May 25 2023: Pilgrimage tourism has rebounded in the nation of multiple faiths after two consecutive years of Covid-induced curbs, prompting hotel companies and service providers to build new and premium facilities at religious sites traditionally known for spartan accommodation, report Economic Times and Hindustan Samachar.
Five star hotels from Taj, Radisson and ITC groups as well as budget  hotel provider OYO are known to be planning new establishments in Ayodhya, which is gearing to open the Ram mandir. The Taj group has announced 2 hotels in the holoy city – under the Vivanta and Ginger brands.  The group has also announced a new Vivanta in Hardiwar and a SeleQtions in Tirupati. The Wyndham hotels group is reportedly looking at the prospects in Ayodhya, Tirupati, Pushkar and Shirdi.
The Sarovar group plans to open in Tirupati, Amritsar and Haridwar
Bharat Gaurav trains
The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has started Bharat Gaurav trains under the Dekho Apna Desh  (See your country) scheme to promote tourism, with Sleeper Class, Airconditioned 2 tier and 3 tier accommodation at 33% concession over existing fares. Though tourism is the aim the  7-8 day circuits , starting at around Rs 15,000 on 600-700 seater trains,  till now  major centres of pilgrimage, Rameshwaram, Vaishno Devi, Kashi, Shirdi have figured.