UP developing heritage sites of backward districts as tourist spots
The Uttar Pradesh Government has embarked on a drive to get global recognition for the cultural and religious heritage sites located in backward districts of the state.
The state government is currently developing various such sites that have immense tourism potential, namely in the districts of Shravasti, Balrampur, Devipatan and Gonda. People are hardly aware of the significance of these heritage sites due to the neglect by the previous governments.
Now the Yogi Adityanath led Government is developing these sites as tourist attractions while simultaneously promoting traditional handicrafts of these regions. Promotion of local handicrafts would go a long way in creating avenues for employment generation for the local youth.
Under the guidance of the chief minister, top government officials have accelerated efforts to implement tourism development schemes across the state, officials said here on Monday. The Yogi Government has prepared unique, attractive packages for tourists in the last four years to boost tourism in the state.
Employment opportunities are growing in tandem with tourism in the state. Local people have started getting jobs of guides while craftspersons are getting more work and sale of local products and handicrafts have picked up.
The Yogi Government is developing tourism facilities in Shravasti, Kapilavastu and Kushinagar in the Buddhist circuit and Chitrakoot and Shringverpur in the and Ramayana circuit. Earlier, the Government held a grand celebration of Uttar Pradesh Day on January y 24 this year, honouring dignitaries who had performed remarkably in various fields.
The previous governments had remained oblivious of their contributions. Water sports was launched at Ramgadhatal of Gorakhpur during the Yogi regime itself. The flow of tourists to Pilibhit Tiger Reserve has also seen a rise.
The Yogi Government’s unique initiative to promote lesser known tourist destinations in the last
four years has received acclaim worldwide. The successful holding of Prayagraj Kumbh 2019 was even acknowledged by UNESCO while the Bhoomi Pujan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya became a historic event.
The Yogi Government has been promoting pilgrimage sites located within the state of UP through a variety of events for the past four years. One such event ‘Ayodhya Deepotsav’ has got entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for the second year in a row this year.
The celebrations of Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Krishnotsav in Mathura, Rangotsav in Barsana as
well as Shivratri and Dev Deepavali in Varanasi have established the richness of Indian cultural heritage on the global stage.
The UP Government has formed Pilgrimage Area Development Council to promote religious tourism in different districts. The establishment of the Brij Tirtha Kshetra Vikas Parishad, Naimisharanya Teerth Kshetra Vikas Parishad, Vindhya Teerth Kshetra Vikas Parishad, Shukradham Teerth Vikas Parishad, Chitrakoot Teerth Kshetra Vikas Parishad and Devipatan Teerth Vikas Parishad bear testimony to the state govt’s efforts to promote pilgriamge spots.
As part of the Yogi government's strategy to promote tourism, the Shaktipeeth and spiritual circuit are being developed on war footing. The development of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is also included in this.
Meanwhile, Mahabharata sites under the Mahabharata Circuit are also being developed. Tourism facilities in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri under Jain and Sufi circuits have also improved considerably in the last four years.
