Pilgrim s regress
the coming Sabrimala season from November 16, 2005, to the end of January will see more developments in the Periyar Tiger Reserve (ptr) which is home to the Ayappa shrine, which draws thousands of pilgrims. The ever-increasing amenities pose challenges to the conservation of the forest.
A meeting convened by Kerala cm, decided that the 110 hectares (ha) of forestland at Nillakal, that is now a base camp for pilgrims, would get electricity through underground cables, increased parking space and construct 400 toilets. "We now have 30 acres of land for parking as against 20 acres,'' said Raman Nair, President of the Travancore Dewasom Board, that runs the shrine. Parking capacity was 10,000 vehicles