Tag: religious tourism

Compared to beaches and hill stations, more tourists are visiting temples in Tamil Nadu. Spiritual tourism is bringing lakhs of people to this southern state, with statistics indicating that districts with popular temples have emerged as top draws. The temple town of Kancheepuram ranked first followed closely by Chennai. According to statistics from directorate of tourism, both Chennai and Kancheepuram collectively account for 20 per cent of the total 38.59 crore domestic tourists who visited the state last year. Ramanathapuram, Dindigul and Thanjavur that have ancient temples such as Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani and UNESCO-notified ... Read more

With an aim to boost tourism in Tripura, the state government has decided to construct 51 temples, which would be replicas of the 51 Shaktipeeths and has also started a helicopter service to Devatamura and Unnakoti hills, famous for huge-rock cut sculptures. The state government has already allocated 14.22 acres of land for construction of replicas of Shaktipeeths at Fulkumari in Gomati district, about 3-km away from the Tripuresari temple, a famous temple and one of the 51 Shaktipeeths. “There are 51 Shaktipeeths. Of the 51 Shaktipeeths, 38 are in India, six in Bangladesh, three in Nepal, two in Pakistan ... Read more

Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, K J Alphons announced that the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned projects worth Rs 85.23 crore for the development of Spiritual Circuit III for Kerala under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The sites identified under the circuit are spread across all 14 districts of the state and cover 133 religious places. He said the districts where the projects would be implemented are : Kasargode, Wayand, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamhitta, Kollam and Thiruvanathapuram . The Minister said the destinations have been selected keeping in view the inherent historic, cultural ... Read more

The Prayagraj Kumbh mela, the grand congregation of Hindu devotees that takes place four times over a course of 12 years, begins today. The festivities commenced with the ‘shahi snan’ or the holy dip with sadhus from 13 akhadas (tent) taking a dip in the rivers along where the mela takes place. The ritual of Shahi Snan dates back to centuries. It is believed that the tradition of a Shahi Snan meaning a royal dip, began during the 14th-16th century. Today, millions of pilgrims, plunged themselves into the cold waters during the first Shahi Snan, that began at around 4am. ... Read more

Indian temples are known for its own unique offerings and rituals. If you are anywhere near the Brajeshwari temple in Himachal Pradesh, you would be lucky to see the installation of a butter idol during Makar Sankranthi, which is tomorrow. Every year the preparations for installing the butter idol begin on Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated as a week-long festival at the temple. The goddess idol will be made of 2,500 kg of clarified butter in a famous temple in this Himachal Pradesh town. The idol of Goddess Brajeshwari Devi, being prepared by using ‘desi ghee’ after purification with holy water 101 times ... Read more

The main entrance of the temple Considered as a most important pilgrimage site in Kerala, the iconic Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram has been the prime attraction for the domestic tourists and devotees in and outside the state over the years. And, with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting this richest temple in the world, the authorities are expecting a major thrust in religious tourism in the capital city. The Padmanabhaswamy temple has been witnessing a footfall around 10-15 lakhs pilgrims annually, where the occupancy rate of hotels and lodges is always 100 per cent almost round the year. The temple hit headlines ... Read more

The holy annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended on Baltal route due to inclement weather conditions. The route of Amarnath Yatra from Baltal has become slippery and muddy due to continuous rain last night. The yatra on Phalgam route, however, is unaffected and is going on as per schedule. An organization providing free food, night shelter and blankets to the Amarnath yatra pilgrims suggested to Shrine board headed by Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, the Shri Amarnathji Barfani Langer Organisation, to limit the annual pilgrimage to 30 days. The 60-day long annual yatra to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in ... Read more

With an aim to start promoting religious tourism circuit in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union Minister for Tourism KJ Alphons held discussions in New Delhi. The ministers discussed about a Rs 300 crore including a project for improving the infrastructure facilities of the state. Himachal Pradesh is famous for its various eco-tourism activities that support various tourism hotspots in the tourism map. The discussion went pretty well in which the Union Minister has promised to provide all essential support for the state. Himachal Pradesh, which is famous for its picturesque pristine beauty, is free from the outside ... Read more

Around one million visitors – both domestic and foreign tourists- visited the Walled City of Intramuros during the Holy Week. The Department of Tourism, Philippines and its attached agency the Intramuros Administration (IA), had arranged a series of events to promote the Walled City as a holistic faith destination in Metro Manila. “For a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines, the Holy Week or Lenten season is a perfect time to reflect, repent and travel. We congratulate the Intramuros Administration and our Faith Tourism sector for the successful reopening of the Walled City for the Lenten season,” said Tourism Secretary ... Read more

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to exploit the rich cultural heritage of Brijbhumi to promote tourism among international tourists. The move is expected to generate local employment in and around Mathura. “The government has decided to rope in various travel agencies to encourage the Taj Mahal-bound international tourists to visit Mathura as well to explore its various religious and cultural marvels, including the local temples and the museum,” said state Minister for Culture and Minorities Welfare Laxmi Narain Chaudhary. The state cultural secretary has been instructed to initiate talks with travel agencies to discuss this project and encourage them ... Read more

