Devotees visiting the temple town of Srirangam could look forward to good lodging facility in serene surroundings as the Yatri Nivas being constructed by the government is set to be declared open soon.
Construction of the Yatri Nivas, taken up at a cost of about Rs. 43 crore, has reached the finishing stage and is expected to be declared open soon.
The project was among the first to be announced by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa soon after she was elected from the Srirangam constituency in the 2011 Assembly election. She laid the foundation for the project in June 2011.
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Although the Srirangam island, wedged between the Cauvery and Coleroon rivers, attracts thousands of devotees right through the year, it has had very few hotels all these years with most devotees opting to stay at Tiruchi city.
The construction of the modern yatri nivas behind the famous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple would come as a boon to devotees visiting the temple and the nearby Sri Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Temple at Thiruvanaikovil.
The Yatri Nivas, with an ambience of a resort on the banks of the Coleroon river, could accommodate as many as 1,000 devotees.
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According to sources in the Public Works Department, which took up the project, the complex houses 18 blocks, including four huge dormitories, each of which can accommodate 150 persons.
There are six family cottages and a hotel block with 100 double bedrooms. There is a restaurant with two dining halls, a kitchen, and other required amenities.
A tonsure house with separate halls for men and women has been constructed. A rest room for drivers, common toilets and parking area has been created. The complex would also have well-laid out lawns.
Once completed the Yatri Nivas would be handed over to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.
The Yatri Nivas with an ambience of a resort on the banks of the Coleroon river, could accommodate 1,000 devotees.