Soon, online booking for stay at Golden Temple

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 12

From New Year, pilgrims visiting the holy city to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple will have confirmed lodging. The SGPC is offering online booking of accommodation in its serais (inns), mostly located in the shrine complex.

SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar said that keeping the pilgrims’ convenience in view, it was decided — in the executive body meeting today — to make accommodation booking online through the official website.

“This will help confirm the devotees’ stay in the complex,” he said.

Around 80,000 devotees come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple daily. There are scores of budget hotels and guest houses in the vicinity, but the majority of them prefer to stay in the complex.

The existing system that provides accommodation is on first come, first served basis, subject to availability.

The devotees can upload the requisite documents and make the payment through debit or credit card to get the confirmation.

The SGPC is also adding 500 more rooms to meet the heavy rush. A state-of-the-art 10-storey inn is coming up in Gurdwara Saragarhi. Tentatively christened ‘Saragarhi Niwas’, it is coming up at a cost of Rs30 crore. It has 238 rooms, besides halls, and can accommodate 2,000 pilgrims.