Kerala CM Inaugurates Kazhakootam Pilgrim Rest Camp; Sabarimala Devotees to Benefit
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday inaugurated a modern Pilgrim Rest Camp (locally called an ‘edathavalam’) at Kazhakootam near the Sree Mahadeva Temple. The Rs 11-crore facility is part of the state government’s project to provide rest and accommodation facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims, with 12 such camps being constructed across Kerala with KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board) funding.
Minister V. N. Vasavan, MLA Kadakampally Surendran, Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar, and Devaswom Board Commissioner B. Sunil Kumar attended the inauguration.
Completed Pilgrim Rest Camps include those at Maniyankode (Wayanad), Erumeli (Kottayam), and Kazhakootam, while work is ongoing at six other locations. The camp at Nilakkal is almost complete, and construction at Chengannur is progressing rapidly. These centers are designed to support devotees during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season and can also serve other public purposes after the Mandala-Makaravilakku period.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said pilgrims often had to park their vehicles on roadsides and rest after long journeys, creating significant inconvenience. “With these facilities, we are providing a permanent solution,” he added.
The Kazhakootam Pilgrim Rest Camp spans 32,000 square feet across three floors and includes:
- A Large annadanam (free meal) hall that can accommodate 300 people at a time
- Dormitory facilities for 75 men and 25 women
- Secure locker rooms
- Lift and high-speed Wi-Fi
An open-air auditorium was also constructed at a cost of ₹1.5 crore. The concept of Pilgrim Rest Camps was formulated in 2016 under the leadership of then-Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, and the initiative is now in the completion phase across the state.