The Uttar Pradesh government plans to make Guptar Ghat in Ayodhya a major tourist attraction
The Lakshman Path, which connects Rajghat to Guptar Ghat, has been transformed into a four-lane highway through monitoring and expansion.
Ayodhya’s Guptar Ghat: The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government plans to make Ayodhya a major tourist attraction with initiatives like rejuvenating it, including launching water sports and boating activities. In this regard, the Guptar Ghat of Ayodhya, the place chosen by Lord Shri Ram to ascend to heaven as per popular belief and which has a rich spiritual heritage, has emerged as the ideal location.
Going forward, the state government has taken steps to restore the ancient spiritual and historical glory of the ghat and make it an attractive tourist destination in Ayodhya by equipping it with modern civic amenities, said a statement from the office of the Prime Minister.
Before 2017, the Guptar Ghat was considered a dilapidated stretch of riverbank, best known for some ancient temples and meditation sites of saints, where stray animals were often found among the garbage strewn about, the statement said.
Now, the Guptar Ghat has been transformed and has become a tourist attraction with restoration of the riverbanks, construction of strong embankments, beautification, widening and expansion of roads and introduction of tourist facilities.
Currently, the Lakshman Path, which connects Rajghat to Guptar Ghat, has been transformed into a four-lane highway through monitoring and expansion. Moreover, several attractions, including water sports, have been developed here, making the serene banks of spiritually rich Sarayu a place that not only provides spiritual solace but also fills visitors with excitement and joy.
Two phases of the beautification drive of Guptar Ghat have been completed while the third phase is in the final stages of completion. So far, the third phase of the ride has completed work on several facilities and attractions, including an open-air theater, an aesthetically designed park with modern facilities, attractive sculptures, entry gates, a meditation and yoga center, kiosks, toilet blocks, interpreter center, cafeteria , play park for children, CCTV for safety and more. These projects were completed at the cost of Rs. 16.65 crores.
Moreover, the total expenditure on beautification processes at Guptar Ghat, covering both phases, was Rs. 76.73 crores. This includes construction of an embankment of 1,150 km from Guptar Ghat to Jamthara Ghat at Rs. 39.63 crore, as well as development of several projects at the cost of Rs. 37.10 crore.
The configuration of the Sarayu River bed at Guptar Ghat posed a challenge to maintaining necessary water levels for carrying out regular water activities. That is why the government is working on the construction of dikes and the rehabilitation of dams to tackle this problem. Now, in addition to traditional boating, jetties are also active in the river.
Moreover, motorboats are operated here, offering riders exciting experiences. Soon, the facility will also witness the operation of solar powered boats and regular cruises.
The Guptar Ghat will become a world-class tourist destination through the development of the following facilities:
Open air theatre: An excellent medium for organizing cultural programs.
Attractive park with the most modern facilities: It is equipped with facilities such as an open-air gym, good paving, a jogging track and Victorian-style arch lighting.
Attractive sculpture: Many attractive sculptures and murals are also installed here.
Meditation cum Yoga Center: Tourists coming here can complete uninterrupted meditation and yoga activities in the peaceful environment of sacred Saryu.
Kiosks, toilet blocks: Taking into account the toilet facilities of citizens, kiosks and toilet buildings are operated here.
Interpretation center: It will function as a CCTV desk, tourist facilitation desk and coordination point.
Cafeteria: Here people can enjoy various dishes in the food court.
Play park for children: Construction of swings decorated in different attractive colors in which children can play.
CCTV surveillance: Security measures are ensured through camera surveillance and smart monitoring of the entire area.
Selfie point: At many tourist places here, light-lit hoardings of ‘I Love Ayodhya’ have been installed, converting them into selfie points.
Heritage Artistically Crafted Solar Lights: Various types of lighting, including solar and facade lighting, give this space an attractive appearance in the evening.
5G access, Wi-Fi zone: The 5G network service has now been rolled out in areas where mobile signals were once unavailable. Wi-Fi facility can also be activated at the ghat.
(With ANI inputs)