Tourism Ministry has asked Bihar to rework on the Ramayana Circuit proposal it had submitted. The State Government of Bihar has submitted the proposal for development of Sitamarhi, Buxar and Darbhanga under Ramayana Circuit. “A presentation on the project was made in the Ministry of Tourism on 13.02.2018 and based on discussion, the State Government has been requested to rework on the project as per scheme guidelines,” informed K J Alphons, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism. Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Sitamarhi, Buxar, Darbhanga in ... Read more

The online reservation for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, organised by Ministry of External Affairs, has commenced. The last date for submitting applications online is March 23. Every year the ministry conducts the much looked after Kailash Mansarovar yatra during June to September through two different routes – Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand), and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim). Kailash Manasarovar Yatra (KMY), known for its religious value and cultural significance, is undertaken by hundreds of people every year. Holding significance for Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva, it holds religious importance also for Jains and Buddhists. It is open to eligible Indian citizens, ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: indiatv Finally, the tourists/pilgrims who throng the famed Saptashrungi Devi hilltop temple in Nasik, Maharashtra, will be able to hop on India’s first Funicular Trolley from March 4 onwards. The project was announced in January 2010. The trolley will zoom up the 1,400 metres tall Saptashrungi Hills in the picturesque north end of Western Ghats to the temple atop. It will have an elevation of almost 330 feet and will enable pilgrims to reach the top of the hill within three minutes. At present, the pilgrims will take anything between one and two hours to climb the 150 ... Read more

Telangana government is planning to set up amphitheatre, tribal museum, food court and cottages at Medaram and develop it as a permanent tourist destination. The State government had already brought up Haritha tourism hotel for Rs 7.5 crore and tribal museum for Rs 2 crore. “The tourists are coming to Medaram all along the year hence it has been decided to develop Medaram as permanent tourist attraction. We will bring up amphitheatre, tribal museum, food court, cottages for VIPs etc,” said Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari. Photo Courtesy: Telanganatoday The Museum would showcase the story of Sammakka and Sarlamma. About ... Read more

ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളെ തോറ്റത്തെ വര വിളിക്കുന്നേന്‍ ആദിമൂലമായിരിപ്പോരു പരദേവതേ തോറ്റത്തെ കേള്‍ക്ക… Pic: keralatourism.org തെയ്യം തോറ്റംപാടി വരവിളിക്കുന്നതാണിത്. ഒക്ടോബര്‍ മുതല്‍ ജൂണ്‍ വരെ തെയ്യങ്ങളുടെ ഉത്സവകാലമാണ്. വടക്കേ മലബാറിലെ തനത് അനുഷ്ഠാന കലയാണ്‌ തെയ്യം. ആര്യാധിനിവേശത്തിനു കീഴ്പ്പെടാത്ത ദ്രാവിഡപ്പഴമയാണ് തെയ്യങ്ങള്‍ എന്ന് അഭിപ്രായമുണ്ട്. നൃത്തം ചെയ്യുന്ന ദേവതാ സങ്കൽപ്പമാണ് തെയ്യം. പ്രധാനമായും അമ്മ ദൈവങ്ങളാണ് തെയ്യങ്ങള്‍. അഞ്ഞൂറോളം തെയ്യങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടെന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. എങ്കിലും നൂറ്റിരുപത് തെയ്യങ്ങളാണ്‌ സാധാരണയുള്ളത്. നൂറ്റാണ്ടുകള്‍ പഴക്കമുള്ള ഈ അനുഷ്ഠാനകല കാസര്‍ഗോഡ്, കണ്ണൂര്‍ ജില്ലകളിലാണ് കെട്ടിയാടുന്നത്. കണ്ണൂര്‍, കാസര്‍ഗോഡ്‌ ജില്ലകള്‍ സാംസ്കാരിക തീര്‍ഥാടന വിനോദ സഞ്ചാരത്തിന്  അനുയോജ്യമായ സ്ഥലമാണ്. കേരളം ദൈവത്തിന്‍റെ സ്വന്തം നാടെങ്കില്‍ വടക്കേ മലബാര്‍ ദൈവങ്ങളുടെ നാടാണ്. ദൈവം എന്നതിന്‍റെ വാമൊഴി രൂപമാണ് തെയ്യം. മനോഹരമായ മുഖത്തെഴുത്തും, കുരുത്തോലകളും പൂക്കളും ഉപയോഗിച്ചുള്ള ആടയാഭരണങ്ങളും, ചെണ്ട, ചേങ്ങില, ഇലത്താളം, കുറുകുഴല്‍, തകില്‍ തുടങ്ങിയ വാദ്യമേളങ്ങളും ലാസ്യ, താണ്ഡവ നൃത്തവും സമ്മേളിക്കുന്ന തെയ്യം വിശ്വാസത്തോടൊപ്പം കലാസ്വാദനവും ഉണര്‍ത്തുന്ന ... Read more