15-07-2025
Govt plans to transform Sambhal into Hindu pilgrimage hub
Meerut: In the aftermath of the Nov 24, 2024 violence near Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal during a court-directed survey — which left five dead — the UP govt has been putting its focus toward reshaping the city's religious and cultural identity.
It has approved a Rs 7 crore plan to revamp religious sites in the district, with Rs 3 crore earmarked specifically for the beautification of the Kalki Dham temple. The district administration has also begun groundwork to transform Sambhal into a major Hindu religious tourism hub, prioritising the redevelopment of several ancient or previously inaccessible sites.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vikas Chandra recently visited key sites including Shankh Madhav Teerth, Rishikesh Mahakoop, Mrityu Koop, and the Kalki Temple, inspecting the premises and directing the preparation of development blueprints.
Plans for the Kalki Temple include a grand circumambulatory path, devotional wall art, manicured gardens, seating areas for pilgrims, and a statue of Lord Kalki's divine horse—all to be funded under the temple's Rs 3 crore budget.
"This is not just about religious revival. It is a step toward restoring the city's lost pride and historical dignity," Chandra said. He added that the tourism department has already approved the Rs 7 crore package and that initial surveys have begun.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Work is expected to start within a month.
This follows the govt's Dec 14 decision to reopen the Kartikeya Mahadev temple, which had remained shut for 46 years. Since then, the administration has launched an aggressive drive to identify and revive 68 teerth sthals (pilgrimage sites), 19 sacred wells (koops), and eight ASI-protected monuments across the district.
For many, however, what is officially being described as a "religious tourism push" is widely seen as an effort to saffronise the city's historical narrative.
