Prayagraj: Prayagraj strengthened its position on the tourism map as a hub for religious and spiritual travel with the development of five major tourism corridors, including dedicated temple corridors, in preparation for the 2025 Maha Kumbh.As Allahabad, now Prayagraj, was long recognised as a city of religious and spiritual significance, the new corridors firmly recognised Sangam city on the global tourism map. The eight temple corridors developed within Prayagraj, including the Hanuman Temple Corridor near the Sangam, the Akshayavat Temple–Saraswati Koop Corridor and the Bharadwaj Ashram Corridor, expanded tourism options for travelers. District magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said infrastructure development and beautification work at the “Dwadash Madhav” (Twelve Madhav) temples was undertaken at a cost of Rs 12.34 crore to reinforce the city’s Vedic heritage. Continuing the initiative, 11 ancient temples within and on the outskirts of the city were renovated at a cost of Rs 19.01 crore, after which Prayagraj emerged as a major destination for travelers. In addition, govt developed tourism-related amenities at these sites. Regional tourism officer (Prayagraj) Aparajita Singh said: “With the aim of improving accessibility and enhancing the visitor experience at these ancient, mythological shrines, tourism infrastructure and facilities are currently being developed across ten temples within the district.” The temples included Bhadreshwar Mahadev Temple at Fatehpur Ghat, Bholegiri Temple in Prayagraj, Phalahari Baba Temple in Karchhana, Aindri Dham in Jamunipur, Durga Mandir Dham in Panchdevra, Shri Bajrang Ashram Dham in Deoli, Bhail Nath Temple in Handia Barot, Shivala Temple in Mau Aima, Shankar Temple in Koraon and Bolan Mahadev Temple in the city. Administrative approval of Rs 13.68 crore was received for the projects, and a budget allocation of Rs 5.64 crore was released. The organisation of religious festivals in Prayagraj, including the Maha Kumbh, Kumbh and Magh Mela, provided sustained momentum to the tourism sector, while projects initiated for the Maha Kumbh 2025 accelerated growth. A water laser show launched by the department of tourism at the Boat Club on the banks of the Yamuna at a cost of Rs 21 crore was set to continue until the next Ardh Kumbh. Façade lighting systems installed at six tourist sites across the district at a cost of Rs 25 crore were also to remain operational. The tourist penetration rate in Prayagraj, which stood at 2% prior to 2017, increased fivefold to 10%. The arrival of 66.30 crore devotees during the Maha Kumbh 2025 gave Prayagraj a distinct new identity, while footfall of over 22 crore visitors during the Magh Mela 2026 set a new record.
