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Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially hoisted the saffron flag, the Dharma Dhwaj, atop the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, marking the completion of the temple’s construction. Ayodhya has become the country's most talked-about pilgrimage site following the January 2024 consecration of the Ram Mandir. The city has been averaging more than 1.5 million visitors per month, according to local tourism officials. This put Ayodhya firmly on the global religious tourism map.

Earlier this year, the state hosted the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where 660 million attendees from 76 countries gathered to take a dip in the holy Triveni Sangam river and participate in the celebrations. The event generated an estimated ₹3 lakh crore ($36 billion) in transactions, while some sources predict it could be as high as ₹3 lakh crore. The Uttar Pradesh government is estimated to have earned over ₹54,000 crore in revenue from the event, boosting the state's GDP.

Uttar Pradesh has always been a central stage for the spiritual narratives of India. It is home to countless ancient temples, ghats, monasteries, and historical monuments linked not just to Hinduism, but Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam as well. Despite being home to dozens of the most iconic temples resplendent with spiritual and architectural history, for decades, they went unattended. The Yogi Adityanath government’s ambitious plan aims to resurrect these sites and transform them into cultural centres for pilgrims and tourists.

The state government has already made substantial progress over the past eight years and plans to rejuvenate a total of 188 ancient temples. Recently, special emphasis has been placed on Purvanchal (Eastern Uttar Pradesh), aiming to elevate and revive lesser-known religious sites like ancient ashrams of Maharishi Bhrigu (Ballia) and Rishi Durvasa (Azamgarh), and prominent Jain Mandirs to the stature of iconic centres like Ayodhya, Kashi, Prayagraj, and Mathura on the global religious tourism map. The infrastructure-driven development of multiple forgotten or under-maintained spiritual sites spread across Ballia, Mau, Azamgarh, Kannauj, and Maharajganj is also part of this campaign.

Revival of these iconic temples and the setting up of infrastructure around them have generated huge religious tourist footfalls as well as economic growth. The Uttar Pradesh tourism department estimates that the state earned over 20,000 crore from pilgrimage-related travel in 2024. Particularly, the ancient cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj have emerged as the epicentre in cementing the state's position in recent years. These destinations are experiencing an influx of pilgrims from the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi to the newly inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the confluence of rivers in Prayagraj.

Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj’s economic contribution

Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj are at the heart of the surge in religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh, offering an inspiring blend of faith, culture, and modern comfort. According to the recent reports, the number of tourists to these cities surged by over 30% in the past year alone and tourism authorities believe the trend will continue upward in the coming years due to its position as the Spiritual Hub of India. In Ayodhya alone, hotel bookings have increased by 40% since the Ram Mandir opening, and new hospitality programs are being fast-tracked. Varanasi's river cruise industry has doubled in size while Prayagraj's tour guide services have expanded to include multilingual options.

In Ayodhya, the Ram Temple's opening marked a turning point for the city's visibility, attracting billions of pilgrims in its first year. This surge has created ripple effects from job creation in hospitality and transportation to an increase in demand for guided spiritual Ram Mandir Ayodhya tours. In Varanasi, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor has evolved into one of the most significant religious tourism destinations, welcoming over 25.28 crore visitors since December 2021. The steady influx of pilgrims has injected nearly ₹1.25 lakh crore into Uttar Pradesh’s economy over the past three and a half years, largely benefitting small traders, artisans, boatmen, and the hospitality sector. Prayagraj's religious identity is deeply tied to Kumbh Mela, held in the city every twelve years, the largest human gathering on Earth. The sacred Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati meet, Allahabad Fort, and Anand Bhawan attract both devout Hindus and cultural enthusiasts.

Additionally, in 2024, cities like Mathura welcomed 68 million visitors, including 87,229 foreigners, and Azamgarh saw over 1.58 million visitors. This success has inspired similar projects across Uttar Pradesh, with the aim of linking faith, heritage, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. In 2024 alone, over 65 crore tourists visited destinations in Uttar Pradesh, a record-breaking figure highlighting the impact of these targeted tourism and spiritual infrastructure campaigns. Small businesses, from street food vendors to handicraft sellers, are benefiting enormously. Hotels are running at near full occupancy during the peak season, and transport operators are expanding fleets to meet demand. There has been a revival of traditional artisan and sculpture communities, preservation of oral and folk traditions associated with Mandirs, and a surge in educational and research opportunities in Vedic, Jain, and yogic studies. With more than 121 crore visitors recorded between January and June 2025 and a steady rise in spiritual, cultural, eco, and rural travel, Uttar Pradesh’s tourism position is in line with the 2047 development goals.