Let’s explore the religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh. This state is home to many major pilgrimage centres that attract pilgrims from around the world each year. Uttar Pradesh is a significant destination for Hindu religious tourism, as it hosts the majority of important Hindu pilgrimage sites.

Cities to visit during your religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh 

Varanasi 

Every Hindu and in some cases, non-Hindus wish to visit this ‘city of death’ at least once in their lifetime. Varanasi also known as ‘Kashi’ in the ancient text is considered one of the oldest cities situated on the bank of the river Ganga and is famous all around the world for its beautiful Ghat. There is an ancient belief among the people that by taking a dip in the holy river Ganga, the person can wash off all his sins that he/she has committed in their life.  The Kashi-Vishwanath temple Manikarnika Ghat are one of the main tourist attractions in the city. 

Prayagraj

Prayagraj is a place of great historical stories as it witnesses many historical moments in the history of the country. Prayagraj is famous for its world’s largest Mela known as Kumbh Mela which is held every 12 years, it is also among the four religious destinations where KumbhMela is held the other three destinations are Nashik, Ujjain and Haridwar. Kumbh Mela 2025 is just around the corner, so make sure that you book your tickets in advance to attend the Kumbh in Prayagraj.

Mathura-Vrindavan

Krishan is one of the most widely worshipped Hindu deities in the world, he is worshipped as the lord of compassion, protection and love. Being the birthplace of Lord Krishna the place the city attracts pilgrims from all around the world. According to Hindu mythology, it is said that Krishna Janmbhoomi temple is presently located at the hub of the place where Lord Krishna was born in Brij-Bhoomi, and it is believed that Lord Krishna spent his childhood and youth in the area of Braj in Mathura-Vrindaban. 

Ayodhya 

Ayodhya is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama and is a significant religious site in Uttar Pradesh. It is renowned for its association with the great Indian epic, the Ramayana, which features Lord Rama, a key figure in Hindu mythology. According to tradition, Ayodhya was founded by Manu, the first man in the universe, and it is also said to have been built by divine beings. Ayodhya is among the seven most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus in India. The famous festival of Diwali originated in this city, commemorating Lord Rama's return home after defeating Ravana in battle.

Conclusion

In the last seven years religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh has seen a significant rise, the credit for this goes to the Yogi government initiatives in promoting tourism in Uttar Pradesh. Some of his initiatives are as follows- Ramayana circuit, Buddhist circuit, Krishna circuit and many more.