Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has launched a new Neem Karoli Baba Spiritual Tourism Circuit, bringing together important places associated with the saint’s life and spiritual journey across the state.
The initiative was announced around the occasion of Neem Karoli Baba’s Mahasamadhi observance and is being developed along the lines of a structured pilgrimage route, with Uttarakhand’s Kainchi Dham serving as a reference point for the tourism model.
As part of the initiative, around ₹12.93 crore has been allocated for tourism facilities and infrastructure in Firozabad and Farrukhabad. The Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC) has also introduced special tour packages of two, three and five days, with tours planned primarily from Delhi and Lucknow.
Four Major Sites Form the Neem Karoli Baba Circuit
The circuit connects four locations associated with different stages of Neem Karoli Baba’s life and legacy.
These include Akbarpur in Firozabad, regarded as his birthplace; Neeb Karori Ashram Dham in Farrukhabad, associated with his spiritual practice; Vrindavan in Mathura, where his Samadhi Temple is located; and Hanuman Setu Mandir in Lucknow, a prominent temple associated with Baba.
By linking these locations, the tourism department aims to give visitors a single route covering the saint’s early life, spiritual journey and final resting place.
The initiative also expands the focus of spiritual tourism beyond individual destinations by connecting multiple sites into one travel experience. Tourism officials said the circuit will make these places more accessible to devotees and tourists.
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Akbarpur to Get Tourism Infrastructure
Akbarpur village in Firozabad, identified as Neem Karoli Baba’s birthplace, is one of the major development points under the project.
Under Phase 1, ₹8.65 crore has already been spent on tourism facilities. Work under Phase 2, estimated at ₹2.22 crore, is more than 60% complete.
The second phase includes facilities designed to accommodate visitors and provide information about the saint’s life. These include a multipurpose hall, cultural block, exhibition gallery, cafeteria, dining facilities and dormitories.
The project is also expected to receive a ₹55.44 lakh rural tourism project, adding another layer to the development of Akbarpur as a visitor destination. The remaining Phase 2 work is targeted for completion by December, according to reports.
A separate report has also highlighted a proposed larger development plan around the birthplace, including visitor-oriented facilities such as an interpretation centre and museum. These elements remain part of the development proposal rather than completed infrastructure.
Farrukhabad Ashram Gets New Facilities
The Neeb Karori Ashram Dham in Farrukhabad forms another important part of the circuit.
The site is traditionally associated with Neem Karoli Baba’s spiritual practice and is believed by followers to be a place where he spent years in penance.
A development project worth ₹1.51 crore has been completed at the site. It includes a main gateway, accommodation facilities and civic amenities aimed at improving the experience for visitors and devotees.
The Farrukhabad location is significant to the circuit because it connects the saint’s early spiritual journey with the other locations included in the pilgrimage route.
Vrindavan Samadhi Temple Included
Vrindavan in Mathura is another central destination in the Neem Karoli Baba circuit.
The city houses the Samadhi Temple associated with the saint, where he attained Mahasamadhi in September 1973.
The inclusion of Vrindavan gives the circuit a direct connection to the final phase of Neem Karoli Baba’s life. The tourism plan is intended to improve access and visitor facilities around important sites connected with his legacy.
Hanuman Setu to Connect Lucknow With the Circuit
The fourth major location is Hanuman Setu Mandir in Lucknow, situated on the banks of the Gomti.
The temple is associated with Neem Karoli Baba and is being incorporated into the wider tourism route. UPSTDC is expected to operate guided tours connecting the various destinations.
Existing visitor facilities at the temple, including seating, toilets, drinking water arrangements and a communication centre, are also being upgraded as part of the broader development plan, according to the reported project details.
UPSTDC Launches Special Tour Packages
To make the circuit easier to access, UPSTDC has introduced dedicated two-day, three-day and five-day tour packages.
The tours are planned to operate primarily from Delhi and Lucknow, giving visitors the option to cover multiple locations without arranging separate travel between destinations.
The UPSTDC website also lists a three-day itinerary connecting Lucknow, Farrukhabad, Firozabad, Mathura and Vrindavan, reflecting the broader approach of combining Neem Karoli Baba sites with other significant destinations in Uttar Pradesh.
A New Push for Spiritual Tourism in UP
The Neem Karoli Baba circuit adds another destination-focused initiative to Uttar Pradesh’s wider spiritual tourism programme.
The project combines infrastructure development with organised travel packages, allowing devotees and tourists to explore locations linked with the saint through a connected route rather than visiting them individually.
With investments in visitor facilities, accommodation, interpretation and rural tourism, the initiative could also create opportunities for local tourism-linked activity around smaller destinations such as Akbarpur and Neeb Karori.
For Uttar Pradesh, the circuit represents an effort to connect spiritual heritage with organised tourism infrastructure while making historically and culturally significant locations more accessible to visitors from across India and abroad.
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