LG Manoj Sinha Inaugurates Yatri Bhawan at Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Ganderbal
Ganderbal, June 5 (PTK): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Yatri Bhawan at the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, dedicating the facility to devotees and pilgrims visiting the historic shrine.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said the new Yatri Bhawan would significantly enhance the pilgrimage experience by providing safe, hygienic and comfortable accommodation facilities to devotees visiting the temple throughout the year.
Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple, located in Tulmulla, around 25 kilometres from Srinagar and 5 kilometres from Ganderbal town, is one of the most revered shrines in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple attracts thousands of devotees annually, particularly during the Mela Kheer Bhawani and Jyeshtha Ashtami celebrations, when members of the Kashmiri Pandit community from across the country and abroad visit the shrine.
The Lieutenant Governor recalled that several delegations had approached him in 2023 seeking improved accommodation facilities for pilgrims. Following the demand, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, through its Rural Engineering Wing (REW), prepared the project plan, while the foundation stone for the Yatri Bhawan was laid by him on Jyeshtha Ashtami in 2024.
“With the blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani, I laid the foundation stone for this project in 2024. The facility will strengthen the shrine’s capacity to host pilgrims from across India and abroad. Our objective has been to provide members of the Kashmiri Pandit community and other devotees a comfortable and spiritually enriching experience during their visit,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 3.85 crore, the Yatri Bhawan comprises a G+II RCC framed structure with a plinth area of 3,885 square feet. The facility has been designed to accommodate approximately 800 to 900 pilgrims through floor bedding arrangements during major religious gatherings and festivals.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor paid obeisance at the shrine and offered prayers for peace, prosperity and the well-being of the people.
The inauguration of the Yatri Bhawan is expected to provide a major boost to pilgrim facilities at the shrine and improve arrangements for the large number of devotees visiting the sacred temple annually.(PTK)
