The decked-up Rajmata Vishwabhara Devi Yatri Niwas in Patna City on Thursday. Picture by Sachin

Patna, Dec. 29: Sikh devotees and pilgrims visiting Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib gurdwara in Patna City would not have to worry about food and accommodation anymore.

In the run-up to the 345th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Govind Singh Ji Maharaj on December 31, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today inaugurated a swanky five-storeyed dharamshala (choultry) housing 109 deluxe air-conditioned rooms on the premises of Guru Bal Leela adjoining the shrine.

Christened Rajmata Vishwabhara Devi Yatri Niwas, the choultry, constructed at Rs 6 crore in 11 months, can accommodate around 2,000 people at a time. Availability of round-the-clock langar (community meal) is one of the prime facilities devotees and pilgrims can avail free of cost.

At the inaugural event, Modi said: “The state government would provide every possible support for the development of Patna Sahib Gurdwara.” He also joined the langar with hundreds of other devotees during the ceremony.

All rooms are furnished with two single beds, a double bed, dressing table, hangers apart from a balcony and attached bathroom with commode and geyser. Moreover, 35 rooms have been provided with two double beds. A big hall on the first floor, where langars are held, can accommodate 100 people at a time. The ground floor has 15 toilets and washrooms.

Speaking at the event, state road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav claimed the temple would be connected by four-lane roads in future. “Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib is a historical and highly significant temple and thousands of pilgrims from across the country visit it round the year. Considering the importance of this temple and our endeavour to serve the citizens, we are going to develop a four-lane Ganga Driveway that would connect the temple with the capital. The tender for this project would be floated in the next few months and the road would be ready by 2014. Moreover, the entire state would have a vast network of four-lane roads connecting it with the rest of the country.”

Hundreds of Sikh devotees, who attended the inaugural function, were delighted with the new choultry. “My family comes to Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib for the past 20 years. The new choultry is completely unbelievable as it looks like and provides facilities like any five-star hotel. It would benefit thousands of pilgrims coming here from across the country throughout the year,” said Mandeep Singh, a devotee from Amritsar present at the inaugural event.