chennai: Devotees keen on embarking on a pilgrimage to the centuries old Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam can now avail modern accommodation on the banks of Kollidam (also known as Coleroon river), west of Srirangam, at affordable price. For the first time, the state Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department has established Yatri Nivas that could accommodate about 1,000 persons.

About 98 double bedrooms and 24 cottages with twin bedrooms each apart this yatri nivas has dormitories.It has a herbal garden to highlight the significance of medicinal plants.
It took about one-and-a-half years to complete this Rs 48 crore project. HR & CE Commissioner P. Dhanapal who inspected the newly dedicated yatri nivas in view of Vaikunta Ekadasi said devotees could also book accommodation through the temple website: www.srirangam. org.

“The tariff for the rooms have been kept at a nominal price to ensure the devotees benefited and also had hassle-free stay in the temple town during their sojourn,” he said. The tariff for cottage is Rs1,750, a/c double room: Rs 750 and for non-a/c it is Rs500. The dormitory accommodation is available on payment of Rs100. The yatri nivas is the brainchild of the former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa who wanted the government to provide good accommodation for the pilgrims.

Accordingly, the project was taken up on 6.48-acre land and she had inaugurated the project. Kollidam is a famous tourist spot and staying at this scenic place would strategically position the devotees in visiting the near-by temples.