Executive Summary:
This document is a response from the Ministry of Tourism to a question in Lok Sabha regarding the inclusion of Gola Gokarnath and Frog Temple in the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS). The response clarifies that tourism development is primarily the responsibility of State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. Financial assistance is extended by the Ministry of Tourism through various schemes, subject to project proposals and fund availability. As of August 4, 2025, there is no proposal under consideration to develop Gola Gokarnath and Frog Temple under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Tourism Development Responsibility:**
* Development and promotion of tourist destinations are primarily undertaken by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
* **Ministry of Tourism's Role:**
* The Ministry of Tourism complements state efforts through schemes like Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), and Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD).
* Financial assistance is extended to State Governments/UT Administrations.
* **Conditions for Financial Assistance:**
* Receipt of project proposals in line with scheme guidelines.
* Availability of funds.
* Inter-se priority.
* **Current Status of Gola Gokarnath and Frog Temple:**
* No proposal is currently under consideration to develop Gola Gokarnath and Frog Temple under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
* **Sanctioned Projects in Uttar Pradesh:**
* The document includes an annexure listing projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, and CBDD.
* Projects are listed with the circuit name, project name, sanction year, and amount sanctioned.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments/Union Territory Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Primarily responsible for tourism development and can receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism.
* *Action Required:* To submit project proposals aligned with scheme guidelines to seek financial assistance for tourism projects.
* **Ministry of Tourism:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for providing financial assistance to states/UTs for tourism infrastructure development through central sector schemes.
* *Action Required:* To evaluate project proposals received from State Governments/UT Administrations and extend financial assistance based on scheme guidelines and fund availability.
* **Gola Gokarnath and Frog Temple Authorities:**
* *Impact:* Currently, there is no active consideration for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
* *Action Required:* May need to prepare and submit a project proposal aligned with the Swadesh Darshan Scheme guidelines for future consideration.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and policies relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Gola Gokarnath: A town in Uttar Pradesh, India, mentioned in the context of potential inclusion in the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Frog Temple: A temple mentioned in the context of potential inclusion in the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where projects under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, SD2.0, and CBDD have been sanctioned.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: The Minister of Tourism who answered the Lok Sabha question.
Challenge Based Destination Development: A subscheme of Swadesh Darshan for tourism infrastructure development.
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: A city in Uttar Pradesh where 'Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Exp' project was sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2425
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
INCLUSION OF GOLA GOKARNATH AND FROG TEMPLE IN SDS
†2425. SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to include Gola Gokarnath and
Frog Temple in the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS);
(b) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the details of the places selected under the said scheme in Uttar
Pradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (c): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and tourism
products is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government/
Union Territory (UT) Administration. However, the Ministry of Tourism
through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, ‘Swadesh
Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’ and ‘Challenge Based Destination Development
(CBDD)’ – a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan; schemes complements the
efforts of tourism infrastructure development and amenities at tourism
destinations across the country by extending financial assistance to the
State Governments/UT Administrations. This financial assistance is
extended, subject to receipt of project proposals in line with the scheme
guidelines and other instructions issued in this regard, availability of
funds, inter-se priority etc.
Presently, no proposal is under the consideration in the Ministry of
Tourism to develop Gola Gokarnath and Frog Temple under the Swadesh
Darshan Scheme.
The details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, SD2.0
and CBDD scheme in the state of Uttar Pradesh are Annexed.
*****ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.†2425 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025 REGARDING INCLUSION
OF GOLA GOKARNATH AND FROG TEMPLE IN SDS RAISED BY SHRI
UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR
The list of the projects sanctioned in the state of Uttar Pradesh under
Swadesh Darshan scheme:
(Amount in ₹ Crore)
S. Circuit / Name of the Project Amount
Sanctioned
No. Sanction Year
1 Buddhist Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, 87. 89
Circuit &Kapilwastu
2016-17
2 Ramayana Development of Chitrakoot and 69.45
Circuit Shringverpur
2016-17
3 Spiritual Development of Ahar-Aligarh-Kasganj- 71.91
Circuit
Sarosi(Unnao)-Pratapgarh- Kausambi-
2016-17
Mirzapur-Gorakhpur-Domariyaganj-Basti-
Barabanki-Azamgarh-Kairana- Baghpat-
Shahjahanpur
4 Spiritual Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- 67.51
Circuit
Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur-
2016-17
Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar-
Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba-
Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi
5 Heritage Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- 36.65
Circuit
MagharDham(SantKabir Nagar)-
2016-17
ChauriChaura, Shaheed Sthal(Fatehpur)-
MahuarshaheedSthal(Ghosi)- Shaheed
Smarak(Meerut)
6 Ramayana Development of Ayodhya 127.21
Circuit
2017-187 Spiritual Development of Jewar-Dadri-Sikandrabad- 12.03
Circuit
Noida-Khurja-Banda
2018-19
8 Spiritual Development of Gorakhnath Temple 18.30
Circuit (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple
2018-19
(Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple
(Domariyagunj)
9 Wayside Development of Wayside Amenities in 17.50
Amenities Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at Varanasi-Gaya;
2018-19 Kushinagar-Gaya- Kushinagar in
collaboration with MoRTH
List of sanctioned projects in the state of Uttar Pradesh under Swadesh
Darshan 2.0:
(Amount in ₹ Crore)
S Year of Destination Name of the Experience Sanctioned
No. Sanction Cost
1 2023-24 Prayagraj Azad Park and Dekho 14.52
Prayagraj Trail Exp
2 2023-24 Naimisaranya Vedic- wellness Experience 17.80
List of sanctioned projects under Challenge Based Destination
Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme in the
state of Uttar Pradesh
(Amount in ₹ Crore)
S Year of Name of the Project Sanctioned Cost
No. Sanction
1 2024-25 Development of Cultural Landscape at 24.98
Mahoba
*****