With the opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, temple tourism in India is expected to soar. According to analysts at Jefferies, at least 100 million visitors are anticipated to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya annually. In contrast, the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church are housed in Vatican City, which receives roughly 9 million visitors annually. Mecca, the sacred site for Muslims, welcomes about 20 million visitors annually.
As reported by news agency Reuters, the analysts stated that "the creation of a new religious tourist center (Ayodhya) with improved connectivity and infrastructure can create a meaningfully large economic impact." According to the research, tourism currently brings in $200 billion for India, or 7% of the country's GDP. The financial assistance provided by the Indian government to national pilgrimage sites is expected to significantly increase tourism.
The study emphasizes how the opening of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor altered Varanasi's destiny. More than 130 million visitors have been to Varanasi since the corridor's opening, according to government statistics cited by Reuters. According to the survey, Varanasi saw barely 7 million tourists annually prior to the construction of the corridor. The research claims that Varanasi's hotel industry and local population have seen income increases of up to 65%.
At the Ram Janmbhoomi temple in Ayodhya on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the pran pratishtha, or consecration ritual, of Lord Ram Lalla. The complex ceremonies were carried out by Hindu priests, and a 51-inch-tall idol of Ram Lalla was dedicated. CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, and chairman of the RSS Mohan Bhagwat were also present at the occasion.
Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, businessman Mukesh Ambani, musician Sonu Nigam, actress Kangana Ranaut, yoga teacher Baba Ramdev, and cricket player Virat Kohli were among the hundreds of VVIP visitors who attended the Ram temple's grand opening. On January 23, devotees and pilgrims will be able to have a "darshan" at the Ram Janmbhoomi shrine.
