Devotees to feel the pinch as Ujjain hoteliers hike room tariff
If you are planning to visit Ujjain during the mega Simhastha Fair and have not booked a room yet, then be ready to shell out a few more bucks as most hotels in the city have already hiked their room tariffs by at least five times for the period.
If you are planning to visit Ujjain during the mega Simhastha Fair and have not booked a room yet, then be ready to shell out a few more bucks as most hotels in the city have already hiked their room tariffs by at least five times for the period.
Simhastha is scheduled from April 22 to May 21 and the administration estimates over five crore people to attend the event.
To mint maximum money during the period, hoteliers have spiked the room tariffs several times, especially during the ‘Shahi Snan’ days that fall on May 9 and 21. While the tariff for normal days of the mega religious congregation has been tripled at several hotels, devotees may have to pay at least five times more on the ‘Shahi Snan’ days.
The scenario becomes grimmer as almost no rooms are left at the two state government-run hotels -- Kshipra Residency and Hotel Awantika Yatri Niwas.
When approached Rudraksh Resorts manager Bhupendra Singh Panwar told HT that the hotel will charge Rs 14,837 per day for a superior category room on April 22, when the room tariff round the year is just Rs 3,000 per day. Similarly, a room at Imperial Hotel, which was available for Rs 2,400 in February, will cost you Rs 10,000 on the opening day of the fair.
The scenario is little different at the other major hotels in the city and if sources are to be believed, then the tariff is likely to rise further in the coming days. But the good news is that even after charging exorbitantly, the hotels are getting good response as bulk bookings are being done by different religious organisations.
10 luxury hotels come up
To meet the surging demand, many new hotels have also come up in the city. At least 10 luxury hotels, having more than 50 rooms each, have come up on the 10-km stretch on the Indore road to Mahakal temple. Several existing ones, including Meghdoot Resorts, Mittal Avenue and Shanti Palace, have extended their premises taking their tally to rooms to thrice.