Sky is roof for devotees of Lord Rama in Bhadrachalam

​Kothagudem: Hundreds of devotees who throng the renowned Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadradri do not seem to be all that blessed as getting accommodation in the temple town has become a major problem for them.

The famous temple known as Dakshin Ayodhya was built in the 16th century by famous Lord Rama devotee Bhakta Rama Das. The devotees in large numbers from adjoining districts and neighbouring States come to the temple and offer special pujas in the temple.

The temple is allegedly facing many problems due to the lack of proper facilities for the devotees. Though the temple makes good income from various rituals like Arjitha Sevas and Hundi collections, officials and the Endowments Department has allegedly neglected the development and other facilities for devotees on the temple premises.

The devotees are said to be afraid to come to the temple as it causes a huge hole in their pockets due to the lack of facilities like accommodations. Scores of devotees are seen staying under the trees on the premises or on the banks of the Godavari after the darshan of Lord Rama on a daily basis.

The temple has only 26 cottages, a hundred-room almshouse and other fifty rooms available for devotees. The temple authorities have constructed only that many accommodation facilities for devotes. One room has been constructed by TTD here near the temple for devotees.

It is a major enigma that such a famous temple, where thousands of devotees throng, has only around 150 rooms, say the locals. The persisting question is that why the temple authorities and the Endowment Department do not plan to construct more cottages and rooms for the comfort of devotees, according to one of the Lord Rama devotees.

While the plight of poor devotees is like this, private lodges are raking in moolah, fleecing devotees who have no other way to spend their nights in the temple town. A devotee K Krishna said private lodges in Bhadrachalam charged exorbitant rates from the devotees. Even after shelling out huge amounts, these private lodges did not provide proper facilities, he lamented.

“Rooms are not good for spending more days here. Why don’t the temple authorities provides proper facilities to the devotees to Lord Rama?” he asked. Another devotee P Venkateshwara Rao said, “Most of the people come here for having the darshan of Lord Rama and to visit the tourism spot Papikondalu. But here they are facing accommodations problems and are forced to stay in faraway towns like Kothagudem and Palvonacha.

We are coming to the holy place to get blessings of Lord Rama, but the temple is not providing facilities for staying.” He appealed to the government to make arrangements for comfortable stay of devotees and to offer facilities. Temple Executive Officer K Prabhakar Srinivas said proposals were being sent to the government for constructions of more rooms on the temple premises.

He also said they were seeking donations from wealthy devotees for the construction of rooms. Tirumala Tirupati Trust Board Member Sandra Venkata Veeraiah said the TTD would constructed 50 rooms for devotees near Lord Rama Temple. He said the board sanctioned the amount for the purpose in 2017-18.