UP plans Kushan trail, heritage upgrades and tourism diversification

Lucknow: The suggestions related to branding Kanpur’s industrial legacy as the ‘Manchester of the East’, boosting heritage tourism, improving Bundelkhand’s connectivity with Madhya Pradesh and reviving Prayagraj’s Triveni Mahotsav were shared at a meeting to review ongoing projects of the tourism and culture departments on Tuesday.

Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh, who convened this meeting, said that the plan is to work on govt’s broader strategy to position UP as a diverse and comprehensive tourism powerhouse.

“While the state emerged as a leader in domestic tourism, continuous innovation and diversification were essential to sustain momentum,” he said.

Additional chief secretary, tourism and culture, Amrit Abhijat, said the govt’s vision moved beyond the temple economy to include eco-tourism, rural tourism, wellness tourism and experiential travel, supported by tourism-ready villages and an expanding museum network.

“Investments in tourism and culture witnessed substantial growth under the current administration, with major projects underway in Lucknow, Agra, Firozabad, Mahoba and Gorakhpur to further strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s position as a major cultural and tourism destination,” he said.

Members of the Tourism Standing Committee, State Archaeological Advisory Committee and museum bodies also participated in the discussions.

Among the key initiatives discussed were plans for a “Kushan Trail” linking monuments from the Kushan period, along with enhanced visitor facilities at heritage sites through interpretation centres, libraries and basic public amenities.