Hotels in Ayodhya and surrounding areas in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad district are nearly sold out as devotees prepare to visit the Ram Temple this New Year. This marks the first New Year since the temple's consecration on January 22, 2024, and the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has extended temple visitation hours to accommodate the expected influx of visitors.

“We are ready to welcome devotees this New Year. All our rooms have been booked in advance until January 15,” said Ankit Mishra, a local hotel owner in Ayodhya.

The consecration ceremony earlier this year has spurred a significant rise in religious tourism to Ayodhya. While the Hindu New Year in ‘Chaitra’ (March-April) holds traditional importance, the Gregorian New Year has increasingly become a time for devotees to seek blessings from Ram Lalla at the start of the year.

"A large number of devotees visit religious sites and offer prayers on January 1 to begin the year with divine blessings," explained Ramakant Tiwari, a local priest.

To manage the anticipated crowds and ensure security, Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajkaran Nayyar outlined robust arrangements for key sites, including the Ram Temple, Hanumangarhi, Lata Chowk, Guptar Ghat, and Surajkund. The temple trust has also taken additional measures to handle the growing number of visitors, particularly during the peak period from December 30 to mid-January.

The Ram Temple's consecration, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thousands of devotees, has significantly boosted tourism in Ayodhya and across Uttar Pradesh. According to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, the state welcomed 32.18 crore tourists in 2022, a figure that jumped to 32.98 crore in just the first half of 2024.

The state government recently highlighted that Ayodhya and Kashi (Varanasi) have been instrumental in driving this surge. “Since the inauguration of the Ram Temple in January last year, Uttar Pradesh has experienced a sharp rise in tourist numbers. January alone saw a record seven crore visitors, marking the highest monthly footfall for any destination,” the government stated.

With New Year celebrations around the corner, Ayodhya continues to solidify its position as a key pilgrimage destination, drawing millions of devotees eager to start the year with spiritual fervor.