Gorakhgiri Hill in Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, the place where Guru Gorakhnath meditated, is set to become a major religious tourism destination. The central government will undertake tourism development in this area and its surroundings under its Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0, specifically the 'Challenge Based Destination Development' within the heritage circuit.
The project has a budget of Rs 25 crore, allocated for beautification and tourist facilities. Gorakhgiri Hill is known for its unique granite rock formations and houses an ancient Sun Temple. The area also features several caves, waterfalls, and the Keerat Sagar Lake.
Planned improvements include attractive lighting along the path leading to Gorakhgiri Hill, benches, signage, an entrance gate, a mural wall, and a park. A Sun Interpretation Center will be built near the Sun Temple.
Tourism and Culture Minister, Jayveer Singh, stated that the development will increase tourist traffic, creating local employment opportunities. In a separate development, ten tourism projects totaling Rs 87.29 crore have been approved for Gorakhpur district in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
These projects include the development of Gorakhtal, Kabir's birthplace, and Paramahansa Yogananda's birthplace. Other projects involve improvements to temples and religious sites in the district.