Srinagar, June 5 (IANS) J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated the Yatri Bhawan at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple shrine in Ganderbal district.

Officials said the L-G inaugurated the facility at Tulamulla town in Ganderbal district.

After dedicating the facilities to the public, the J&K L-G said the new Yatri Bhawan would substantially improve the pilgrimage experience at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple by providing safe, hygienic, and comfortable accommodation.

Mata Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulamulla is one of the most revered shrines in Jammu and Kashmir.

Located approximately 25 km from Srinagar and 5 km from Ganderbal town, the shrine 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 temple.

In 2023, several delegations met the J&K L-G to request the construction of a Yatri Bhawan. Subsequently, the Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, through the Rural Engineering Wing (REW), designed the plan, and the L-G laid the foundation stone in 2024.

“With Mata Kheer Bhawani’s blessing, I had laid the foundation stone on Jyeshtha Ashtami in 2024. The project will enhance the shrine’s capacity to host pilgrims from India and abroad. My goal has been to provide the Kashmiri Pandit community visiting the shrine with excellent facilities and a serene spiritual experience,” the J&K L-G said.

The facility, constructed within the temple premises for Rs 3.85 crore, comprises a G+II RCC framed structure with a plinth area of 3,885 sq. ft. and is designed to accommodate approximately 800–900 pilgrims through floor bedding arrangements.

Earlier, the J&K L-G paid obeisance at Mata Kheer Bhawani temple and prayed for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of all.

–IANS

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