Exclusive darshan arrangements for pilgrims taking forest route to Sabarimala

Special tags, issued by the Forest department, will provide unique privileges, including a separate queue for darshan.

Pilgrims trekking through the traditional forest paths to the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala will soon benefit from exclusive darshan arrangements, thanks to a new initiative by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in collaboration with the Forest department.

TDB president P.S. Prashanth announced plans to introduce special tags for pilgrims using forest routes. These tags, issued by the Forest department, will provide unique privileges, including a separate queue for darshan. “From Pampa, pilgrims can choose to trek up to Sannidhanam via the Swami Ayyappan Road or the Neelimala route,” he said.

All pilgrims travelling through forest paths from Pullumedu and Erumely will be eligible for the tags, allowing them to enter Sannidhanam through the less congested Chandranandan Road.

High-speed broadband

The TDB, meanwhile, has also announced the plans to lay duct fiber optic cables between Nilackal and Pampa to ensure high-speed broadband connectivity on the hilltop. Internet service providers, including BSNL, have expressed interest in extending their services to Sannidhanam once the project is complete. Currently, Internet connectivity at Sannidhanam is only available during the Makaravilakku season.

As part of its platinum jubilee celebrations next year, the TDB is also gearing up for a digital transformation. Dr. Vinod Bhattathiri, Kerala Police cyber consultant, has been appointed as chief advisor for this initiative.

The digitisation project will be implemented in phases, starting with revenue and expenditure accounts, followed by an e-governance system. Additional digital tools, such as pricing software, e-tendering, and e-billing systems, are also on the anvil.

The TDB is also collaborating with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to develop comprehensive temple management software for the 1,252 temples under its jurisdiction.

Published - December 16, 2024 07:09 pm IST