By — DILIP GUHA
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said the Delhi government is committed to positioning the national capital as a premier destination for religious and spiritual tourism, moving beyond its traditional image as merely a transit point for travellers.
Taking a significant initiative towards developing Delhi into a premier tourist destination for the country and the world, Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta participated in the ‘Spiritual and Heritage Tourism Conclave 2026’ held at Akshardham Temple today. The event was graced by the presence of spiritual guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
Organized under the theme ‘Delhi: The Capital of Spirituality, Heritage, and Experiences,’ the conclave aims to showcase Delhi’s spiritual, cultural, and historical heritage to the world as an integrated tourism experience and to transform the capital from a ‘Transit City’ into a ‘Destination City.’
Delhi Eyes Spiritual Tourism Push, Seeks to Showcase Capital as ‘Microcosm’ of India
Addressing the Spiritual and Heritage Tourism Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Gupta described Delhi as a “microcosm” of India, where the traditions, cultures and communities of different states come together.
“The current Delhi government wants to showcase the city to the country and the world. We specifically aim to boost religious and spiritual tourism here. We all know that people often treat Delhi merely as a transit point,” the Chief Minister said.
“Through this platform, I want to tell the people of the entire country that Delhi is a reflection of India — a microcosm where the essence of the whole nation is visible,” she added.
Highlighting Delhi’s diverse social fabric, Gupta said the capital is home to people and traditions from virtually every part of the country, creating an environment of communal harmony and cultural exchange.
“It is home to people and traditions from every state. Festivals celebrated across different regions — whether in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir or Assam — are all celebrated here in Delhi. There is hardly a state whose people do not reside here,” she said.
“That is the beauty of Delhi: people live together in harmony and affection, celebrating each other’s festivals and enjoying each other’s cuisines,” Gupta added.
The Chief Minister said the government’s tourism strategy would focus not only on Delhi’s rich historical heritage but also on its spiritual character and cultural diversity, to attract visitors from across India and abroad.
Chief Minister reiterates the goal of placing Delhi on the global tourism map by integrating spirituality and heritage
“Our goal is for people from across the country and the world to come and experience this beauty — not just our historical significance, but also the unique spiritual aura that Delhi possesses,” she said.
Chief Minister states—Delhi is a city not merely to be seen, but to be experienced; tourists from across the country and the world should stay in Delhi, discover its diversity, and connect with its spiritual heritage
A major step towards transforming Delhi from a ‘transit city’ into a ‘destination city’: Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta launches four tourism circuits at the Spiritual and Heritage Tourism Conclave 2026
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also launched four spiritual and heritage tourism circuits for Delhi. Through these circuits, curated and immersive tourism experiences have been created for visitors by interlinking various religious, spiritual, cultural, and historical sites across the city.
The objective is to encourage tourists to experience the capital’s diverse heritage up close.
Four circuits encompassing Delhi’s diverse faiths and heritage
In these four circuits developed by Delhi Tourism, major spiritual, religious, and heritage sites located in different parts of the capital have been linked to create a cohesive travel experience. These include prominent sites such as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Agrasen ki Baoli, the Lotus Temple, and the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple.
Meanwhile, other circuits feature significant locations like the Ancient Hanuman Temple, Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial, Purana Qila, and the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah.
Similarly, sites such as Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, the Buddhist Temple, the Church of Redemption, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Chhatarpur Temple, and Linga Bhairavi Sannidhanam have also been included in these tourism experiences. Through these circuits, one will have the opportunity to experience Delhi’s diverse faiths, vibrant traditions, architecture, history, and spiritual heritage all at once.
Spiritual and Heritage Tourism Circuits
1. The Soul of Delhi (Circuit 1)
Agrasen ki Baoli
Lotus Temple
Akshardham Temple
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Sacred Heart Cathedral
2. The Heritage of Delhi (Circuit 2)
Birla Temple, Jhandewalan Mata Mandir, Jantar Mantar, Yogmaya Temple
Jagannath Temple
3. Delhi Sacred Harmony (Circuit 3)
Ancient Hanuman Temple
Digambar Jain Lal Mandir
Ambedkar Memorial
Purana Qila
Hazrat Nizamuddin
4. Echoes of Delhi (Circuit 4)
Buddhist Temple, Church of Redemption, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Chhatarpur, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib
Temple, Linga Bhairavi Sannidhanam
An initiative to offer tourists an experience, not just monuments
The Chief Minister stated that the objective of these circuits is not merely to connect various tourist spots, but to develop Delhi into a complete tourism experience. Tourists should not merely visit the monuments and leave; instead, they should be able to experience Delhi’s spirituality, history, architecture, culture, cuisine, folk traditions, and diverse faiths.
She stated that the government aims to ensure that tourists visiting Delhi do not stay for just a few hours or a single day; rather, they should extend their visits—staying overnight—to explore various parts of the capital. This will generate new employment opportunities and economic activities for those associated with the tourism sector, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, local guides, artists, artisans, and small entrepreneurs.
The Chief Minister remarked that Delhi is not merely the country’s political capital but a vibrant reflection of India’s diverse culture, traditions, and spiritual consciousness. From the era of Indraprastha through various historical periods, Delhi has preserved India’s history within itself. Every area of Delhi holds a unique story, tradition, and heritage.
She noted that Delhi’s identity is not limited to historical monuments like the Red Fort, Purana Qila, and Humayun’s Tomb. While it boasts world-class spiritual and architectural landmarks like Akshardham, it also possesses a rich tradition of temples, gurdwaras, churches, mosques, and religious sites belonging to Buddhism and Jainism.
The Chief Minister emphasized that Delhi’s greatest beauty lies in its unity in diversity. People from almost every state of the country reside here, keeping their cultures, traditions, and festivals alive. Whether it is Gujarat’s Garba, Maharashtra’s Ganesh Chaturthi, Assam’s Bihu, the cultural traditions of South India, or the festivals of North India—Delhi offers a glimpse of the entire nation’s culture in one place. This is why Delhi serves as a reflection of India’s cultural and spiritual essence.
