Sivagiri pilgrimage circuit: Centre sanctions Rs 45.62 crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned Rs 45.62 crore for the Sivagiri pilgrimage tourism project under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, BJP MLA V. Muraleedharan said.

The funds will be used to develop basic facilities for pilgrims. The project includes a Tourist Facilitation Centre, an audio-visual hall complex and a community dining hall and kitchen complex.

Sivagiri was included in Swadesh Darshan 2.0 following the intervention of former Union Minister and MLA V. Muraleedharan. Muraleedharan had met Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in this regard. A central team visited the site in June to assess the progress of the project.

In 2022, Rs 66.42 crore had been sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 1.0 for the Sivagiri-Aruvippuram-Kunnumpuram-Chempazhanthy spiritual circuit. The pilgrimage tourism circuit connecting the centres associated with Sree Narayana Guru was included in the Swadesh Darshan scheme by the Union government in 2019.