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1. AYODHYA A Journey to Spiritual and Economic Prosperity

2. Agenda Introduction History of Ayodhya Location and Climate Tourist Attraction Tourism in Uttar Pradesh Scope of Tourism in Ayodhya Economic Growth Infrastructure Growth Benefits of Government Summary PRESENTATION TITLE 2

3. INTRODUCTION The city of Ayodhya is an important pilgrim place for Hindus in India. It is one of the seven holiest cities of India. Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Ram, who is an important deity in the Hindu pantheon. This small, quiet town attracts pilgrims from all over the country. Hindu pilgrims visiting Ayodhya during festivals and important religious functions consider a holy dip in the sacred Saryu River very auspicious. 10/12/2023 PRESENTATION TITLE 3

4. HISTORY OF AYODHYA Ayodhya city was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Ayodhya, where Lord Ram was born. It is also mentioned in Hindu mythology and the Ramayana. The ancient scripture of Atharvaveda describes Ayodhya as 'a city built by gods' and compares its prosperity with the glory and splendor of the paradise. Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, constructed a mosque in Ayodhya. It became the part of the great Mughal Empire and was ruled by them for many years. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, it became a part of the regional state of Awadh, which was later annexed by the British.

5. LOCATION & CLIMATE Ayodhya is centrally located within the state of Uttar Pradesh, situated in the northern region of India. The city is positioned on the southern bank of the Saryu River, adding to its picturesque setting. Ayodhya experiences a tropical climate, with hot summers from April to June and cool winters from November to February. The southwest monsoon season brings rainfall to Ayodhya during the months of July to September. Ayodhya is situated 130 kilometers east of the state capital, Lucknow, making it relatively accessible. It is also located just 6 kilometers from the city of Faizabad, forming a close connection between the two urban areas. Best Time To Visit Though the weather of Ayodhya is generally mild with hot spells in summer (April-June), it is advisable to travel here in the winter months.

6. Tourist Attraction The main attractions include the Ram Janmabhumi shrine, Lakshman Ghat, Kala Ram temple, and Kanak Bhavan temple. Ayodhya boasts a rich heritage with a multitude of temples and shrines.

7. 7 TOURISM IN UTTaR PRADESH In 2019, Uttar Pradesh attracted the highest number of domestic tourists in India, accounting for 23.1% of the country's tourist share. The state welcomed approximately 53.6 crore domestic tourists and about 47.5 lakh international tourists. During the pandemic, when international tourism was halted, domestic tourism, primarily for religious purposes, played a significant role. Uttar Pradesh is a land of spiritual and historical significance, with several deities, including Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, having their origins here. It is also the birthplace or residence of prominent sages and preachers. Notable individuals associated with Uttar Pradesh include Swami Narayan of Akshardham fame and Maharishi Patanjali, credited with the development of yoga and the Indian traditional medicine system.

8. SCOPE OF TOURISM IN AYODHYA Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy stated that Ayodhya is poised to become the world's largest spiritual tourism destination by 2030 . The construction of the Ram Mandir is anticipated to attract around five crore tourists annually and boost tourism in the state. Plans for constructing an international airport in Ayodhya and improving train and road connectivity are in progress to support tourism development. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath believes that when the Ram temple is completed, Ayodhya will become one of the world's premier spiritual cities and India's cultural capital. The Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, recently set a Guinness World Record by lighting nearly 9.5 lakh diyas on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya. 8

9. ECONOMIC GROWTH Some factors that are contributing to Ayodhya's economic growth include: The Yogi Cabinet cleared infrastructure and development projects worth Rs 10,967.87 crore for Ayodhya. An airport is being constructed to boost the infrastructure. Streets, roads, and highways are being widened. A new outer ring road has been approved. The Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport is coming up. A revamped railway station is being built. The chief minister said that when the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is completed in 2024, tourism to the city will increase by 10 times . In the first six months of 2022, more than 20 million tourists visited Ayodhya .

