Uttar Pradesh Leads India in Domestic Tourism with Record 137 Crore Visitors in 2025

The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter

Uttar Pradesh has emerged as India’s most visited state for domestic tourism, registering over 137 crore domestic tourist visits in 2025, the highest in the country. The massive influx of visitors reflects the state’s strong appeal as a centre of religious, cultural, and heritage tourism.

A major driver of this unprecedented footfall was the Mahakumbh 2025 at Prayagraj, which witnessed participation of more than 66 crore devotees, making it one of the largest religious congregations in the world. The event significantly boosted tourism numbers and reinforced Uttar Pradesh’s global spiritual identity.

Apart from Mahakumbh, the state saw large tourist inflows during several major religious and cultural festivals celebrated across the year, including Ram Navami, Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Janmashtami in Mathura-Vrindavan, Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, Makar Sankranti, Holi, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Kartik Purnima, Shravan Somvar festivities, and Buddha Purnima in Sarnath and Kushinagar. These festivals attracted lakhs of pilgrims and tourists from different parts of the country.

Prominent destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Prayagraj, Shravasti, Chitrakoot, Sarnath, and Kushinagar continued to record heavy footfall throughout the year. Improved infrastructure, better road and air connectivity, upgraded railway stations, riverfront development projects, and enhanced tourist amenities further facilitated the surge in visitors.

Tourism officials stated that focused promotion of spiritual circuits, heritage tourism, cultural events, and festivals, along with large-scale infrastructure development, played a crucial role in achieving these record figures.

In addition to domestic tourism, Uttar Pradesh also ranked among the top four states in India for foreign tourist arrivals, highlighting its growing international recognition.

The tourism boom has significantly contributed to the state’s economy by generating employment and supporting hotels, transport services, local traders, artisans, and small businesses. With continued emphasis on infrastructure, cultural preservation, and event-based tourism, Uttar Pradesh is expected to maintain its leadership position in India’s domestic tourism sector in the coming years.