The Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain has registered its highest-ever annual income, reflecting the growing number of devotees visiting the shrine since the development of the Mahakal Lok corridor. According to temple authorities, the temple management committee recorded a total revenue of ₹142 crore during the financial year 2025-26, with donations alone contributing ₹78 crore.

The figure marks the highest donation collection in the past six years and is approximately ₹27 crore higher than the amount received in the previous financial year. Officials attribute the increase to the steady rise in pilgrim footfall and the enhanced infrastructure developed around the temple complex.

Data released by the temple committee shows that ₹62 crore came through donation boxes installed across the premises. Another ₹5.5 crore was received through cash counters, while online donations contributed ₹3.6 crore. Donations through the temple's Annakshetra accounted for ₹3.38 crore, and secret donations added ₹4.65 crore to the overall collection. Contributions through money orders also continued, though on a much smaller scale.

Apart from cash offerings, devotees donated gold and silver ornaments worth several crores during the year. Temple authorities said the value of such donations is assessed separately as part of the institution’s overall assets.

One of the major contributors to the temple’s revenue stream was the sale of laddoo prasad. The temple earned ₹65 crore through the sale of the popular offering, underscoring the scale of pilgrim participation at the shrine.

The growth in revenue comes nearly four years after the inauguration of Mahakal Lok, the grand corridor project dedicated to Lord Mahakal. The project was inaugurated on October 11, 2022, and significantly transformed the temple precinct.

Since the launch of the corridor, the number of devotees visiting the temple has increased dramatically. Temple officials estimate that daily footfall, which earlier ranged between 40,000 and 50,000 devotees, has now risen to nearly 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh visitors on many days. Major festivals and religious occasions witness even higher numbers.

With the rise in donations and pilgrim traffic, temple authorities have also strengthened financial monitoring systems. Assistant Administrator Ashish Palwadia said the temple follows a structured and transparent process for handling donations.

The temple currently has 95 donation boxes placed at different locations. These are opened every week under strict security arrangements. Donation boxes are transported to a counting room where officials, including inspectors and administrative staff, supervise the counting process. The entire exercise is documented through photography and monitored using CCTV surveillance.

To ensure transparency, employees involved in counting are required to follow special protocols. Only personnel wearing clothes without pockets or garments with stitched pockets are permitted to enter the counting room, reducing the possibility of any irregularities during the process.

While income has increased substantially, temple expenditure has also grown following the expansion of the complex. Before Mahakal Lok was developed, the temple covered around 2.82 hectares. The expanded campus now spans approximately 47 hectares and requires significantly greater operational resources.

The temple committee currently employs 306 staff members. Expenditure includes salaries, security arrangements, cleanliness drives, maintenance, infrastructure development, festival management, accommodation facilities, Annakshetra operations, gaushala maintenance, research activities and cultural programmes.

Officials said the temple’s monthly expenditure, which previously stood at around ₹2.5 crore, has now crossed ₹5 crore. Additional spending is incurred during major religious events such as Mahashivratri, Shravan month celebrations and Nag Panchami, when lakhs of devotees arrive in Ujjain for darshan.