Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Calling Ujjain “the soul of India”, a city that embodies the nation’s religious, cultural, and spiritual energy, rooted in the divine grace of Lord Mahakal, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said it was Mahakal’s blessings that led such a small city to have the global recognition of “the best religious and spiritual destination”. 

Yadav was addressing the inauguration of the second Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave ‘RoohMantic’ at a private hotel on Wednesday.

He said that Ujjain’s stature is the result of a long journey, significantly accelerated after PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Shri Mahakal Lok corridor, transforming the city’s identity and attraction. Lighting the ceremonial lamp alongside Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the CM spoke of Ujjain’s timeless glory. “This is the city of time itself…Ujjain has been a seat of learning since the time of Lord Krishna, at the Sandipani Ashram. For self-reflection, there is no better place in the world,” he said.

The CM underlined that faith and culture transcend political borders, noting that Indian civilisation once extended as far as Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Recalling the legacies of rulers and saints, from Raja Vikramaditya’s temple building two millennia ago, to Ahilyabai Holkar’s reconstruction of Kashi Vishwanath, and the architectural inspiration of temples for India’s Parliament buildings, Yadav stressed that temples can also form the foundation of democracy.

Union Minister Shekhawat praised Ujjain’s spiritual legacy for enriching India’s cultural heritage and drawing global attention to spiritual tourism. He noted that India’s tourism policy places special focus on developing religious destinations, emphasising that such initiatives will elevate India’s culture and tourism on the world stage. Despite invasions and colonial rule, he said, Indian civilisation has remained vibrant. He cited Adi Shankaracharya’s 24,000-km journey from Kerala to Persia as proof of India’s timeless spiritual influence, adding that the Kumbh in Prayagraj stands as a living testament to India’s unity amid diversity. 

He said India is undergoing a cultural renaissance, with younger generations increasingly proud of their traditions, and projected that the nation will soon become the world’s third-largest economy.

Dr Ranjit Mehta, CEO and Secretary General of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called the conclave a landmark event, noting that MP’s spiritual tourism sector is expanding rapidly. The PHDCCI, he assured, is ready to work with the state to realise its tourism potential. Sanjeev Agrawal, Chair of the PHDCCI’s MP Chapter, reminded the gathering that ancient India was once defined by spiritual tourism, urging a revival of that tradition. 

Culture and Tourism Principal Secretary Sheo Shekhar Shukla reported that 130 million tourists visited the state in 2024, which is a 20% growth rate. Ujjain emerged as the leading destination with seven crore pilgrims in the past year alone. He highlighted major projects including the 109-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Omkareshwar and an Rs 2,200-crore mega project to promote Vedanta and Advaita philosophy.

Anil Parashar, national president of PHDCCI, said that faith is the biggest space in tourism; 140 crore people visited India during the last year. ISKCON Ujjain head Dheer Gour Das emphasised the importance of adapting pilgrimage sites to modern needs, predicting Ujjain’s imminent inclusion among the world’s top ten religious tourism cities alongside Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Tirupati, and Varanasi. 

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Growing interest in investing in spiritual, wellness sectors 

Later, the CM convened a high-level roundtable conference with leading representatives from the spiritual and wellness sectors. The CM apprised participants of the impact and achievements of MP in spiritual tourism and outlined the key provisions and benefits of the state’s investment policy in the tourism sector. Sanjeev Agrawal, Founder-Chairman of Sage Group, said that work is underway to establish Medicity hubs in Bhopal and Indore, with investment plans also being laid out in the hospitality sector in Bhopal and Omkareshwar. Dr Ranjit Mehta, CEO and Secretary General of PHDCCI, revealed plans to set up a golf resort in MP. Amit Singh, Director of Sales at Radisson, announced that a new hotel will soon open in Ujjain, with three more properties planned in the state. Vikrant Deshmukh, Associate Director at Indigo, said that in view of the coming Simhastha Mahaparv, additional flights would be introduced to accommodate the surge in tourist inflow.

Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Wednesday 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.

Addressing the inauguration of the second Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave ‘रूहMantic’ held at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Shekhawat noted that India’s tourism policy includes significant provisions for developing religious and spiritual centers that reinforce the nation’s cultural foundation.

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He expressed strong hope that such events would elevate India’s culture and tourism to greater heights on the world stage. Shekhawat said that Indian culture survived invasions for 2,000 years and endured 200 years of colonial rule, yet it remains strong and thriving. He noted that as far back as 2,500 years ago, when humanity was still searching for its identity, India already had a flourishing tradition of pilgrimage.

The Union Minister further noted that Adi Shankaracharya traveled 24,000 kilometers from Kerala to Persia, introducing the world to Indian culture. He said that during British rule, writers interpreted India’s diversity in their own way, but India remains a united Bharat. He emphasized that 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.

Shekhawat said that under the leadership of Prime Minister 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.”

The Union Minister said that today there is healthy competition among states to develop their tourism potential, and Madhya Pradesh, the Heart of Incredible India, has immense opportunities in the tourism sector. He noted that 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, and 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.”

Shekhawat emphasised that India will soon become the world’s third-largest economy.

MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav and other dignitaries were also present at the event.

Dr Yadav said that the event would serve as a global platform to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions to the world. He added that the event will also provide direct outreach to corporate groups and temple trusts in preparation for Simhastha–2028 in Ujjain.

More than 300 dignitaries, including spiritual leaders, thinkers and visionaries from India and abroad, participated in the conference.

A dedicated session, ‘Mandala of Mahakal: Ujjain’s Spiritual Power and Urban Future’, put the spotlight on the sacred significance of Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, the impact of the Simhastha Kumbh and innovations in urban development.

Other sessions were held on new frontiers of spirituality, such as ‘Mind, Body and Soul: Wellness as the New Spiritual Frontier’, focusing on integrating Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation with tourism and ‘Divine in Digital – Spirituality 2.0’, discussing how technologies like virtual darshan, AI and VR can make spirituality more accessible.

The Conclave concluded with darshan at Shri Mahakaleshwar and Shri Kal Bhairav temples, offering delegates a direct spiritual experience.

Ujjain is MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav’s hometown.

ANI |
Updated: Aug 27, 2025 18:22 IST

Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) [India], August 27 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister of Tourism & Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the second Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave ‘RoohMantic‘ in Ujjain district on Wednesday.
CM Yadav highlighted that the state government was working to promote religious tourism and several sessions were being held for the purpose during the conclave. The event is being organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, and the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.
The Chief Minister and Union Minister also released a book based on spirituality ‘Faith and Flow’ and held a discussion in a roundtable conference with representatives of institutions of the spiritual and wellness sector on the occasion.

Speaking to reporters, CM Yadav said, “To promote religious tourism, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has come to attend our major program on religious tourism here. Also, various trustees and directors from Tirupati Balaji, Shirdi Sai Baba, ISKCON International, and other such major institutions from across the country have come to this program. Our Madhya Pradesh government is working to promote religious tourism, and in this context, sessions will be held throughout the day on topics such as what kind of service activities can be undertaken, how to take care of the facilities for pilgrims etc. Our Union Tourism Minister has inaugurated the program.”
He further praised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that under his leadership a new time of change and evolution arrived across the country.
Additionally, in a post on X, CM Yadav wrote, “With the aim of how the spirit of pilgrimage along with tourism can benefit human beings, society, and the state, we will present a model that enables the exchange of practices and experiences among institutions engaged in religious, social, and public welfare activities across different states. Today, we inaugurated the 2nd Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave ‘RoohMantic‘ in the presence of Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Ujjain and released the book ‘Faith and Flow’ based on spirituality.”
The CM further emphasises in another post on X that there is immense potential to develop religious places and natural beauty in Madhya Pradesh as spiritual tourism centers and his government is committed to help in every possible way. (ANI)