Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated a newly constructed Yatri Bhawan, or pilgrim rest house, at the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, on Friday. The facility is intended to enhance accommodation and amenities for devotees visiting one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most significant Hindu shrines.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Yatri Bhawan, built at a cost of Rs 3.85 crore, is a G+II Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) structure with a plinth area of 3,885 square feet. It is designed to accommodate approximately 800 to 900 pilgrims using floor bedding arrangements, aiming to provide safe, hygienic, and comfortable lodging.
The Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple, situated approximately 25 kilometers from Srinagar and five kilometers from the Ganderbal town, draws a substantial number of devotees throughout the year. The shrine is particularly important during the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani and Jyeshtha Ashtami festivals, which attract thousands of pilgrims, including a significant number from the Kashmiri Pandit community.
The construction of the Yatri Bhawan was initiated following requests from several delegations who met with the Lieutenant Governor in 2023, highlighting the need for improved facilities. Subsequently, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, through its Rural Engineering Wing, developed the project. The Lieutenant Governor laid the foundation stone for the facility in 2024.
Recalling the foundation stone laying ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor noted it was performed on Jyeshtha Ashtami in 2024, with the blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani. He expressed that the new facility would strengthen the infrastructure for pilgrims travelling from across India and abroad, while also offering a more comfortable spiritual experience for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Prior to the inauguration, Lieutenant Governor Sinha offered prayers at the shrine, where he invoked blessings for peace, prosperity, and well-being for all citizens. The establishment of the Yatri Bhawan is seen as a significant step in bolstering religious tourism and improving the overall pilgrimage experience at this revered site in the Ganderbal district.
The Chenab Times News Desk