With the onset of summer vacations and well before the festivals of Ram Navami and Navratri, cities crucial for religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh—Varanasi, Mathura, and Ayodhya—are witnessing an influx of millions of devotees. Varanasi alone saw a record-breaking influx of 95.63 lakhs pilgrims in the month of March, flocking to seek the blessings of Kashi Vishwanath.
Preparations are in full swing to transform the inaugural Navratri festival at the Ayodhya temple, following the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol earlier this year, into a grand and momentous occasion. The event is expected to draw a significant influx of religious tourists from all corners of the country.
Typically, the month of Sawan witnesses such massive gatherings at Kashi Vishwanath. Similarly, in Ayodhya, more than two lakh visitors each day visited the newly constructed Ram Mandir and Hanumangarhi during the month of March. In Mathura-Vrindavan, the surge in crowds began 15 days before the festival of Holi and has shown no signs of abating yet, with pilgrims even seeking accommodation in Agra due to the lack of space in hotels, ashrams, and guesthouses.
The official envisions a holistic transformation through these initiatives, where tourism not only facilitates cultural exchange and economic growth but also fosters community development and empowerment.
Observing the heavy footfall for darshan at Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, there has been a notable increase in the number of flights operating from the recently operational airport. Presently, there are 24 daily flights operating from Ayodhya, with some routes being serviced twice a week and others four times a week, including services to Hyderabad initiated this week. Flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad have been operational since earlier.
At present, Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple is experiencing the highest footfall among religious tourism sites in Uttar Pradesh. Since the construction of the new corridor, there has been a significant surge in tourists visiting Varanasi.
Additionally, donations to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple have seen a considerable rise. On March 31, donations amounted to INR 83.34 crores for the fiscal year, marking a 42.43 per cent increase compared to the 2022-23 fiscal year when donations totaled INR 58.51 crores. Prior to the construction of the corridor, donations were approximately INR 26 crores up to the fiscal year 2019-20.
The surge in donations during March alone has broken all previous records, with contributions amounting to INR 11.14 crores, the highest for any single month according to temple management. This indicates a revival in pilgrimage travel post-pandemic and an enduring spiritual fervor among devotees.
Chief Medical Superintendent of the Ayodhya district hospital Dr Arun Prakash Shrivastava said, “We have been asked to be ready to deal with Covid-19. So we have established four special quarantine wards in the district hospital, where we will quarantine the foreigners for 14 days if symptoms of Covid-19 are found in them during their Ayodhya visit on Ram Navami, which is on April 17.”
The state’s religious tourism sites are experiencing an unprecedented surge, indicating a revival in pilgrimage travel post-pandemic and an enduring spiritual fervor among devotees.
Prakhar Mishra, Director Tourism, Governement of UP expressed high expectations regarding the impact of recent developments, including the newly constructed Ram Lalla Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, and the Mathura-Vrindavan Corridor.
“We are expecting a significant surge of tourists prior to the festive season begins. The newly constructed Ram Lalla Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, and the Mathura-Vrindavan Corridor will not only attract tourists from all corners of the country but also significantly boost local markets, particularly those associated with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative,” he said.
The official further said, that these projects will set new records in terms of tourist footfall, drawing visitors eager to explore the rich cultural and religious heritage of Uttar Pradesh. “Furthermore, the enhanced connectivity and amenities provided by these developments are expected to create a ripple effect in the local economy, leading to increased demand for locally produced goods and services. This, in turn, is projected to generate a surge in employment opportunities, providing indirect livelihoods to the local populace,” he added.
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The tourist season in Odisha kicked off with a vibrant array of events orchestrated by the Department of Tourism. On December 1, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the 13th International Sand Art Festival and the 34th edition of the Konark Festival, both flagship events of the Department of Tourism, in collaboration with Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Odisha Tourism Development Corporation.
In a video message, the Chief Minister welcomed everyone to the picturesque open-air auditorium nestled within the grounds of the 13th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sun Temple. Against the stunning backdrop of this architectural marvel, attendees are treated to a cultural extravaganza, featuring Odissi and other Indian classical dance performances by acclaimed artists from India and around the world.
