Foreign currencies, including US dollars, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, and Bhutanese notes, were discovered in donation boxes at the historic Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Tripura. This reflects increasing global pilgrim visits. Counting of offerings is underway. The temple has also undergone a makeover under the PRASAD Scheme.
The increasing international attention toward one of India’s most sacred shrines, foreign currencies, including US dollars and notes from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, were discovered in the donation boxes of the revered Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Tripura’s Gomati district.
The discovery came during a routine offering-counting operation carried out under the supervision of the Gomati District Magistrate. A special 18-member team was constituted to open and count the donations on Monday. The team began its work early in the day by unsealing 14 donation boxes and one large iron chest placed within the temple premises.
According to temple officials, the counting process, which started in the morning, is expected to continue until around 9 pm due to the substantial volume of donations. The last such counting operation had taken place on April 24, 2025. The presence of multiple foreign currencies among the offerings strongly indicates that the temple is not only attracting pilgrims from various Indian states but is also witnessing a rise in footfall from international devotees and tourists.
A senior official associated with the counting process stated, “We were surprised to find a significant number of foreign currency notes, particularly US dollars and currency from neighboring countries. It clearly shows that international visitors are increasingly including Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in their spiritual journeys.”
The temple, located in Udaipur—commonly referred to as the ‘city of lakes’ and once the capital of the Manikya dynasty—is one of the 51 revered Shakti Peethas in the Indian subcontinent. Dedicated to Goddess Tripura Sundari, the temple holds immense religious significance and continues to draw devotees year-round. It is especially crowded during Diwali, when a grand Mela is organized on temple grounds.
With this recent discovery of foreign donations, officials believe that the spiritual destination is fast gaining global recognition. The influx of overseas pilgrims and tourists could be attributed to increased awareness about the temple’s religious and historical significance, improved infrastructure, and better connectivity to the site.
Moreover, the temple complex has recently undergone significant renovation and beautification under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, an initiative of the Union Ministry of Tourism. The improved infrastructure includes enhanced amenities for pilgrims, better sanitation, upgraded security arrangements, and a more organized crowd management system.
According to sources in the temple committee, the renovated temple premises are almost ready for formal inauguration. The state government is expected to announce the official date for the reopening soon. “We are confident that with these upgrades, the number of pilgrims—both domestic and international—will rise considerably in the coming months,” said a temple official.
Local residents and businesses around the temple are also optimistic about the economic benefits that increased tourism might bring. “With more international tourists coming in, local hotels, eateries, transport services, and shops selling religious items will definitely benefit,” said Pradip Debnath, a local shopkeeper.
District authorities have also hinted at plans to further promote the temple on the international spiritual tourism map by coordinating with the tourism department and leveraging digital platforms for outreach.
Meanwhile, the temple continues to be a hub of devotion and reverence. Hundreds of devotees offered prayers throughout the day, unaware that their contributions had caught the attention of officials due to the inclusion of foreign currency.
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The incident has sparked fresh interest in the temple’s growing popularity, with religious scholars noting that it could become one of the key centers of Shakti worship for devotees around the world. As officials continue counting and compiling the final figures from the donation boxes, one thing is clear: the sacred aura of Mata Tripura Sundari is now crossing borders, making it not only a revered site for Indians but a global spiritual destination.
