Ayodhya emerged as the top tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh in the first half of 2024, recording an unprecedented 11 crore visitors, including 2,851 foreign tourists. This surge is attributed to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. Uttar Pradesh overall saw 33 crore tourists during this period, a significant increase from previous years. Varanasi followed Ayodhya with 4.61 crore visitors, while Prayagraj, Mathura, and Agra also attracted millions of tourists. The state’s tourism success is credited to improved infrastructure and focused efforts by the government to enhance travel amenities. The boost in tourism is expected to have a positive economic impact, generating revenue and creating jobs.