Jammu: The Shri Shankaracharya temple complex dedicated to Adi Shankaracharya will come up in the Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the complex on Wednesday.
The Trikuta hills are also home to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony comes nearly six decades after the temple project was first conceived in 1967, officials said.
The long‑awaited project, originally conceived in 1967, centres on the construction of the temple on the adjoining hillocks near the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, one of India’s most revered pilgrimage destinations. The initiative gained renewed momentum in 2025 when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the concerned landowners. Under the agreement, 41 kanals of land have been consented for donation to develop a motorable access track and essential facilities for pilgrims, including toilets and drinking water points.
The SMVDSB has proposed the construction of the Shri Shankaracharya Ji Temple along with the access track, associated public utilities, and 50 commercial shops for the benefit of landowners, at an estimated cost of Rs 31.51 crore. The project is envisaged not only as a centre of spiritual nourishment for devotees but also as a catalyst for regional economic activity by enhancing pilgrimage infrastructure and amenities.
Officials have highlighted that the temple complex will be developed as a vibrant spiritual centre that prioritises devotee welfare while contributing to the prosperity of local communities who sustain it. The initiative is part of broader infrastructure enhancements approved by the Shrine Board, which also include improvements to pilgrim facilities and track development at the Vaishno Devi shrine.
