Ujjain is Center of Spiritual Energy—Source of this Energy is Baba Mahakal : Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that Ujjain is the center of India’s religious, cultural & spiritual energy and the source of this energy is Baba Mahakal himself. He said that Baba Mahakal is the eternal force that keeps the cosmos in motion. With Baba Mahakal’s blessings, Ujjain has gained global fame as the best religious and spiritual destination, symbolising the Nation’s deep faith and traditions.

CM Dr. Yadav said that the glorious Ujjain has a long history. After the inauguration of Shri Mahakal MahaLok by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Ujjain has attained worldwide recognition, attraction. Now, devotees and tourists from across the country and abroad are arriving in large numbers.

The Chief Minister was addressing the inaugural program of the second Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave ‘रूहMantic’ held at Hotel Anjushree in Ujjain on Wednesday. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav and Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat formally inaugurated the conclave. Both leaders also released the book ‘Faith and Flow’ during the conclave in Ujjain.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav further said that Ujjain is the city of time calculation. The whole world is looking towards India with hope. The countries that once competed with India are now following India’s lead. At the Sandipani Ashram of Ujjain, Lord Shri Krishna acquired knowledge. For self-realisation, there is no better place in than India. Today, India may have political boundaries, but religion and culture do not know any frontiers. Historically, the influence of Indian culture extended to regions such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. CM Dr. Yadav further added that the grand temple of Baba Mahakal is spread over nearly 1,000 bighas of land. In India, people worship the Divine in different forms. At Shri Anandpur Dham, devotees worship Guru Maharaj with Nirankari devotion. CM Dr. Yadav emphasised that God has taught us to live in harmony with nature, and in addition to devotion, we should also utilise the capabilities. This conclave envisions public welfare through tourism and pilgrimage.

CM Dr. Yadav stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has provided a renewed vision and impetus to the growth of spiritual tourism in India. He recalled that Devi Ahilyabai built the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, and that King Vikramaditya of Ujjain built temples 2,000 years ago, which were destroyed during Babar’s time. He also noted with pride that India’s old Parliament building was inspired by a temple in Morena, while the new building drew its design from the Bijamandal temple of Vidisha. CM Dr. Yadav said, “Our temples can also serve as the foundation of democracy”.

Expressing his delight, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav noted that representatives from the Tirupati Balaji Trust, Shirdi Sai Baba Trust and Kashi Vishwanath Trust are also participating in the conclave. He said, “Their suggestions and experiences will be valuable in taking Madhya Pradesh further ahead in the field of religious tourism.”

Ujjain’s Spiritual Heritage is Giving New Direction to Global Spiritual Tourism

Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that Ujjain’s spiritual heritage is not only enriching India’s cultural tradition but is also charting a new course for spiritual tourism at the global level. He noted that India’s tourism policy includes significant provisions for developing religious and spiritual centers that reinforce the nation’s cultural foundation. Such events, he added, will elevate India’s culture and tourism to greater heights on the world stage. Shri Shekhawat said that while many civilisations were born Indian culture remains alive even today. Our culture survived invasions for 2,000 years and endured 200 years of colonial rule, yet it remains strong and thriving. As far back as 2,500 years ago, when humanity was still searching for its identity, India already had a flourishing tradition of pilgrimage. He recalled how pilgrimage is ingrained in Indian values, sharing that his grandmother used to undertake pilgrimages by bullock cart.

The Union Minister further noted that Adi Shankaracharya traveled 24,000 kilometers from Kerala to Persia, introducing the world to Indian culture. During British rule, writers interpreted India’s diversity in their own way, but India remains a united Bharat. The Prayagraj Mahakumbh is a prime example, where people of every sect, tradition and denomination come together on one platform to send out a message of global peace. He added that centuries ago, even without developed infrastructure, devotees still traveled to Kedarnath and Badrinath for pilgrimage.

Shri Shekhawat said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India’s economy has grown rapidly, and the number of tourists visiting Ujjain has increased significantly. He remarked, “The number of visitors that once came in an entire year, now arrive within just one to one-and-a-half weeks.”

Competition Among States to promoteTourism

The Union Minister said that today there is healthy competition among states to develop their tourism potential. Madhya Pradesh, the Heart of Incredible India, has immense opportunities in the tourism sector. By properly exploring its tourism potential, Madhya Pradesh has even surpassed Rajasthan in this field.

He added that India possesses the world’s most ancient traditions and heritage, and domestic tourism is growing steadily. Under Prime Minister Shri Modi’s leadership, The Nation has become a global center of attraction. The country is witnessing a cultural renaissance, and the outlook of Indians toward their own nation has changed. He said, “The new generation of children no longer aspire to go abroad; instead, they take pride in our traditions and culture.”

Shri Shekhawat emphasised that India will soon become the world’s third-largest economy and noted with pride that Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has been blessed with the greatest opportunity to serve Baba Mahakal.

Ujjain Progressing Rapidly with Modern Facilities: Spiritual Guru Shri Dheer

ISKCON Ujjain’s spiritual leader and motivational speaker Shri Dheer Gaur Das Prabhu said that development of pilgrimage centers in line with new requirements leads to an increase in the number of visitors, and Ujjain is a living example of this. Across the world, many cities have been developed with a special purpose – like Las Vegas in the United States, Mumbai and Surat in India, and Ujjain as well. Ujjain, he said, is moving forward rapidly with state-of-the-art facilities.