The inaugural show showcased an Odissi performance by Soor Mandir – Jyotsnarani Sahoo & Group from Cuttack. Their act titled NAAD NINAAD commenced with an invocation to Lord Jagannath and Lord Surya through the Surya Mantra, followed by SARANAM, a dance portraying the act of surrendering to the divine.
These projects include the development of pilgrim amenities at Nongsawlia Presbyterian Church, Nartiang Shakti Peeth, Aitnar Pool, and Charantala Kali Temple. Under the PRASHAD scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has also sanctioned a total of eight projects, amounting to INR 256.45 crore, for the integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations in the Northeast States.
Meanwhile, the Chandrabhaga Beach is set to become a canvas for thematic sand art creations by 114 esteemed sand artists, including 6 international artists from countries like Australia, Czech Republic, Russia, Belarus, USA, and Sri Lanka, alongside talents from various Indian states.The 13th International Sand Art Festival 2023 witnessed the presence of Hon’ble Minister Tusharkanti Behera, gracing the occasion. To ensure wider outreach, the dance festival is being live-streamed on Odisha Tourism’s social media platforms from December 1 to 5.
In addition to these cultural extravaganzas, the annual flagship camping event of Odisha Tourism, Eco Retreat, was inaugurated on November 1. This year, the retreats expect a majority of domestic tourists as per the state tourism officials, around 60 per cent of the total footfall. The Eco Retreat spans three months across seven scenic locations. The event has already commenced at Putsil, Daringbadi, Hirakud, and Satkosia, with Bhitarkanika and Sonpur Beach (Ganjam) opening on December 1, followed by the Konark Eco Retreat scheduled for inauguration on December 15.
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With the festive and winter tourism season approaching, OYO is gearing up to expand its footprint in India’s prime leisure markets. The company has set its sights on adding 750 hotels in the next three months, spanning across 35+ leisure destinations. Among these, significant emphasis will be placed on key markets such as Goa, Jaipur, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Katra, Puri, Shimla, Nainital, Udaipur, and Mount Abu.
The majority of these new hotels will be incorporated under OYO’s premium brands, including Palette, Townhouse, Townhouse Oak, and Collection O. This expansion is aimed at providing travellers with an array of superior options.
To further empower potential hotel owners in these strategic markets during the upcoming tourism season, OYO has introduced the ‘Excellence Network Program.’ This program offers a range of benefits to hotel owners to meet the demand dynamics of the peak season, including access to OYO’s extensive network of guests, priority listing on the OYO app, and competitive commission rates.
According to a recent government report, the number of foreign tourists who visited India during January-June this year increased by 106 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2022. With the approach of the autumn-winter high season, these numbers are expected to rise further. This high season, which typically spans from October to January, witnesses a surge in both domestic and international tourists, making it a crucial period for the tourism and hospitality industry.
OYO has already experienced a 28 per cent increase in advance bookings across all major leisure markets compared to the same period last year. OYO’s expansion in these markets comes at an opportune time, allowing travellers to maximize their vacations while creating a positive impact on the local economy and communities.
In his expanded role, Rakesh will be responsible for overseeing pivotal operational finance functions, including Treasury, Controllership, Shared Services, Business Finance, Taxation, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), and the execution of results, compliance, and timely audits throughout the organisation. Rakesh will continue to report directly to OYO’s CFO, Abhishek Gupta.
Anuj Tejpal, Chief Merchant Officer at OYO, commented on the expansion, stating, “As we head towards one of the most important seasons for tourism, it is heartening to see the number of foreign travelers increase in India after the Covid lull. With our ‘Excellence Network Program,’ we want to provide hotel owners with a competitive edge and the necessary support to make the most of this opportunity. Our expansion in these leisure markets also aligns with our mission to provide quality accommodations and memorable experiences to travelers. The influx of new hotels will not only boost tourism but also provide employment opportunities for local communities.”In addition to its expansion, OYO has introduced a ‘Stay Now Pay Later’ (SNPL) option to provide travellers with more flexibility when planning their trips. SNPL offers customers a credit limit of up to INR 5,000, which can be settled after 15 days of their stay.
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