Varanasi: Vindhyachal’s tourism growth is spreading beyond Vindhyavasini Temple to the entire sacred triangle, with the temples of Goddesses Vindhyavasini, Kali (Khoh) and Ashtabhuja together recording around 1.84 crore visits in 2025, up nearly 60% from approximately 1.15 crore in 2023.The combined growth is bringing the centuries-old Trikon Parikrama (circumambulation) into sharper focus as Uttar Pradesh develops its Shakti Peeth Circuit. The traditional journey begins at Vindhyavasini Temple, continues to Goddess Kali Khoh and concludes at the temple of Goddess Ashtabhuja, connecting three forms of the deity within a single pilgrimage.Goddess Vindhyavasini remains the principal draw. Visits rose from around 73 lakh in 2023 to 78.15 lakh in 2024 and approximately 1.20 crore in 2025, an increase of nearly 64% in two years. Between January and August 2026, the shrine recorded nearly 90 lakh visits, around three-fourths of its total footfall in 2025, ahead of the peak Sharadiya Navratri period.The rise extends to the other two temples. Combined visits to Goddess Kali Khoh and Goddess Ashtabhuja increased from approximately 42.36 lakh in 2023 to nearly 64 lakh in 2025, a growth of more than 51%.UP tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said the figures reflected the wider impact of development across Vindhyachal.“Under the leadership of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Vindhyachal is being developed as a complete Shakti destination rather than a single point of darshan,” Singh said.“Vindhyachal will serve as an anchor of Uttar Pradesh’s expanding Shakti Peeth Circuit and introduce devotees from India and abroad to the state’s wider traditions of Shakti worship,” he added.The wider development portfolio in Vindhyachal has a listed value of approximately Rs 208.09 crore. It covers Maa Ki Paidi, approach roads, the parikrama route, surrounding streets and facilities around the principal temple precinct, along with development around Vindhyavasini Swaroop Devi Temple and infrastructure in the Ashtabhuja and Kali Khoh areas.The ropeway has already improved access to the hill temples, particularly for senior citizens and families. A Rs 35.50 crore project for development at Maa Kali Khoh entered the tender process in October as part of the Trikon Parikrama plan, extending the focus beyond the main shrine.Organised travel is complementing this expansion. Under Visit My State, UPSTDC’s two-day, one-night Varanasi–Vindhyachal–Varanasi package combines Kashi’s temples and ghats with the complete Trikon Parikrama, covering all three Devi temples.A separate itinerary spanning two nights and three days connects Lucknow, Varanasi, Vindhyachal and Prayagraj, linking Vindhyachal’s Shakti traditions with Kashi and the Sangam.
