• Source:JND
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UP Religious Tourism:  An astounding 47.61 crore tourists visited Uttar Pradesh between January and September 2024, setting new milestones for the state's tourism industry. Overtaking even the famous Taj Mahal in Agra, Ayodhya, the location of the Shri Ram Temple has become the most popular tourist destination in the state.

Ayodhya received an incredible 13.55 crore domestic visitors and 3,153 foreign visitors during this time, according to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department. The Ram Temple's opening triggered an extraordinary spike, changing the state's tourism map.

By comparison, Agra received 12.51 crore tourists, comprising 9.24 lakh foreign visitors and 11.59 crore domestic visitors. This change highlights the rising popularity of religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh, where pilgrimage sites are changing the way people choose to travel.

Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said: "Uttar Pradesh welcomed 48 crore tourists last year, a milestone that has nearly been reached in just nine months this year.”

Those in the tourism industry attribute this increase in travel to religious reasons.

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"Ayodhya has become the epicenter of spiritual tourism in India," said Mohan Sharma, a senior travel planner based in Lucknow. "Bookings for religious tours have skyrocketed by over 70%. Pilgrims and cultural travelers are eager to witness this historic transformation firsthand."

Although foreign visitors are still enthralled by the Taj Mahal, domestic tourism has somewhat decreased. In 2023–2024, foreign arrivals increased from 26.84 lakh to 27.70 lakh, while domestic visitor numbers decreased by 1.93 lakh.

Kushinagar, the state's hub for the Buddhist circuit, saw significant expansion as well, with 16.2 lakh visitors, including 1.53 lakh from abroad. Notwithstanding Ayodhya's competition, Agra welcomed 1.25 crore visitors, including 9.24 lakh foreigners.