Himachal to develop religious tourism
July 5th, 2011 - 8:06 pm ICT by IANSShimla, July 5 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh is developing a religious tourist circuit to facilitate pilgrims visiting prominent shrines in Una and Bilaspur districts, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said here Tuesday.
“Tourism activities would be given momentum by spending Rs.6.15 crore on the Una-Chintpurni-Bilaspur circuit,” Dhumal told reporters here.
He said the emphasis would be on developing parking lots, civic amenities and renovation of shrines besides providing quality restaurants to tourists.
A parking lot is being developed in Chintpurni town where devotees throng from different parts of the country to pay obeisance at the temple of Mata Chintpurni, said Dhumal, who also holds a tourism portfolio.
He said civic amenities would also be improved at the shrine of Baba Badbhag Singh in Una district.
“Camping sites and a tourist reception centre would also be developed at Chintpurni,” he added.
Facilities would be developed for pilgrims visiting Naina Devi shrine in Bilaspur district. The hilltop shrine attracted 25 lakh devotees last year.
The hill state, also known as “Dev Bhoomi”, the ‘land of gods’, has 28 prominent Hindu temples that have cash amounting to over Rs.98 crore (Rs.980 million).
The popular shrine of Chintpurni is the richest with Rs.41.78 crore in its kitty, whereas the Naina Devi temple has cash amounting to Rs.10.33 crore.
The other prominent shrines are Jwalaji, Chamunda Devi and Brajeshwari Devi in Kangra district and Bhimakali and Hateshwari in Shimla district.
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- Bill moved to manage gold donated in Himachal temples - Apr 09, 2010
- Prayers in Himachal temples for India's victory - Apr 02, 2011
- Perform virtual prayers at Himachal's Naina Devi temple - Mar 13, 2011
- Himachal temples allowed to sell gold, silver - Apr 13, 2010
- Himachal's Naina Devi shrine sees record offerings - Jan 07, 2011
- 'Speed up ropeway construction between shrines' - May 01, 2010
- Hindus chant to Muslim beats in Himachal temples - Oct 03, 2010
- Three pilgrims killed in Himachal accident - Feb 28, 2010
- Shimla's historic landmarks to get facelift - Feb 19, 2010
- To pull tourists, Himachal books its legends (IANS Books)(With Image) - Aug 24, 2011
- Still snowing tourists in Himachal hills - Mar 25, 2011
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