Uttar Pradesh Religious Tourism: The UP government has made a special provision in the budget for the development of religious tourism. Funds have been approved for the development of many pilgrimage sites like Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot, Vindhyavasini Dham.
Lucknow, 14 February. Special provision has been made in the budget 2026-27 for the development projects of religious tourist places of Uttar Pradesh government. Its main objective is to accelerate the development work of pilgrimage places like Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot, Devipatan, Vindhyavasini Dham and Shuktirtha on the lines of Kashi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj. Various development projects are already going on in the pilgrimage sites of the state, the use of this amount will give impetus to the development work and will also provide better facilities to the devotees and tourists. Regarding this step of the state government, Professor Shirish Mishra of Motihari Central University says, “The amount received in the budget for the development of religious places is part of the Yogi government’s policy of economic development along with preservation of religious heritage. On the one hand, the use of this money will increase the facilities for devotees and tourists in UP, while on the other hand, the tourism-based economy of the state will also get a boost.”
Provision of Rs 100 crore for Naimisharanya pilgrimage site
A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made for tourism infrastructure in Naimisharanya pilgrimage site located in Sitapur district. There are already 38 projects going on in the Naimisharanya pilgrimage site, famous as the pilgrimage site of 88 thousand sages. Out of which the work of nine is almost completed. With the funds approved in the budget, the construction of the remaining projects can be completed at a faster pace. In this sequence, beautification of ghats, widening of roads, lighting system and development of other basic facilities are being done in Naimisharanya pilgrimage area. This will provide convenience to the devotees coming to the pilgrimage area along with the local people and the saints living in the pilgrimage site.
Chitrakoot Dham is developing on the lines of Kashi and Ayodhya
Yogi government intends to make Chitrakoot Dham a major religious tourism center on the lines of Kashi and Ayodhya. In this direction, a provision of Rs 50 crore has been made in the budget for Chitrakoot Dham Teerth Development Council. With this, beautification of Kamdagiri Parikrama Marg in Dham area, construction of tourism facility center near Devangana Airport and development of facilities at the halting points of Ram Vanagaman Marg will be done. Besides, the work of beautification of Ramghat of Mandakini River, Tulsidas’ birthplace Rajapur and Maharishi Valmiki Ashram is also included.
Triangular circumambulation route will be built in Vindhyavasini Dham
An amount of Rs 100 crore has been approved for development works in Vindhyavasini Dham of Mirzapur district. Due to which shelters are being constructed in the ancient temples of the pilgrimage area along with widening of roads, lighting and parking arrangements. Besides, permanent ghats will be constructed near Ganga ji. A provision of Rs 200 crore has been made by the Charitable Works Department for the construction of the triangular circumambulation route of Maa Ashtabhuja Devi Temple, Kalikhoh and Vindhyavasini Temple located in Vindhya Kshetra.
Development works will gain momentum in Devipatan, Shuktirtha and Garhmukteshwar.
A provision of Rs 40 crore has also been made for the purpose of speeding up the development works in Devipatan Dharmasthala located in Balrampur district. Through this amount, along with beautification of the temple of Maa Pateshwari Devi, better facilities will be developed for the devotees in the temple premises. In this sequence, an amount of Rs 25 crore has been approved for the projects of integrated development of Garhmukteshwar Tirtha located in Hapur district. Due to this, work is being done to beautify the ancient temples of the pilgrimage area and the ghats of Ganga. Whereas the amount of Rs 15 crore approved for Shuktirtha of Muzaffarnagar will be used in the reconstruction of Shukdev Ashram, Ganesh Dham. Also, an amount of Rs 100 crore has been approved for the renovation of other ancient protected temples of the state. This initiative of Yogi government is not only rejuvenating the ancient pilgrimage sites of the state but will also develop the local economy along with tourism activities.