Nagpur: Finally, The Maharashtra Government granted Grade A tourism site status to Nagpur’s Tekdi Ganesh Mandir. The Tourism and Culture Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) upgrading the Tekdi Ganesh Mandir’s status from Grade C to Grade A tourism site, promoting it as a national monument from earlier recognition as a district monument. The upgrade makes the temple eligible to receive Central Government funds for development.
Recently, the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) had drawn a Rs 170 crore plan for the beautification of the temple site and its surroundings. This plan can now be executed with Central funds.
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The Government Resolution was issued by the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra Government notifying the new tourism status for Tekdi Ganesh that will enable release of funds for enhancing more facilities for devotees. The notification mentioned that the idol of Lord Ganesh at Tekdi is over 200 years old. Every year about 10 lakh people visit the Tekdi Ganesh to pay obeisance.
It may be mentioned that then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced granting Class A tourism status to Tekdi Ganesh Temple, Hazrat Baba Tajuddin Dargah, Tajabad and Deekshabhoomi way back in year 2015. Of the three only Deekshabhoomi proposal for Class A tourism site was approved by State Government earlier while for rest two places the proposal was returned by the Tourism Department and it remained pending at Mantralaya.
Bhushan Dadve, social activist and Vice-President, BJP city unit, pursued the issue. In a memorandum to District Collector, Dadve mentioned the historical importance of Tekdi Ganesh Temple and demanded that it should get Class A tourism site status. The acceptance of Class A tourist site means State Government can release funds from Tourism Department for creation of amenities so that tourist do not face any inconvenience at the temple campus.
Till now Tekdi GaneshTemple was in C class category of tourism and hence the funds being received were quite less. Dadve continued his correspondence and met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Deputy CM Fadnavis and requested them to consider demand for upgrading Tekdi Ganesh Temple tourism category to A class.
Dadwe said, “The temple has a 300-year-old history. It is believed an ancient temple was built at the place where it is currently located by Hemandri Pandit.” The temple is located on a hillock in front of the Nagpur Railway Station’s west side and near the Madhya Pradesh State Transport Corporation (MPSRTC) bus stand.
“Until 1965, the temple — which stood on land owned by the Ministry of Defence — was out-of-bounds for common people. But the then Defence Minister Yashwantrao Chavan got it released from MoD jurisdiction allowing common people access to the site. Construction of the Ganesh temple began in the 1970s and it took almost 15 years to complete. Around 5,000-10,000 devotees visit the temple every day. It also gets an annual footfall of 1,000 foreign tourists,” Dadwe said.
On December 17, 2005, the State Government had declared the Tekdi Ganesh Temple a Grade C pilgrimage site.
