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As the new year approaches, Ayodhya, the temple town, is preparing to welcome an overwhelming number of devotees and tourists. This marks the conclusion of the first calendar year since the grand consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22.
With most accommodations in Ayodhya and nearby Faizabad already reserved, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has extended temple ‘darshan’ hours and implemented extensive measures to manage the anticipated crowd.
“All our rooms are booked until January 15,” said Ankit Mishra, a local hotel owner. Meanwhile, online platforms show limited availability of accommodations, with some hotels charging over ₹10,000 per night due to the high demand.
Ayodhya has seen a surge in religious tourism since the temple’s consecration earlier this year. While the Hindu New Year in ‘Chaitra’ (March-April) traditionally holds greater significance, the English New Year has also drawn large numbers of devotees.
“Many devotees offer prayers and seek blessings from Ram Lalla on January 1, marking the start of the year,” explained Ramakant Tiwari, a local priest.
To ensure safety and smooth management, Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajkaran Nayyar stated, “Security arrangements are in place at the Ram Temple, Hanumangarhi, Lata Chowk, Guptar Ghat, Surajkund, and other key locations.” The temple trust has coordinated comprehensive preparations to handle the surge in visitors, especially between December 30 and mid-January.
A trust representative shared, “We’ve extended ‘darshan’ timings and made strategic arrangements to provide a seamless experience for devotees.”
The Ram Temple’s consecration ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many prominent figures, has significantly boosted tourism in Ayodhya and Uttar Pradesh.
The state tourism department reported that Uttar Pradesh welcomed 32.18 crore tourists in 2022, a figure that rose to 32.98 crore in the first half of 2024.
This rise in tourism is attributed to the popularity of Ayodhya and Kashi (Varanasi). According to the Uttar Pradesh government, January alone saw a record-breaking seven crore tourists visiting Ayodhya, making it the highest number of visitors to any location in a single month.