Jaipur: Rajasthan is witnessing a massive surge in religious tourism, with several major temples recording a significant rise in footfall. Among them, the Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar district has emerged as the state’s most visited religious destination, surpassing even some of India’s biggest pilgrimage centres such as Vaishno Devi and Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in popularity.
According to tourism department statistics, nearly 11 crore devotees visited Rajasthan’s top 10 temples in 2025, marking an overall increase of around 10 percent compared to 2024. The remarkable rise highlights the growing importance of Rajasthan as a major spiritual and pilgrimage hub in India.
Khatu Shyam Retains Top Position
The Khatu Shyam Temple remained the number one destination in the state with approximately 2.58 crore devotees visiting in 2025. The temple continues to attract pilgrims from across the country, strengthening its position as a leading centre of religious faith and devotion.
Poochhari Ka Lautha Records Highest Growth
The Poochhari Ka Lautha Temple in Deeg district witnessed a dramatic rise in devotees, recording an impressive 54 percent growth within a year. The number of visitors increased to nearly 1.47 crore, making it the second most visited religious site in Rajasthan.
Tourism officials noted that the rise in footfall has been particularly visible during the tenure of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, as the site has received increased attention and development focus.
Ranking Changes Among Major Temples
While most major temples retained their positions, some shifts were recorded in the ranking due to varying visitor numbers. The Shivaar Temple in Sawai Madhopur dropped from ninth to tenth position, reportedly due to a lack of basic infrastructure and facilities for pilgrims. Meanwhile, despite a slight decline in footfall, Gogamedi Temple in Hanumangarh climbed from tenth to ninth position.
Other prominent religious destinations such as Salasar Balaji Temple, Ajmer Dargah Sharif, Ramdevra Temple, and Kailadevi Temple largely maintained their standing.
Top 10 Religious Sites in Rajasthan (2025)
Tourism department data revealed the following list of the most visited temples in Rajasthan in 2025:
- Khatu Shyam Temple (Sikar) – 2.58 crore
- Poochhari Ka Lautha (Deeg) – 1.47 crore
- Pushkar Temple (Ajmer) – 1.32 crore
- Sanwaliyaji Temple (Chittorgarh) – 1.19 crore
- Ajmer Dargah Sharif (Ajmer) – 84.61 lakh
- Ramdevra Temple (Jaisalmer) – 72.33 lakh
- Kailadevi Temple (Karauli) – 65.34 lakh
- Salasar Balaji Temple (Churu) – 53.61 lakh
- Gogamedi Temple (Hanumangarh) – 42.05 lakh
- Shivaar Temple (Sawai Madhopur) – 33.63 lakh
Religious Tourism Boosts Local Economy
Industry leaders believe the growing influx of devotees has significantly boosted the local economy. Suresh Agarwal, President of FORTI, stated that religious tourism is benefiting sectors such as transport, handicrafts, hospitality, and hotels. He added that business activities in the Khatu Shyam region have multiplied in recent years.
He also urged the government to strengthen religious circuits and introduce online darshan booking systems to ensure better crowd management and improved pilgrim convenience.
Major Development Plans for Poochhari Ka Lautha
The Rajasthan government is also prioritising development around Poochhari Ka Lautha. Finance Minister Diya Kumari recently announced the construction of a modern Braj Convention Centre at a cost of Rs 100 crore, featuring accommodation rooms, exhibition facilities, and improved parking infrastructure.
Additionally, the project includes road widening and strengthening of the Braj 84 Kos Parikrama route. The Anil Agarwal Foundation has also pledged Rs 100 crore for the development of the temple area.
Rajasthan Among India’s Major Temple States
Estimates suggest that Rajasthan has around 39,392 temples, while India has nearly 7.5 lakh Hindu temples. Rajasthan ranks sixth in the country in terms of temple count, while Tamil Nadu holds the top position.
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