SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated a newly constructed Yatri Bhawan at the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, aimed at improving accommodation facilities for pilgrims visiting one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most revered shrines.
After 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 around 25 km from Srinagar and 5 km from Ganderbal town, attracts a large number of devotees throughout the year, particularly during the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani and Jyeshtha Ashtami, when thousands of pilgrims, including members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, visit the shrine.
In 2023, several delegations had met the Lieutenant Governor requesting the construction of a Yatri Bhawan. Following this, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, through the Rural Engineering Wing, prepared the project, and the foundation stone was laid by the Lieutenant Governor in 2024.
Recalling the occasion, Sinha said the foundation stone was laid on Jyeshtha Ashtami in 2024 with blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani, adding that the project would strengthen facilities for pilgrims from across the country and abroad and provide the Kashmiri Pandit community with a more comfortable spiritual experience.
The facility, constructed at a cost of Rs 3.85 crore within the temple premises, is a G+II RCC structure with a plinth area of 3,885 square feet and has been designed to accommodate around 800–900 pilgrims through floor bedding arrangements.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor offered prayers at the shrine, seeking peace, prosperity and well-being for all.
