Ayodhya, 20 July: As the date of the Ram Temple’s opening approaches, there is a big demand for hotel reservations in Ayodhya in January 2024.
Tour companies and hotel front desks are working around the clock to handle the sudden surge in inquiries and bookings from worshippers anxious to see the consecration event between January 15 and 24.
Taking note of the situation, Ayodhya divisional commissioner Gaurav Dayal met with local hotel owners on Wednesday and instructed them to tidy up rooms for the convenience of tourists, both domestic and foreign.
Despite the fact that the consecration event is expected to take place between January 15 and 24, many devotees have begun reserving hotels in the temple town for 10-12 days in advance.
There are about 100 hotels in Faizabad and Ayodhya, including deluxe, budget, economical, and unrecognised guest homes, as well as dharamshalas and home stays/paying guest houses. In addition, there are four government guest homes with a total of 35 rooms.
‘Reserving 40% of the rooms for VIP visitors’: According to district administration authorities, around 50 tiny guest cottages are under construction and will be completed by November.
Sharad Kapoor, managing director of Ayodhya’s oldest hotel Shan-e-Awadh, stated, “We are regularly receiving calls from Delhi, Mumbai, and other metro cities, as devotees want to book rooms for a fortnight. I’ve reserved at least 40% of the rooms for VIP visitors.”
“We had a query from a Mumbai-based travel agency for 1,500 rooms in Ayodhya for a week,” Sangram Singh, owner of an Ayodhya resort, said. The difficulty is that we still don’t know when the ceremony will take place.” On Wednesday, the divisional commissioner also handed out registration certificates under the Paying Guest Scheme to 41 building owners.
“After the Ram Temple is dedicated, the number of devotees visiting Ayodhya will skyrocket. Many devotees plan to spend the night. There will be a need for hotels, guest houses, or home stays. Not only will these home stays provide devotees with a home-like experience, but they will also generate additional income for the locals,” Dayal explained.
