Category Archives: Domestic

J&K Tourism initiates campaign to promote offbeat destinations

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department to spearhead an initiative aimed at promoting offbeat destinations for summer travel. According to a senior tourism official, a comprehensive list of 35 such destinations has been identified and will be presented to the Tourism Ministry for further discussion.

The objective behind this initiative is to diversify tourism in the Kashmir Valley and attract a higher influx of tourists. Despite the current steady flow of visitors to the region, officials believe that highlighting lesser-known destinations will significantly enhance the appeal of the Kashmir Valley.

To amplify the reach of this campaign, the Department of Tourism Kashmir is gearing up to collaborate with prominent travel vloggers. Their presence is expected to amplify the promotion of Kashmir valley both nationally and internationally. This initiative is slated to commence shortly, as confirmed by tourism department officials.

Additionally, the department is planning to host a series of grand events across Jammu and Kashmir, strategically held in these offbeat destinations. These events aim to draw attention to these lesser-explored areas and pave the way for their inclusion on the tourist map. A tourism official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasised the department’s commitment to showcasing the diverse and enchanting landscapes of Jammu and Kashmir to a wider audience.

 

 

12.80 lakh pilgrims visit Shaktipeeths in Himachal Pradesh during Navratri

Nearly 12.83 lakh pilgrims visited various Shaktipeeths in Himachal Pradesh during Navratri from April 9 to 17, according to police data released on Sunday.

Shaktipeeths are shrines of Goddess Sati, an incarnation of Parvati or Durga, the Goddess of power.

Devotees from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and other parts of the country visited various Shaktipeeths including the Chintpurni temple in Una district, the Sri Naina Devi Ji temple in Bilaspur district, Jawalaji, Brajeshwari and Chamunda Devi temples in Kangra district and the Mata Bala Sundari temple in Sirmaur district.

The Mata Bala Sundari temple saw the highest pilgrim footfall at 4.90 lakh, followed by the Chintpurni temple at 3.33 lakh, the Sri Naina Devi Ji temple at 1.98 lakh and the Jwalaji temple at 1.22 lakh, the data showed.

As many as 1,14,860 vehicles, including 5,372 heavy motor vehicles, 48,362 light vehicles and 61,126 two-wheelers, came to these temples, it stated. (Source: PTI)

70-storey Vrindavan temple in UP being built with USD 80mn to boost tourism

A skyscraper Krishna temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh would emerge as a major display of Indian culture internationally and would boost tourism in India and local economy, a top ISKCON leader said.

There can’t be a broken infrastructure for spirituality and temples can’t be in perpetual disrepair, Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman and Co-mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement and Sr. VP of ISKCON Bangalore told PTI in an interview.

Being built at a cost of USD 80 million, Vrindavan Heritage Tower will be 70 floors high and 210 metres. “And another example, I’ll tell you, our honourable prime minister has been making a statement, giving a call to the Indian diaspora. Please bring five Americans from America to bring them to India and show them India. When you bring them to India, of course anybody who’s coming from any part of the world, when they’re coming to India, they’re looking for spirituality,” he said.

“Of course they may see good airports. All those things are also impressive and interesting and it should be there. They’re also looking for spirituality. So we must have spiritual infrastructures, religious infrastructures, which you can be proud of, to bring foreigners and show them. And when you bring them to Vrindavan, you must be able to show this kind of a world-class infrastructure built around the message of Krishna. And so that is another important objective,” the ISKCON leader said explaining about the upcoming Vrindavan Heritage Tower.

By reinforcing the links between culture and development through tourism, the project will lead the accelerated socio-economic development of the Braj region, ensuring equitable benefits to the local community, Dasa said, adding that strengthening infrastructure is the key to growth in Indian tourism.

“India’s heritage infrastructure will attract the world’s thinkers, leaders, and others to engage in philosophical discussions and cultural exchange programs, he noted. Dasa said Vrindavan Heritage Tower is an octagonal structure with a north wing, south wing, east wing and west wing. These are the four temples.

“Then there are three temples and one memorial Srila Prabhupada on the fourth site,” he said. The temple complex will house comfortable accommodation facilities that create a home away from home and enhance the experience of the tourists.

Indian culture and heritage will bring about a true awakening and create a nation full of talent, creativity and energy, and adorned with exalted values and character, he said.

“Currently, we have been told that 20 million people come to Vrindavan. The Government of Uttar Pradesh tourism estimates says that in the next six to 10 years, it is going to become five times more, which is 100 million. Our plans are to be able to cater to a very large number.

