Meals at Rs 80, Tea at Rs 15: Idukki Fixes Food Prices for Sabarimala Pilgrims
IDUKKI: The Idukki district administration has fixed the prices of vegetarian food items sold at hotels operating at Sabarimala pilgrim transit centres in the district ahead of the 2026–27 Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
District Collector Dr Dinesan Cheruwat issued an order specifying the rates to prevent hotels from overcharging Ayyappa devotees during the pilgrimage season.
The price regulations apply to vegetarian food items sold at hotels, restaurants and bakeries, excluding five-star hotels and bar hotels.
According to the order, the price of a rice meal and vegetable biryani has been fixed at Rs 80 each. Porridge will cost Rs 45, while tea, coffee and lime juice will be available for Rs 15 each.
The prescribed rates for other items include Rs 60 for ghee roast and masala dosa, Rs 50 for poori masala, Rs 35 for tapioca, and Rs 12 each for bonda, onion vada and bajji.
Milma products must be sold at their respective Maximum Retail Prices (MRP).
The Collector has also directed all hotels and restaurants in the district to display their price lists in six languages – Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
The display boards must also include the phone numbers of officials deployed for Sabarimala duty from the Civil Supplies, Food Safety and Legal Metrology departments so that pilgrims can register complaints.
The district administration will strengthen inspections through joint enforcement squads to prevent hotels from charging pilgrims more than the prescribed rates, the Collector said.
Extensive Arrangements at Ettumanoor Pilgrim Centre
Meanwhile, extensive arrangements are being planned at the Ettumanoor pilgrim transit centre in Kottayam district ahead of the Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
MLA Nattakom Suresh has directed various government departments to complete the preparations within the stipulated time to ensure facilities for Ayyappa devotees.
Control rooms of the Police, Excise and Revenue departments will function at the Ettumanoor pilgrim centre during the pilgrimage season.
Arrangements will also be made to regulate vehicle parking near the temple and ensure that streetlights in the surrounding areas remain operational.
Adequate toilet facilities will be provided for pilgrims, and information boards carrying announcements in multiple languages will be installed to assist devotees arriving from different states.
The arrangements are aimed at ensuring smoother travel and better facilities for Ayyappa devotees visiting the transit centre during the pilgrimage season.