The Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC) has launched five weekly pilgrimage tours from Lucknow and Prayagraj under the state’s ‘Visit My State Uttar Pradesh’ campaign, aiming to boost religious tourism.
Tour Destinations and Schedule
The tours will connect pilgrims to key religious destinations including Ayodhya, Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot and Vindhyachal Dham, which are part of the Ramayana and Shakti Peeth tourism circuits. The weekly schedule includes a Lucknow-Naimisharanya Dham tour every Friday and a Lucknow-Ayodhya Sugam Darshan tour every Saturday and Sunday. From Prayagraj, tours to Vindhyachal operate every Friday, Chitrakoot every Saturday and Ayodhya every Sunday.
Ministerial Remarks
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the initiative aims to make organised pilgrimage travel more accessible while encouraging visitors to explore Uttar Pradesh’s major spiritual destinations. “The growing popularity of religious tourism reflects increasing interest in UP’s sacred sites. These tours will strengthen efforts to promote destinations associated with the Ramayana Circuit, Shakti Peeth Circuit and the state’s rich spiritual heritage,” Singh added.
Pricing and Inclusions
The one-day Naimisharanya tour from Lucknow is priced at Rs 1,700 per person, while the Ayodhya Sugam Darshan package, which includes VIP darshan at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, costs Rs 2,000. Senior citizens receive concessional rates on both tours. From Prayagraj, the Vindhyachal package is Rs 600 per person, while Chitrakoot and Ayodhya tours cost Rs 1,000 each. Packages include meals, refreshments, local guides and souvenir gifts, with group booking discounts available.
Accessibility
Additional Chief Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs, Amrit Abhijat, said tours will operate even if only a single passenger registers, ensuring wider accessibility for pilgrims.
