Ayodhya's Ram Temple: A Boost for Economy and Tourism with Rs 85,000 Crore Makeover
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya opened its doors in January 2024, the temple was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Hindu mythology, this is the homeland of Lord Ram, and hence much effort has been put into retaining its glory. This monument not only offers religious and spiritual significance, but will bloom the economy of the region and hence the country and attract pilgrims and tourists from around the world in the heritage tourism sector.
It is estimated that around Rs 85,000 crore was spent in building this monument, keeping in mind the core infrastructure of the region. The initiative was taken not only to declare it as a spiritual destination, but to improve the economy of the country as well, by attracting more than 50+ million visitors annually.
With such a beautiful architectural wonder of cultural importance, the focus was entirely to make it the pilgrimage center for devotees seeking spiritualism and contributing it to become a popular heritage tourism site in India.
For pilgrims and tourists to easily reach Ayodhya, world-class infrastructure has been built and renovated, in terms of airport access, bus terminus, railway stations, best stays from five star hotels to budget-friendly stays, and many new projects have been put forward to attract tourists.
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History of Ram Temple in Ayodhya
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya was built in the 11th century as a devotion to Lord Ram. For centuries, it was an important place of worship for the Hindus, however things took a turn in the 16th century, during the Mughal era, when the Mughal Emperor Babur ordered the construction of the Babri Masjid, on the site where Ram Mandir was located. This led to many religious arguments and disputes between the Hindu and the Muslim community for many ages.
With many battles and social tensions in the region, related to disagreement over the ownership of the land. Despite all the issues and dealing with turbulent past, the temple held its presence, and stood as a testament for its followers who had full devotions in Lord Ram.
The fight for the rights of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, took a positive leap when the Supreme Court of India finally declared its verdict on the long-historic Ayodhya land dispute in 2019. Finally, the permission to construct the Ayodhya temple at this disputed site was allotted, recognizing the religious and spiritual significance of this place.
Economic impact of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya
With the permission to construct the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a complete transformation of the entire town foreseen, a new airport was constructed, the railway station was renovated, the roads were improved, hotels and accommodations from luxury to budget-friendly stays and other various sectors were stimulated, creating a buzz in the economy of Ayodhya and India, as a whole.
But the makeover of the temple and the town was worth it, around two-lakh devotees and tourists are estimated to visit per day. This daily influx of pilgrims and tourists will strengthen the economy of Ayodhya which in turn will improve the per capita income of the country.
Apart from the boom in the tourism sector, other businesses who are earning profit include the hospitality industry like hotels, resorts, guest houses and home-stays, craftsmen, retailers, flower sellers, transportation, etc.
Contributions of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to the Indian Economy
Before, COVID-19 in the Financial Year 2019, it is believed that the tourism sector contributed around $194 billion. It is planned to increase by the Financial Year 2033 to $443 billion, which means it needs to grow at 8% CAGR. However, it is calculated that the growth is slightly lower than the other developed economies in the world. With the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and inflow of tourists of more than two-lakhs per day, it is trying to overcome deficiencies and become one of the largest players in the tourism sector globally.
A Major Pilgrimage and Tourist Influx site in Ayodhya
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is spread across 70 acres of land, designed to hold around million of tourists and pilgrims in a day. According to reports from important sources, it is estimated that around two-lakh devotees and tourists visit per day to offer their prayers to Lord Ram and seek blessings, as well appreciating the grandeur of this monument.
Other pilgrimage and heritage sites in India are estimated to draw approximately around one-lakh to three-lakh pilgrims and tourists. With the creation of this magnificent temple as a new religious place, and good connectivity and infrastructure, it will surely have a great influence on the overall economy of the country.
According to the tourism department of India, on an average, there are around 1.25 lakh devotees visiting the temple, and on Saturdays and Sundays, and on other holidays, the numbers shoot up.
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India is land of holy places and the center of different religions. Pilgrims and tourists who want to visit the different Hindu temples of India, to offer you prayers to the Lord and seek blessings, follow this link. If you are a foreign traveler wishing to visit the temples in India for gaining spirituality, apply for the Indian Tourist Visa.
Increasing Economic and Religious Migration to Ayodhya
With an estimated makeover of around Rs. 85,000 crore, it has brought a drastic change in the structure of Ayodhya. The town which was once quiet and famous for its Ram Mandir dispute between the Hindus and the Muslims has now become the center of spiritual attraction, inviting devotees from around the world to meet Ram Lalla.
This commencement has led to the economic growth and religious movement in the region, which would benefit the different industries like hotels, homestays, restaurants, airlines, railways, bus, taxi, local vendors, etc.
Surge in the Tourism and Hospitality Sectors in Ayodhya
With the opening of Ayodhya's Ram Temple, it has brought a significant change in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Big players like ITC, Jubilant Foodworks, Westlife Foodworld, Britannia Industries, IRCTC, Indigo, SpiceJet, etc are likely to benefit from the increase in tourism.
Also, the nearby cities and towns like Lucknow, Kanpur and Gorakhpur, would have the opportunity to increase their demand. For example, pilgrims can sometimes book their train tickets to Lucknow, and from there they can either take a bus or train to reach Ayodhya.
Connectivity Initiatives to visit Ram Temple in Ayodhya
To reach Ram Temple in Ayodhya, different modes of transportation have been provided, a new airport was built, the railway station and bus stand was renovated, roads till the temple were constructed and footpaths have been built.
By air
The nearest airport to Ram Mandir is Maharishi Valmiki International Airport at the Ayodhya Dham, located around 11.3 km away and will take around 22 minutes to reach the temple. From the airport tourists can take a local taxi, bus or auto, whatever is convenient for them.
By train
The closest railway station to Ayodhya's Ram Temple is Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station which is around 1.8 km away and will take around 8 minutes to reach the temple. Tourists and pilgrims can take a taxi or battery auto from here.
By bus
The nearest bus stand is Ayodhya Dham bus station, located around 6.4 km away and will take around 21 minutes to reach the temple. Tourists and devotees can take an auto or local bus to reach Ram Mandir Ayodhya.
Opening of Quick-Service Restaurant Chains in Ayodhya
Another important highlight of the makeover in Ayodhya is that many restaurant brands and food chains like Jubilant Foods, Devyani International, KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominos, etc have been set up within a few kilometers away which will serve only vegetarian food items. This change has in fact altered the landscape of the area with the demand and preferences of the consumers, the devotees and the tourists, who are visiting the temple in large numbers.
The Final Takeaway
Ayodhya is known for its religious and cultural significance with the presence of the Ram Mandir. The inauguration of the Ram Temple will help devotees to pay their respect to the birthplace of Lord Ram, offer their prayers, gain spirituality and ignite the economic growth of the region.
The initiative to build the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, was one of the tremendous efforts taken by the government of India, putting Ayodhya as a major spiritual and heritage site in India, paving the way to map it as a global tourist destination.
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