“We are creating one of the biggest parking facilities, multi-level parking, which can park 3,000 cars at a time, he said, adding that they were planning to be able to handle about 2,00,000 people every day and on festival days much higher,” Dasa said.

 

No VIP Darshan at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir till April 18

All VIP passes for the new Ram temple in Ayodhya have been cancelled for three days up to April 18 as the temple management expects heavy footfall of devotees during the Ram Navami festival, a Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra member said on Monday.

Temple trust member Anil Mishra said this is the first Ram Navami after the consecration ceremony at the temple and there is a possibility of many devotees turning up on the occasion.

“In such a situation, a new guideline has been issued by the trust to ensure easy darshan for all devotees. A decision was taken during a temple construction committee meeting that there will be no VIP and VVIP darshan from April 15 to 18,” he said.

Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust, said bookings of all types of special passes have already been cancelled. “Everyone will have to go through the same route,” he said.

Rai added that darshan time has been extended till 11 pm. Curtains will be drawn four times for five minutes each during the offering of ‘bhog’.

He also requested distinguished dignitaries to come for darshan only after April 19.

Also, on Ram Navami, arrangements will be made for devotees to queue up from 3.30 am, Rai said.

He added that Ram Janmotsav will be broadcast on around 100 big LED screens. To avoid hassle and wastage of time, visitors should not bring their mobile phones.

Rai also said that a railway reservation unit will be set up at the passenger convenience centre on Darshan Marg.

Thomas Cook, SOTC to offer aerial darshans of Adi Kailash & Om Parvat

In response to the increasing demand for spiritual tourism, Thomas Cook India and its group company SOTC have collaborated with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board to introduce aerial darshans (religious sightings) of Adi Kailash and Om Parvat.

The five-day tour, priced at INR 90,000 per person, has been subsidised by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board. Pithoragarh, situated in Uttarakhand, will serve as the base camp for the tour.

The darshans will commence from the second day onwards. On the second day, a visit to the Manokamna temple will be organised, followed by Adi Kailash and Om Parvat darshan from the third day onwards. Each batch of the five-day spiritual tour will accommodate 14 individuals.

The excursion includes two helicopter darshans to Adi Kailash and Om Parvat, an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) for the journey to the Parvati Sarovar temple, and vegetarian meals provided by Thomas Cook India Limited.

UP sees surge of pilgrims ahead with onset of festivals

With the onset of summer vacations and well before the festivals of Ram Navami and Navratri, cities crucial for religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh—Varanasi, Mathura, and Ayodhya—are witnessing an influx of millions of devotees.

Varanasi alone saw a record-breaking influx of 95.63 lakhs pilgrims in the month of March, flocking to seek the blessings of Kashi Vishwanath.

Preparations are in full swing to transform the inaugural Navratri festival at the Ayodhya temple, following the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol earlier this year, into a grand and momentous occasion. The event is expected to draw a significant influx of religious tourists from all corners of the country.

Typically, the month of Sawan witnesses such massive gatherings at Kashi Vishwanath. Similarly, in Ayodhya, more than two lakh visitors each day visited the newly constructed Ram Mandir and Hanumangarhi during the month of March. In Mathura-Vrindavan, the surge in crowds began 15 days before the festival of Holi and has shown no signs of abating yet, with pilgrims even seeking accommodation in Agra due to the lack of space in hotels, ashrams, and guesthouses.

Observing the heavy footfall for darshan at Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, there has been a notable increase in the number of flights operating from the recently operational airport. Presently, there are 24 daily flights operating from Ayodhya, with some routes being serviced twice a week and others four times a week, including services to Hyderabad initiated this week. Flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad have been operational since earlier.

At present, Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple is experiencing the highest footfall among religious tourism sites in Uttar Pradesh. Since the construction of the new corridor, there has been a significant surge in tourists visiting Varanasi.

The state’s religious tourism sites are experiencing an unprecedented surge, indicating a revival in pilgrimage travel post-pandemic and an enduring spiritual fervor among devotees.

Prakhar Mishra, Director Tourism, UP, has expressed high expectations regarding the impact of recent developments, including the newly constructed Ram Lalla Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, and the Mathura-Vrindavan Corridor.

Anticipating that these infrastructural marvels will not only attract tourists from all corners of the country but also significantly boost local markets, particularly those associated with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
The official said that these projects will set new records in terms of tourist footfall, drawing visitors eager to explore the rich cultural and religious heritage of Uttar Pradesh. Furthermore, the enhanced connectivity and amenities provided by these developments are expected to create a ripple effect in the local economy, leading to increased demand for locally produced goods and services. This, in turn, is projected to generate a surge in employment opportunities, providing indirect livelihoods to the local populace.