A group of 27 devotees from Delhi, who arrived on a pilgrimage to Srisailam via Hyderabad on Saturday, were left stranded without accommodation after discovering that they had booked rooms through a fraudulent website.
Victim Recounts Ordeal
Anand Kumar, one of the victims, told reporters that he had booked nine AC rooms for his family at Mallikarjuna Sadan in Srisailam and paid ₹15,000 through UPI. "We had no clue that the website through which we booked our rooms was fake, until we reached Mallikarjuna Sadan. When we asked the staff for our rooms, they told us that no accommodation was booked in our names. We showed them the booking details, and they said that we had been conned," Anand Kumar said.
Prompt Assistance from Temple Authorities
Srisailam executive officer Srinivasa Rao ensured that the group received free accommodation and darshan, alleviating their distress. The temple authorities acted swiftly to assist the stranded devotees, providing them with necessary facilities.
About Srisailam Temple
Srisailam temple, dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy, is one of India's most sacred Hindu shrines. Lakhs of devotees visit the temple as it is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is also one of the 52 Shakti Pithas. While Lord Shiva is worshipped as Mallikarjuna, his consort Goddess Parvati is depicted as Bhramaramba. The scenic temple is located on the Nallamala hills along the Krishna river in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh.
Precautionary Advice for Pilgrims
This incident highlights the growing threat of fake booking websites targeting pilgrims. Devotees are advised to verify the authenticity of websites before making payments, preferably using official temple portals or trusted travel agencies. The temple administration has urged visitors to report any suspicious websites to authorities.
