Temple tourism in UP is about pride, modernization and development

Temple tourism in Uttar Pradesh is a powerful facilitator of economic transformation in the state, bringing in significant revenue.

- SHEHZAD POONAWALLA & VIJETA RATTANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple, in Varanasi in June 2024. ANI

Uttar Pradesh is rapidly reclaiming its place as a hub of religious tourism. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and implementation by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a major cultural resurgence is taking place with reclamation and restoration of scared sites in accordance with rule of law.

The consecration of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the makeover of Kashi and Prayagraj with the Temple Corridor, and modern facilities, the facelift of Gorakhpur’s Gorakhnath Temple and rejuvenation of many other sacred sites reinforce cultural consciousness and also drive modernization. Enhanced connectivity through better roads, highways, enhanced train facilities, airports, hotels, upgraded amenities, and sustainability initiatives has spurred tourism, with Uttar Pradesh attracting more than 137 crore domestic tourists in 2025, besides 3.66 lakh foreign tourists. With 60% of India’s tourism rooted in religious and spiritual travel, Uttar Pradesh is leveraging temple tourism to renew its cities, fuel the state’s economy, and uphold the sanctity of its places of worship.

RESURGENCE OF CULTURAL CONSCIOUSNESS