with an average annual payment of ₹2.25 crore, but the services were found unsatisfactory.
The proposal to transfer management to KSTDC was discussed at a meeting chaired by the Karnataka Minister for Transport and Muzrai on February 9, 2026, attended by officials of the Revenue and Tourism departments, KSTDC and the Karnataka State Choultry.
Under the proposed arrangement, a joint bank account would be opened for the Religious Endowments Department and KSTDC to deposit income from the facilities.
The net income, after deducting operational expenses, would be shared equally between the two departments.
The booking system for accommodation would continue through the existing website, with online and offline booking provisions.
A state-level coordination committee comprising officials from the Revenue, Tourism and Religious Endowments departments and KSTDC would supervise and coordinate operations.
The proposal also envisages handing over the operation and maintenance of rooms and restaurants in the choultry to KSTDC for a period of five years.
The cabinet note stated that the arrangement was expected to ensure better maintenance of the facilities and enable the government to generate revenue through professional management.
The proposal has been placed before the Karnataka Cabinet for approval.
