Karnataka Muzrai department head office Dharmika Soudha to bring Hoysala architectural style to Bengaluru

Artist’s impression of the “Dharmika Soudha” which will be built in Bangalore. | Photo credit:

Since Independence, the Muzrai department, which oversees 34,564 temples across Karnataka, has been operating out of rented premises. However, it is now planned to have its own dedicated headquarters named ‘Dharmika Soudha’, which will be built in Bengaluru at a cost of ₹10 crore, showcasing Hoysala’s iconic architectural style.

The multi-storey complex will serve as a one-stop solution for all activities related to the Muzrai department and will be located on 26 guntas of land owned by the department. The site is located behind the Ramanjaneya Swamy Temple, opposite the MS building in Bangalore. Of the total area, 6 guntas are occupied by the temple, while the remaining 20 guntas will be used for the construction of Dharmika Soudha.

Talk to The HinduMr. Reddy said, “The current office of the religious endowments department is located opposite Minto Hospital, where we pay a monthly rent of around ₹11 lakh. Since its establishment after Independence, the department has not had its own building although it owns hundreds of acres of temple lands in Bangalore and across Karnataka. This prompted the decision to build Dharmika Soudha. Construction will begin within a month and the public works department will oversee the project.

Characteristics of Soudha

Dharmika Soudha will be a four-storey building and will include features such as dedicated parking lots, courtroom, commissioner’s office, investigation department, headquarters and quality assurance offices, IT sections and engineering, a meeting room, an open office room, a digital library, an archive room and an auditorium.

Besides constructing the Dharmika Soudha, the department will also modernize the nearby Ramanjaneya Swamy Temple. Plans include the construction of two double-bedroom houses for the temple priests, as well as the renovation of the Yaga Shala and cooks in front of the temple. These temple-related expenses will be covered by the Muzrai department.

The decision to construct the building was recently finalized at a meeting of the Religious Endowments Council chaired by Mr. Reddy, with plans for the project already prepared.

The Muzrai department has reported an increase in revenue and footfall over the past year. In the financial year 2023-24, the department saw a 5% increase in revenue, collecting ₹744.29 crore compared to ₹708.86 crore in the financial year 2022-23. Additionally, 1,93,62,851 devotees visited temples in 2023, representing a 3.7% increase in footfall.