Substantial rise in religious tourism to Ayodhya after construction of Ram temple: Govt

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI): The religious tourism landscape in Ayodhya has experienced an unprecedented boom following the construction of the Ram temple, with the number of visitors skyrocketing from over 60 lakh in 2020 to more than 16 crore in 2024, the government informed Parliament on Monday.

The surge follows the Supreme Court's landmark verdict in November 2019, which facilitated the construction of the Ram temple at the historically significant site in Uttar Pradesh.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written response to a query, stated, "As per information received from the state government of Uttar Pradesh, there has been a substantial increase in religious tourism to Ayodhya after the construction of Ram Mandir. According to tourism statistics, the total number of visitors to the district has increased from 6,022,618 in 2020 to 164,419,522 in 2024."

The temple, which witnessed its consecration ceremony on January 22, 2024, has drawn massive crowds despite being only partially completed. The ongoing construction is managed by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Government Initiatives to Boost Religious Tourism​

Responding to another query, Shekhawat detailed government initiatives aimed at enhancing pilgrimage sites. Under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme, financial assistance is being provided to state governments and Union Territories to improve infrastructure at key pilgrimage and heritage destinations.

"A total of 47 projects have been sanctioned across 27 States and Union Territories with an estimated cost of ₹1,594.40 crore," he informed.

Battlefield Tourism and Shaurya Gantavya Sites​

Shekhawat also mentioned the Ranbhoomi App and the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative, launched by the Ministry of Defence to showcase sites of historical significance and military valor. The initiative highlights 77 Shaurya Gantavya sites across India, promoting battlefield tourism and commemorating the sacrifices of Indian armed forces personnel.

Key locations include:

• Jammu and Kashmir (11 sites) – Gurez Sector, Baramulla, Uri
• Ladakh (14 sites) – Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Demchok, Padum Valley
• Sikkim (7 sites) – Doklam and others
• Arunachal Pradesh (21 sites) – Bomdila, Tawang, Kameng Region

The surge in religious and battlefield tourism reflects the growing interest in India's spiritual and historical heritage, supported by government-led infrastructure development and conservation initiatives.