Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, covering 2.7 acres with a built-up area of 57,400 square feet, features 12 temple gates, five peaks, and several pavilions. Inaugurated on January 22, 2024, it has quickly become the most visited site in Uttar Pradesh in 2024, surpassing the iconic Taj Mahal. This surge is mainly due to the increasing number of spiritual tourists.
From January to September 2024, Ayodhya received 135.5 million domestic tourists and 3,153 international visitors, marking a 70% increase in religious tourism, largely fueled by the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple.
While Ayodhya leads in domestic tourism, the Taj Mahal in Agra remains a favoured destination for international visitors, attracting 125.1 million visitors in 2024, including 924,000 foreign tourists. The number of international tourists at the Taj Mahal has skyrocketed from 2.68 million in 2022 – 2023 to an impressive 27.7 million in 2023 – 2024.
Besides, Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir and Agra’s Taj Mahal, other destinations in UP also witnessed remarkable growth. Varanasi welcomed 62 million domestic and 184,000 international tourists, while Mathura recorded 68 million domestic and 87,229 international visitors. Prayagraj attracted 48 million visitors, and Mirzapur had 11.8 million tourists.
Overall, UP’s tourism is thriving. From January 2024 to September 2024, the state recorded an astounding 476.1 million visitors.
Some Key Facts To Know About Ram Mandir
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will celebrate its first anniversary on January 22, 2025. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024, the temple is run by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The estimate of temple construction ranges between INR 1,400 crore and INR 1,800 crore.
The temple is designed in the traditional Nagar style. The three-story temple features 392 pillars and 44 doors, with each floor rising to 20 feet.
Features of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir
1. The Mandir is in the traditional Nagar style.
2. The Mandir has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet.
3. The Mandir is three-storied, with each floor being 20 feet tall. It has a total of 392… pic.twitter.com/Sp2BzzU5sv
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) January 4, 2024
The main sanctum houses the idol of Shri Ram Lalla, representing Lord Ram’s childhood. And Shri Ram Darbar is located on the first floor.
The temple includes five mandaps: Nritya, Rang, Sabha, Prarthna, and Kirtan. Beautiful statues of various deities decorate the pillars and walls. Additionally, there is accessible entry through the Singh Dwar with ramps and lifts for the elderly and differently-abled visitors.
