Uttar Pradesh is experiencing an extraordinary rush of visitors this holy Shravan month, setting new highs for tourism across the state. The ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi stands at the forefront of this massive wave, drawing millions of devoted pilgrims. This surge is creating an unprecedented boom, far beyond what was seen before, transforming local economies and putting the spotlight on Uttar Pradesh as a major center for spiritual travel. The sheer number of people coming shows a powerful link between faith and travel, bringing new energy and money to many towns. Varanasi’s Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham alone saw a 10% rise in pilgrim numbers compared to last year, averaging 70,000–82,000 visitors daily, with Mondays witnessing the highest footfall. This record-breaking pilgrim turnout has cemented Uttar Pradesh’s position as India’s leading spiritual destination.
A Big Boost for State Tourism
The holy month of Shravan in 2025 has brought an unprecedented rise in the number of visitors to Uttar Pradesh, setting new records in religious travel. Temples, riverfronts. religious gatherings across the state have seen a huge increase in people coming to pray and celebrate. This large number of visitors has also given a big push to local trade and the overall economy. Uttar Pradesh is now seen as India’s main spiritual destination.
From Lucknow, the state capital, to the ancient city of Varanasi, the sounds of “Har Har Mahadev” could be heard everywhere. People offered holy water at famous temples. Sacred places in Barabanki, Bagpat. Hapur were also full of worshipers. Varanasi’s Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham remained the most vital spot during Shravan celebrations. Estimates show that the number of visitors there went up by more than 10 percent compared to last year. On average, 70,000 to 82,000 people visited daily, with the highest numbers on Mondays. This increase shows not only the city’s strong spiritual pull but also the state’s good work in making facilities better and managing large crowds.
Other temples also saw big jumps in visitors. For example, in Lucknow’s Mankameshwar Temple, the daily number of pilgrims went from about 5,000-6,000 to over 15,000-20,000 during Shravan. Budheshwar Temple saw more than 20,000 visitors every Monday and Wednesday. Barabanki’s Lodheshwar Mahadev Temple welcomed almost 1. 2 million devotees, with up to 300,000 on Mondays. Bagpat’s Shravan Mela attracted around 1. 4 million visitors, with over 500,000 on a single day. More than 100,000 Kanwariyas carried Ganga water from Hapur’s Garhmukteshwar Ghat. Lakhimpur Kheri’s Gola Gokaran Nath Temple saw between 800,000 and 1 million visitors.
More People Visiting Kashi Vishwanath
The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi has seen a remarkable increase in visitors. In the first five months of 2024, more than 2. 86 crore pilgrims visited the temple. This is a big jump of 48 percent compared to the same time in 2023, when 1. 93 crore pilgrims visited. This growth highlights how much Kashi Vishwanath Temple is becoming a top spiritual place for devotees from all over the country and beyond.
The temple’s earnings have also gone up. From January to June 2024, the income from offerings and donations at Kashi Vishwanath Dham increased by 24. 66 percent, while the number of devotees rose by 45. 76 percent compared to the first half of the previous year. For instance, the Dham’s earnings were 38. 29 crore rupees in the first half of 2023 and jumped to 47. 74 crore rupees in the first half of 2024. Before the recent large-scale improvements, the temple saw about 20,000 visitors daily. On special festival days like Maha Shivratri, the number would reach around 2. 5 lakh visitors.
The increase in visitors has been steady. In March 2024, a non-festival month, Kashi Vishwanath Dham recorded a huge 95 lakh devotees. On March 31 alone, a non-festival day, 6,36,975 devotees visited the temple, setting a new record for the highest number of visitors on such a day. This consistent rise in footfall and money shows the growing importance of Kashi Vishwanath Temple as a place of religious and cultural significance.
