Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated a newly constructed Yatri Bhawan at the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, aimed at improving accommodation facilities for pilgrims visiting one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most revered shrines.
Dedicating the facility to the public, the Lieutenant Governor said the Yatri Bhawan would significantly enhance the pilgrimage experience by providing safe, hygienic and comfortable lodging for devotees.
The Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple, located about 25 kilometres from Srinagar and 5 kilometres from Ganderbal town, attracts thousands of devotees throughout the year, particularly during the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani and Jyeshtha Ashtami celebrations. The shrine holds special significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community, many of whose members visit the temple from across the country and abroad.
Sinha recalled that several delegations had approached him in 2023 seeking the construction of a Yatri Bhawan at the shrine. Following these representations, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, through its Rural Engineering Wing, prepared the project, and the foundation stone was laid by the Lieutenant Governor on the occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami in 2024.
“With the blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani, the foundation stone was laid last year, and today this important facility has been dedicated to the devotees,” Sinha said. He added that the Yatri Bhawan would strengthen infrastructure for pilgrims and provide members of the Kashmiri Pandit community with a more comfortable and fulfilling spiritual experience.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 3.85 crore within the temple premises, the facility is a G+II RCC structure with a plinth area of 3,885 square feet. It has been designed to accommodate approximately 800 to 900 pilgrims through floor bedding arrangements.
Earlier in the day, the Lieutenant Governor offered prayers at the shrine and prayed for peace, prosperity and the well-being of all citizens.
