The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has remitted approximately Rs 400 crore in taxes to the government over the past five years, driven by a boom in religious tourism, Trust Secretary Champat Rai announced on Sunday.

The payments, spanning February 5, 2020, to February 5, 2025, include Rs 270 crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Rs 130 crore in other tax categories.

Rai highlighted Ayodhya’s transformation into a major religious tourism hub, with a tenfold surge in devotees and tourists boosting local employment.

He noted that 1.26 crore visitors flocked to Ayodhya during the Maha Kumbh, while the past year saw 16 crore visitors overall, including 5 crore to the Ram temple alone. The trust’s financial transparency is maintained through regular audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Rai added.

This year, Ram Navami falls on March 30. Ayodhya is expecting over 50 lakh visitors and special arrangements are being made for safe darshan of the pilgrims.