Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s Grand Makeover Set to Transform City into Tourism Hub

New Delhi: The inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya not only marks an important cultural moment but is also set to transform the city into a global tourism hub. Uttar Pradesh’s investment of over $10 billion (about Rs 85,000 crore) in the redevelopment of Ayodhya ahead of the consecration ceremony is expected to yield substantial returns.

The ambitious makeover includes a new airport, renovated railway station, township development, better road connectivity and more. Brokerage firm Jefferies estimates the total cost to be around ₹85,000 crore, with the potential tax revenue generation for the Uttar Pradesh government at more than ₹25,000 crore.

According to a Jefferies report, Ayodhya’s transformation could attract more than 50 million tourists annually, rivaling famous global destinations. The Golden Temple and Tirupati Temple in Amritsar, which are visited by 30-35 million and 25-30 million people respectively, may be surpassed. Globally, Ayodhya can compete with Vatican City (9 million tourists) and Saudi Arabia’s Mecca (20 million tourists).

To enhance Ayodhya’s tourism infrastructure, Phase 1 of the city airport is already operational, with a capacity of 1 million passengers, which is planned to be expanded to 6 million by 2025. The capacity of the railway has also doubled to accommodate 60,000 passengers daily.

With 73 new hotels in the pipeline, including collaborations with major chains like Indian Hotels, Marriott, Wyndham and possible participation of ITC and Oyo, Ayodhya aims to meet the anticipated surge in tourist inflows.

Reports suggest that Uttar Pradesh may gain ₹4 lakh crore through the Ram temple, making Ayodhya a potential global tourism hotspot. Making the city a cultural and religious hub is expected to contribute significantly to the economic growth of the state.