Globally, there are ten cities recognized as leading religious tourism destinations, four of which are in India – Prayagraj (200 million visitors annually), Ayodhya (30 million visitors annually), Tirupati Balaji (30–40 million visitors annually), and Varanasi. He expressed confidence that very soon Ujjain too will join this list. Praising the farsighted vision of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, he said that the state government’s initiative to develop the Shri Krishna Patheya is commendable. Spiritual tourism alone contributes 2.5% of India’s GDP, and there is scope to increase this further.

Ujjain Preparing for Simhastha 2028

Chairman of the National Tourism Committee of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) Shri Anil Parashar said that in the past year, 140 foreign nationals visited India, while the recent Mahakumbh at Prayagraj drew 660 million people. Nearly 13.5 million devotees have visited the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the number of devotees at Kashi Vishwanath has also risen significantly. Preparations for Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain are underway, with new bridges, roads, and ghats being developed. In the future, Ujjain will emerge as a global hub for religious tourism.

PHDCCI CEO and Secretary General Dr. Ranjit Mehta said that in the changing global scenario, hosting this Spiritual Tourism Conclave in Ujjain is a landmark event. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, spiritual tourism in Madhya Pradesh is advancing rapidly, giving Ujjain a distinct identity worldwide. He assured that PHDCCI is ready to work with the state government to explore every opportunity in the tourism sector.

PHDCCI Madhya Pradesh Chapter Chairman and Sage Group Founder-Chairman Shri Sanjeev Agrawal said that in ancient times, India was identified with spiritual tourism, and it is time to revive that legacy. He emphasised that Ujjain and Omkareshwar, with their Jyotirlingas, must be developed further, and efforts will be made to make the upcoming Simhastha a grand and divine event.

Rising Tourist Numbers in Madhya Pradesh

Principal Secretary, Culture and Tourism, Shri Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that after the COVID period, Madhya Pradesh recorded 110 million tourists in 2023 and 130 million in 2024, with tourism growing at an annual rate of 20%. Ujjain has been the leading destination for religious tourism, attracting 70 million devotees last year alone. The construction of Mahakal Lok has given tourism a new dimension. Maihar stood second, followed by Amarkantak.

He said all religious tourism sites in the state are being equipped with modern facilities for visitors. In Omkareshwar, a 109-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya has been installed, and to accelerate development, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has approved a mega project worth Rs. 2,200 crore. This initiative aims to introduce visitors to Vedanta and Advaita philosophy. Nearby, Janapav in Indore district is being developed as a tourism site. Heritage associated with Rani Durgavati in Jabalpur is being preserved, and Amarkantak’s banks of River Narmada are being developed. Special trains are also being run from Madhya Pradesh to major pilgrimage destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Puri.

Dignitaries and Deliberations at the Conclave

The conclave was attended by Minister of State for Skill Development and Employment (Independent Charge) and Ujjain district in-charge minister Shri Gautam Tetwal, MLA Shri Anil Jain Kaluheda, public representatives, senior officials of the tourism and culture department, representatives from various states, and experts in spiritual tourism. Various sessions focused on opportunities in spiritual tourism, investment potential, infrastructure development, and global participation.

Roundtable Conference at रूहMantic Conclave

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav held a roundtable conference with representatives of leading institutions working in the fields of spirituality and wellness during the रूहMantic Spiritual Conclave in Ujjain. He apprised them of the progress and achievements of spiritual tourism in Madhya Pradesh, highlighting the state’s tourism investment policy and its benefits. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in expanding spiritual tourism activities.

CM Dr. Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh offers a unique confluence of religious sites and natural beauty, which can be developed into a global spiritual tourism hub. The government is committed to providing all necessary facilities and infrastructure for wellness activities. He also invited suggestions from participants to formulate a comprehensive action plan, emphasizing that this would not only promote tourism but also give new identity to the state’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Investment and Future Plans

Sage Group’s Founder-Chairman and PHDCCI MP Chapter President Shri Sanjeev Agrawal announced plans to establish Medicity projects in Bhopal and Indore, along with hospitality investments in Bhopal and Omkareshwar. PHDCCI CEO and Secretary General Dr. Ranjit Mehta said he is working on plans to open a golf resort in Madhya Pradesh. Radisson Hotels Director Shri Amit Singh informed that a new hotel in Ujjain will open shortly, with three more planned in the near future. Indigo Airlines Associate Director Shri Vikrant Deshmukh said that flight frequency will be increased in view of the upcoming Simhastha.

The roundtable conference was also attended by Shri Anil Parashar from PHDCCI’s Tourism Committee, Shri Samit Garg, President of the Event and Entertainment Management Association, Shri Jay Thakor, Co-founder and Chairman of E-Factor Experience Ltd., Dr. Rekha Choudhary, Founder of World Digital Detox Day, Principal Secretary Tourism & Culture Shri Shiv Shekhar Shukla, senior administrative officials and representatives of several organiations.