Improvements Helping Visitors
A major reason for this increase in tourism is the improved infrastructure and facilities, especially the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. This corridor was opened in December 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has made it much easier for pilgrims to go from the riverfronts to the temple. has made the temple more open to visitors from around the world. The expansion and modernization of the temple area have created many new facilities and more space for devotees to pray. Officials have said that this corridor has greatly reduced crowding at the temple.
The Uttar Pradesh government has made many efforts to develop tourism, especially at religious places. Key areas of focus have been better security, improvements to roads and other facilities. better ways to manage large crowds. The state is also working to improve how major tourist sites are connected, such as Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Dashashwamedh Ghat. other holy places. The Uttar Pradesh tourism department stated that because of the updated corridor, the number of tourists has gone up tenfold compared to before the pandemic. In 2019, about 68 lakh visitors came to Varanasi. in 2022, this number went up to 7. 2 crore.
The development efforts are not limited to Varanasi alone. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, has spoken about the government’s commitment to developing tourism, especially religious sites. He mentioned the record 66 crore devotees who attended the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj earlier this year. He also highlighted the changes at many other religious sites, including Ayodhya Dham, Braj Tirtha Vikas Parishad. Vindhyavasini Dham. These efforts aim to make the overall travel experience in Uttar Pradesh better.
Money Coming into the Economy
The big increase in tourism has brought a significant boost to the local economy. The hotel and guest house businesses have benefited greatly, with hotels, guesthouses. homestays reporting very high booking rates. Cities like Varanasi, Prayagraj. Mathura are seeing many new places to stay being built. This boom in hotel bookings has led the state government to make rules better to ensure good quality of places to stay.
Local businesses, such as restaurants and street food sellers in Varanasi, are also seeing a sharp rise in customers, which is directly linked to the growing number of pilgrims and tourists. Local transport services like taxis, auto-rickshaws. cycle-rickshaws are also making more money, further helping the local economy. The state’s transport network has also improved visibly, with better coordination among local officials to ensure smooth travel.
Experts in the hotel and tourism sector have said that religious tourism has positively affected the overall economy. The tourism boom has given new life to the hospitality and saree industries. For example, the demand for sarees has gone up in recent months, showing how different parts of the economy are benefiting. This means more jobs are being created at different levels for people with various skills and experience in the tourism business.
Managing Large Crowds
With the huge number of visitors, especially during sacred periods like Shravan, managing crowds and ensuring safety is very crucial. The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust has put in place several measures for the comfort and safe movement of devotees. For example, during Shravan 2025, there was a complete ban on special entry requests or ‘protocol’ passes from July 11 to August 9. This was done to ensure fair access for all. The Trust also warned people not to fall for scams by brokers offering special entries.
To help visitors, medical teams are placed near the Dham. Because of the very large crowds, free baggage counters will not be open during Shravan. devotees are asked not to bring personal items like bags, mobile phones, pens. metal items inside. Lost and found centers are set up at six different spots around the Dham for convenience. Free rickshaws are also available for the elderly, children. disabled people from Godowlia to Maidagin.
In addition to the regular security forces, private security staff are also deployed around the Dham. These efforts show the dedication to making the pilgrimage experience smooth and safe, even with the extraordinary turnout. But, the large number of people can also put a strain on local facilities and cause traffic problems, which are things that need continuous attention.
Looking Ahead
The huge increase in pilgrims and tourists visiting these holy places shows the need to keep investing in roads, security. good services to make sure all visitors have a good experience. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has said that the state’s work in preserving heritage is creating new opportunities for growth and earning a living. He stated that the development of different religious paths, such as the Ramayana, Krishna, Buddhist. Shakti circuits, will further boost religious tourism.
The state government is focused on building tourism models that can last a long time. This means improving facilities while making sure that the environment and cultural sites are protected. The aim is to encourage responsible travel that helps local communities without putting too much pressure on the environment or local resources. Digital tools are also being used, with e-ticketing for temple visits and events. With strong investment in religious facilities and better access and services, Uttar Pradesh is expected to become an even bigger destination for religious tourism not just in India. around the world.
