Efforts to develop Devi temples and expand facilities for devotees are giving fresh impetus to religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh. Since 2017, the Yogi government has been paying special attention to the development of major Devi shrines. The impact is clearly visible in the large crowds visiting temples during Navratri. More devotees visited Maa Vindhyavasini Dham in Mirzapur during Navratri this year compared to the previous year, while lakhs of devotees also offered prayers at Alopi Devi Temple in Prayagraj and Badi Kali Ji Temple in Lucknow.
The growing footfall at prominent religious destinations as well as locally renowned Devi temples across the state highlights the vast potential for religious tourism.
Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “The state government is committed to the conservation and development of religious sites and to providing better facilities for devotees.”
The initiatives undertaken since 2017 to develop Devi temples are an important step in this direction. A total of 22 major projects, worth approximately ₹83 crore, have been included for 20 Devi shrines across 19 districts. These projects aim to expand tourism infrastructure at temples and ensure a smoother, more comfortable experience for devotees.
The government seeks to promote religious tourism by improving facilities at major Devi shrines as well as other important religious destinations across the state.
Maa Vindhyavasini Dham in Mirzapur witnessed an increase in the number of devotees during Navratri this year.
Pankaj Dwivedi, president of Shri Vindhya Panda Samaj, said, “Around 20 to 22 lakh devotees had visited the shrine during Navratri last year, while the number exceeded 30 lakh this year.” Large numbers of devotees from different parts of the country visit the shrine during the festival. Along with Vindhyachal Dham, the Ashtabhuja Devi Temple and Kali Khoh Temple are also major centres of faith for devotees.
Alopi Devi Temple in Prayagraj has also witnessed a rise in footfall. The temple received 6.25 lakh devotees in 2024 and 11.10 lakh in 2025. By September 2026, around 4.05 lakh devotees had offered prayers at the shrine. During Navratri this year, more than 1.60 lakh devotees visited the temple.
According to temple priest Mansukh Giri, over 20,000 devotees visit the shrine daily during Navratri, with the number exceeding 30,000 on Ashtami and Navami. The growing footfall reflects the expanding potential for religious tourism in Prayagraj.
Around 7 lakh devotees offered prayers at Badi Kali Ji Temple in the state capital, Lucknow, during Navratri this year. Raj Singh, the temple’s manager, said the state government had sanctioned more than ₹227.83 lakh for the temple’s tourism development. Such projects form part of the broader efforts to improve facilities for devotees and develop prominent religious sites from a tourism perspective.
Around 18 lakh devotees reportedly visited Vindhyavasini Dham in Banda during Navratri this year. The number of devotees visiting the shrine has increased approximately 2.5 times compared to 2010. A further acceleration in footfall has also been observed since 2017.
The ancient Jua Devi Temple under the Balrampur district, also known as the Jwala Devi Temple is a major centre of faith in the region. According to available data, around 93,000 devotees visited the temple in 2023, nearly one lakh in 2024 and approximately 1.10 lakh in 2025. More than 90,000 devotees also offered prayers during Navratri this year.
The increasing footfall at smaller and regionally renowned Devi temples highlights the potential for expanding religious tourism across the state.
Since 2017, the state government has undertaken extensive initiatives to develop Devi temples and promote religious tourism. Under this effort, 22 major projects worth approximately ₹83 crore have been included for 20 Devi shrines across 19 districts. These projects aim to bring Devi temples in different parts of the state into the development process and expand facilities for devotees.
The large crowds at prominent shrines such as Vindhyachal Dham, Alopi Devi Temple and Badi Kali Ji Temple during Navratri underscore the importance of religious tourism.
The development of temples and expansion of facilities can help provide devotees with a better experience while giving Uttar Pradesh’s religious tourism sector greater recognition.
Yogi govt focuses on developing Devi temples and expanding facilities, leading to an increase in devotees at major shrines
From Vindhyachal Dham in Mirzapur to Alopi Devi Temple in Prayagraj, Devi shrines witness a surge in devotees
Developing Devi temples and providing better facilities to devotees is a priority for the Yogi government: Jaiveer Singh
