Ayodhya leads UP tourism, overtaking Varanasi with 11 crore visitors in the first half of 2024

Ayodhya has outshined Varanasi to become the leading tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh for 2024. Data from the UP Tourism Department shows Ayodhya has become the top tourist destination, drawing 10.99 crore visitors and exceeding Varanasi by 6.38 crore.

The department highlighted that the state saw a total of 33 crore tourists in the first six months of 2024. Ayodhya led the way with 2,851 international visitors, while Varanasi followed with 4.61 crore visitors, including 1,33,999 from abroad.

Ram Mandir Inauguration: A Key Milestone in UP Tourism

The surge in Ayodhya’s tourist footfall is largely credited to the Ram Temple, according to a state tourism spokesperson. The rise has been evident among both domestic and international visitors.

Prayagraj and Mathura have also gained prominence as major tourist hubs in Uttar Pradesh, drawing 4.53 crore and 3.07 crore visitors, respectively, officials reported. Additionally, Agra and Lucknow contributed to the state’s tourism boom with 69.8 lakh and 35 lakh visitors, respectively.

Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh praised the significant growth, noting Uttar Pradesh’s rising status as a global tourist hotspot. “In 2022, the state saw a total tourist influx of 31.86 crore,” he added. Remarkably, in just the first half of 2024, nearly the same number of tourists have already visited the state,” he said.

Further boosting Uttar Pradesh’s tourism potential, Shringverpur, a key location in the Ramayana Circuit associated with Lord Ram’s meeting with Nishadraj, is set for major development. Plans include new parking facilities, improved civic amenities, and eateries to accommodate the influx of visitors ahead of the 2025 Maha Kumbh, positioning Shringverpur as a focal point for spiritual tourism in the region.

Tourism Minister Singh highlighted the state’s rapid growth in tourism, stating, “Uttar Pradesh is making a strong presence on the global stage as a top-tier tourist destination. The consistent development of tourist attractions and improved facilities is attracting more and more visitors from around the world.”

On January 19, 2024, the Ram Lalla idol was placed in the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. It was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024. The idol was placed in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) and draped with a yellow veil.

Sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, a renowned artist from Mysore, Karnataka, the idol depicts a five-year-old Ram Lalla and is crafted from stone, weighing between 150 kg and 200 kg.

The Ram Mandir itself is designed in the traditional Nagara architectural style. It measures 380 feet in length, 250 feet in width, and stands 161 feet tall.

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