**Executive Summary**
This document from the Ministry of Tourism outlines tourism projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region (NCR) under various schemes like PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan, and Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD). The information was given by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture on February 9th, 2026, in response to a query in Lok Sabha. An annexure details the projects, their sanction year, and sanctioned amount.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Schemes & Objectives**
* The Ministry of Tourism is supporting State Governments/UT Administrations by providing financial assistance for tourism infrastructure development through schemes like PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan, and CBDD.
* The ministry actively monitors the progress of projects and encourages timely completion.
* No proposal is currently under consideration for the Dudheshwar Nath Temple in Ghaziabad.
* **Sanctioned Projects**
* Details of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD include projects in Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan, and Govardhan.
* Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan include spiritual and Buddhist circuits.
* Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 list projects in Naimisaranya and Prayagraj.
* Projects sanctioned under CBDD includes a project in Mahoba.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments/UT Administrations**
**Impact**
* Receive financial assistance for developing tourism-related infrastructure.
* Subject to continuous monitoring of project progress by the Ministry of Tourism.
**Action Required**
* Ensure timely completion of projects.
* Fulfill stipulated conditions for financial assistance.
**Stakeholder: Tourism Industry in Uttar Pradesh and NCR**
**Impact**
* Benefit from improved infrastructure and promotional activities.
**Action Required**
* No specific action is directly required, but stakeholders may want to leverage these developments for business opportunities.
**Stakeholder: General Public/Tourists**
**Impact**
* Increased tourism opportunities and access to improved facilities at various destinations in Uttar Pradesh and NCR.
**Action Required**
* No specific action is directly required.
Key Entities Referenced
Uttar Pradesh: Indian state where tourism projects are being undertaken and sanctioned under the mentioned schemes.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): Scheme for developing and rejuvenating pilgrimage and heritage sites.
Swadesh Darshan: Tourism scheme focused on developing theme-based tourist circuits.
Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): Scheme promoting destination development through competitive challenges.
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian governmental body responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in India. Responsible for these schemes.
Ministry of Tourism
Tourism Projects under Swadesh Darshan and
PRASHAD in Uttar Pradesh
Posted On: 10 FEB 2026 11:55AM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Tourism through its ongoing schemes of ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage
Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’, Swadesh Darshan and ‘Challenge Based Destination Development
(CBDD)’ – a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan, complements the efforts of the State Governments
(SGs)/UT Administrations (UTs) by extending financial assistance to them for developing tourism related
infrastructure in the country, including the State of Uttar Pradesh and National Capital Region (NCR).
The projects under these schemes are implemented by the respective States/UTs. However, the Ministry of
Tourism regularly monitors the progress of the projects and also encourages respective State Government/
UT Administrations to complete the projects in a time bound manner.
The details of the projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and National Capital Region (NCR) along with their
status under the Schemes of PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and Challenge
Based Destination Development (CBDD), are given in the Annexure.
No proposal is under consideration of the Ministry of Tourism for development of historic Dudheshwar
Nath Temple in Ghaziabad. However, receiving proposals from the State Governments/UT
Administrations for financial assistance for tourism projects is a continuous process. The proposals
received are examined with reference to the prescribed guidelines and financial assistance is extended for
such projects subject to fulfilment of the stipulated conditions and availability of funds.
The Ministry of Tourism as part of its ongoing endeavour promotes various tourism destinations and
products of the country including Buddhist sites through promotional activities such as events, website,
social media promotions, fairs and festivals, etc.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha on 9th February 2026.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
ANNEXURE
List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under PRASHAD SchemeSr. State Name of the Project Sanction Year Amount
No Sanctioned
(₹ in Crore)
1. Uttar Pradesh Development of Varanasi – Phase 2015-16 18.73
–I
2. Uttar Pradesh Development of Mathura- 2014-15 10.98
Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit
(Ph-II)
3. Uttar Pradesh River Cruise Tourism in Ganga, 2017-18 9.02
Varanasi
4. Uttar Pradesh Construction of Tourist 2014-15 9.36
Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan
5. Uttar Pradesh Development of Varanasi – Phase 2017-18 44.60
–II
6. Uttar Pradesh Development of Infrastructure 2018-19 37.59
facilities at Govardhan
List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under Swadesh Darshan Scheme
Sr. no. State/UT Circuit / Name of the Project Amount
Sanction Year Sanctioned
(₹ in Crore)
1. Rajasthan Spiritual Development of Spiritual Circuit– 87.05
Circuit 'Development of Churu (Salasar
2016-17 Balaji)-Jaipur (Shri Samodke Balaji,
Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)-
Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika
Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)-
Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehndipur
Balaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji)
2. Uttar Pradesh Buddhist Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, 87.89
Circuit &Kapilwastu
2016-173. Uttar Pradesh Ramayana Development of Chitrakoot and 69.45
Circuit Shringverpur
2016-17
4. Uttar Pradesh Spiritual Development of Ahar-Aligarh- 71.91
Circuit Kasganj-Sarosi (Unnao)-Pratapgarh-
2016-17 Kausambi-Mirzapur-Gorakhpur-
Domariyaganj-Basti-Barabanki-
Azamgarh-Kairana- Baghpat-
Shahjahanpur
5. Uttar Pradesh Spiritual Development of Bijnor- Meerut- 67.51
Circuit Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda-
2016-17 Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia-
Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur-
Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra-
Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi
6. Uttar Pradesh Heritage Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- 36.65
Circuit Maghar Dham (Sant Kabir Nagar)-
2016-17 Chauri Chaura, Shaheed Sthal
(Fatehpur)- Mahuar shaheed Sthal
(Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut)
7. Uttar Pradesh Ramayana Development of Ayodhya 127.21
Circuit
2017-18
8. Uttar Pradesh Spiritual Development of Jewar-Dadri- 12.03
Circuit Sikandrabad-Noida-Khurja-Banda
2018-19
9. Uttar Pradesh Spiritual Development of Gorakhnath Temple 18.30
Circuit (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple
2018-19 (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple
(Domariyagunj)
List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under Swadesh Darshan 2.0
Sr. State Destination Name of the Sanctioned Year Sanctioned Cost
no. Experience
(₹ in Crore)1. Uttar Naimisaranya Vedic- wellness 2023-24 17.80
Pradesh Experience (Rev March
2025)
2. Uttar Prayagraj Azad Park and 2023-24 14.52
Pradesh Dekho Prayagraj (Rev March
Trail Experince 2025)
List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under Challenge Based Destination
Development (CBDD)
State Destination/ Name of the Experience Sanctioned Year Sanctioned Cost
Category
(₹ in Crore)
Uttar Mahoba Development of Cultural 2024-25 24.98
Pradesh Landscape at Mahoba
(Culture &
Heritage)
(Release ID: 2225708) Visitor Counter : 222
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