Simhachalam temple to go fully cashless, digital services rolled out

The Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam in Simhachalam is preparing to transition into a fully cashless temple, with the administration expanding digital infrastructure to streamline services and improve the overall experience for devotees.

In a statement issued on Monday, Executive Officer Jallepalli Venkata Rao said the move is aimed at reducing congestion, cutting waiting times, and making access to darshan and related services more efficient. He noted that the temple has been working to integrate multiple digital platforms so that pilgrims can plan and complete most services in advance.

As part of the initiative, booking facilities for darshan, prasadam, and arjitha seva tickets have been made available through several online and on-site digital channels. The administration has also introduced mobile phone deposit counters to regulate entry inside the temple premises. Pilgrims have been advised to complete all ticket bookings on their phones before depositing their devices at these counters.

To further simplify payments, QR code stations have been placed across key points in the temple complex. Devotees can scan these codes to pay instantly for a range of services without the need for cash transactions.

The EO appealed to devotees to cooperate with temple staff during the transition phase and adapt to the cashless system, saying it will help improve crowd management and service delivery during peak visiting hours.

Pilgrims will be able to access the cashless services through four primary channels — the official Devasthanam website for booking of darshan and accommodation, the ‘Manamitra’ mobile application for ticketing, updates, and digital payments, self-service kiosks installed within the temple premises for on-the-spot ticket purchases, and QR code-enabled payment points at major counters inside the complex.