Pathanamthitta, Dec 18: 2018: Federal Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons has said he will explore the possibility of including the ancient St. Mary’s church at Niranom in the central pilgrim tourism circuit project aimed at developing basic infrastructure at various places of worship.

The minister was inaugurating a cultural meeting held as part of the feast of St. Thomas at Niranom, near Thiruvalla, on December 16.

The Niranom church is believed to have been founded by St. Thomas the Apostle, and is a major pilgrimage center in Central Travancore.

According to Alphons, a pilgrim tourism project envisaging development of famous places of worship in Kerala is under serious consideration of the federal Ministry of Tourism and the government is expected to clear the project soon.

(The Hindu)