10. 10 INFRASTRUCTURE The first phase of the temple reconstruction in Ayodhya is expected to be completed by January 2024. Both the union and state governments are executing various infrastructure projects in Ayodhya to enhance the city's landscape and provide facilities for devotees coming to visit the temple. These projects aim to accommodate the millions of devotees seeking darshan of Lord Sri Ram inside the sanctum sanctorum. Currently, Ayodhya has limited accommodation options with only 17 hotels offering a total of 592 rooms and around 70 Dharamshala facilities. These existing facilities can accommodate an estimated 5,500 people, but Ayodhya's Master Plan 2031 estimates a need for approximately 25,000 rooms to accommodate both domestic and international tourists. To meet this demand, several projects have been initiated, including the construction of an airport, redevelopment of the railway station, and the development of ring roads. The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) is overseeing 259 projects in and around Ayodhya city, with a combined value of Rs 29,789 crore . These projects are aimed at improving infrastructure and accommodating the expected influx of pilgrims.

11. Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport 1 Ayodhya Railway Station 2 Ayodhya BUS TERMINUS AND HIGHWAY 3 10/12/2023 PRESENTATION TITLE 11

12. AIRPORT The proposed airport, called the ' Maryada Purushottam Sriram Airport', is located around 12 km from the upcoming Ram Mandir. Ayodhya's new airport will be developed in phases, with the first phase targeting the completion of one terminal to handle 300 passengers. Meanwhile, the other three terminals of the airport are expected to be completed by 2023. With a handling capacity of six lakh passengers per year, the new terminal structure, which has a total space of 6,000 sq. m., is intended to accommodate 300 people per day during peak travel times. 12

13. AYODHYA RAILWAY STATION The makeover of the railway station is in full swing, with the first phase of the work completed. The new station, just like the rest of the city, will have the essence of Lord Ram's Temple. It is to be noted that Rs 241 crore has been invested in the development of the first phase of the station. The money has been used to provide facilities like parking, accommodation for employees, an office for railway police, and the construction of three new platforms. Bullet Train From Capital The Central government plans to connect New Delhi to three major pilgrimage cities in Uttar Pradesh - Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya, via high-speed Bullet Train. A 130 km railway track connecting Ayodhya to Lucknow will be laid, which will be part of the 941.5 km high-speed railway corridor linking Delhi to Varanasi via Agra-Lucknow-Allahabad. The Bullet Train connecting Delhi to Ayodhya will cover a distance of over 670 km. The superfast train will cut the travel time to less than three hours between Delhi and the holy city. 13

14. AYODHYA BUS TERMINUS & HIGHWAY Soon, a world-class bus terminal will be built in this sacred city of Uttar Pradesh to support the easy movement of pilgrims and visitors and give them a practical option for commuting. The Rs 400 crore bus terminus project has recently received approval from the government of Uttar Pradesh. The construction of a four-lane flyover on the Ayodhya-Sultanpur route has also received approval from the government. To improve accessibility to Ayodhya and to facilitate parikrama by devotees, the union government has taken up 236 km long Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama Marg passing through five districts Ayodhya, Barabanki , Gonda , Basti, and Ambedkarnagar . The government has so far approved a 128 km stretch of the national highway to be built at the cost of Rs 3,164 crore. 14

15. BENEFITS OF GOVERNMENT Karnataka Budget 2021 Highlights: Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa,had announced that his government will construct Yathri Nivasa in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh for devotees from Karnataka visiting the temple town. Yediyurappa government have allocated Rs 10 crores in 2021-22 Budget; says UP govt will provide 5-acre land. 15

16. SUMMARY Ayodhya's journey to becoming the world's largest spiritual tourism destination is driven by the Ram Mandir's construction, infrastructure development, and its historical and cultural significance. 10/12/2023 PRESENTATION TITLE 16

17. THANK YOU Likith R N​ [email protected]