Attukal Pongala: Pre-booking rush begins, Major hotels already hit full capacity

THRUVANANTHAPURAM: With barely two weeks left for the Attukal Pongala festival, hotels in the city are filling fast with pre-bookings. Most hotels, lodges and homestays are already full ahead of the festival days.

Devotees coming from states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh usually book rooms in advance. Since hotels in major centres are booked in advance, some are relying on hotels and homestays outside the city limits. Bookings are almost double than usual during this Pongala season.

With mobile apps and travel portals now rampant, offline bookings have plummeted. Due to high demand, many hotels have made advance payments mandatory. There is a special demand for AC rooms, family suites, and group rooms.

Some hotels have introduced special Pongala packages, including accommodation, food, and transportation.