Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a rise in religious tourism: UP Tourism
Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a rise in religious tourism, with temples, river ghats, and local fairs experiencing increased footfall during the recently concluded Hindu holy month of Shravan, which corresponded to July 11-August 9. The surge in pilgrims has supported local businesses and contributed to economic activity across the state.
In press statement, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Board says that daily pilgrim numbers from the state capital to temples in Varanasi, Barabanki, Bagpat and Hapur rose significantly.
It adds that at Lucknow’s Mankameshwar Temple, visitor numbers increased three-fold 5,000–6,000 to over 15,000–20,000 daily during Shravan. Budheshwar Temple recorded more than 20,000 visitors on Mondays and Wednesdays. Lodheswar Mahadev Temple in Barabanki hosted around 1.2 million pilgrims, while Bagpat’s Shravan Mela saw approximately 1.4 million visitors. More than 100,000 kanwariyas, or people who undertake pilgrimage on foot, who carried Ganga water from Hapur’s Garhmukteshwar Ghat, and Gola Gokaran Nath Temple in Lakhimpur Kheri received between 800,000–1 million visitors.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism Board says that Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Dham recorded a 10 pc increase in daily footfall compared with last year, averaging 70,000–82,000 visitors, peaking on Mondays.
The statement says that around 350,000 tourists stayed in hotels in Lucknow during Shravan, including nearly 5,000 foreign visitors. Traditional fairs attracted over 604,000 people, and cultural events saw participation from 49,200 and 16,700 visitors, respectively.
Jaiveer Singh
“Shravan 2025 has gone down as a golden chapter in Uttar Pradesh’s religious, cultural and economic life. Record-breaking pilgrim turnout has reaffirmed that UP is India’s foremost religious tourism hub. We ensured that every devotee enjoyed an uninterrupted, safe, and fulfilling experience while significantly strengthening infrastructure at pilgrimage sites,” says Jaiveer Singh, Tourism, Culture, Minister, UP.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism Board says that Budheshwar Temple’s head priest Mahant Leelapuri reported that thousands of devotees visited daily, with four aartis or prayer sessions held on Mondays and Wednesdays and a dawn aarti daily.
The state’s tourism board says that authorities arranged purified drinking water, toilets, first-aid centres, public announcement systems, improved pathways and lighting at temples and kanwar routes. Resting facilities for kanwariyas, temple management, and road improvements were also implemented. District administrations coordinated with police and volunteers to manage safety, traffic, and crowds.
“The extraordinary crowds of Shravan 2025 are living proof of the success of our religious tourism strategy. From temple management to transport, security, and amenities, preparations were made with meticulous attention to detail to ensure every pilgrim enjoyed a safe, seamless, and unforgettable spiritual experience,” says Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, UP.
UP Tourism Board says that the increase in pilgrimage activity created demand for prasad vendors, temporary stalls, eateries, transport, and accommodation, generating seasonal employment. Pilgrims came from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and abroad. The state’s experience demonstrates how religious heritage, infrastructure, and planning can convert a religious festival into a driver of economic activity.