‘Record’ number of tourists to Ayodhya this year; There is much more worth seeing for the Festival of Lights

A record more than 23.82 crore devotees visited Ayodhya between January and June this year, officials said on Sunday, October 19, as the city prepared itself to receive more visitors for the Diwali festival.

An official statement from the Uttar Pradesh government said that the Deepotsav celebrations have increased the appeal of Ayodhya at the national and international level. “As a result, the number of tourists visiting Ayodhya has been continuously increasing. While domestic tourists constitute a major share, the interest of foreign tourists in the holy city of Lord Shri Ram has also increased,” it said.

According to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, tourist inflow has increased over the years, from 1.78 crore visitors in 2017 – the first year of Deepotsav celebrations – to around 1.95 crore in 2018, 2.05 crore in 2019. 2020 saw a decline of about 61 lakh visitors due to the pandemic, and 2021 again saw a rise of about 1.57 crore and 2.39 crore. 2022, 5.75 crore in 2023, and 16.44 crore in 2024. These numbers reflect both domestic and international tourists.

The holy city has seen a similar increase in the number of foreign visitors. This year, it rose to nearly 50,000 between January and June.

Backed by “strong infrastructure”, four-lane and six-lane highways, a world-class airport and a modern railway station, Ayodhya has emerged as “a symbol of both spiritual revival and economic development” under the Yogi Adityanath government, the UP government said in a statement.

The growth trend reflects Ayodhya’s renewed global prominence after the construction of the Ram temple, officials said, adding that the increasing number of devotees has also created thousands of local employment opportunities.

Crediting the Deepotsav tradition, the statement said Ayodhya is now a “major global pilgrimage and tourism centre”.

Meanwhile, warmly welcoming visitors and devotees to the city, the UP Chief Minister’s office said in a post in Hindi on Twitter, Ayodhya is all set for the grand and divine Deepotsav-2025.

A statement said that after the collaboration between Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University and Ayodhya District Administration, preparations have been completed to make Deepotsav 2025 a historic event.

Officials said around 33,000 volunteers will play a key role in the event and will light more than 26 lakh lamps to create a Guinness World Record.

University VC Colonel Bijendra Singh said in a statement, “This festival of lights will be extraordinary and unforgettable. The message of equality and harmony will reach the entire world from Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram.” He said a team of more than 2,000 university members has been deployed at 56 ghats of the Saryu river.

Sant Sharan Mishra, nodal officer of Deepotsav, said that the Guinness Book of World Records team is counting the number of lamps at the base of the ghat and arrangements for around 28 lakh lamps have already been made.

Ghat no. He said, 10, volunteers of the university made a huge symbol of ‘Swastika’ from 80,000 lamps giving the message of auspiciousness.

Officials said tight security arrangements have been made and entry will not be allowed at the ghats without ID cards.

Ayodhya District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said that after the program of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath this evening, a laser show, light and sound show and drone show will be organized at Ram Ki Paidi from around 8.30 pm.