Madhya Pradesh has strengthened its position on India's tourism map by recording an unprecedented rise in domestic tourist arrivals in 2025, surpassing popular destinations such as Goa and Himachal Pradesh. According to figures shared in the Rajya Sabha by Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the state hosted nearly 14 crore tourists during the year, driven by its growing appeal as a destination for spiritual, heritage, wildlife, and cultural tourism.

The latest data shows that Madhya Pradesh welcomed an average of 3.82 lakh domestic tourists and around 500 foreign visitors every day in 2025. The remarkable growth reflects changing travel preferences, with more tourists choosing central India's historical landmarks, national parks, and religious destinations over conventional hill stations and beach destinations.

Record Tourist Footfall in 2025

Tourism statistics indicate that 13,95,96,049 domestic tourists visited Madhya Pradesh in 2025, along with 1,81,743 foreign tourists. On a daily basis, the state received an average of 3,82,455 domestic and 498 international visitors.

The impressive numbers have helped Madhya Pradesh maintain its place among India's leading tourism destinations. Religious centers such as Ujjain, heritage cities including Khajuraho, wildlife reserves like Kanha and Bandhavgarh, and natural attractions such as Bhedaghat continue to attract visitors from across the country and abroad.

Domestic Tourism Grows 446% in Five Years

One of the most striking highlights of the report is the state's extraordinary growth over the past five years.

Domestic tourist arrivals increased from 2.55 crore in 2021 to nearly 13.96 crore in 2025, marking a growth of more than 446 percent. The sharp increase reflects sustained investments in tourism infrastructure, improved connectivity, heritage conservation, and the promotion of religious and eco-tourism destinations.

Officials believe that improved road networks, upgraded tourist facilities, and the popularity of projects such as Mahakal Lok in Ujjain have played a significant role in attracting record numbers of visitors.

Himachal Pradesh Records Decline

While Madhya Pradesh witnessed robust growth, Himachal Pradesh experienced a decline in domestic tourist arrivals during the same period.

According to the data presented in Parliament, Himachal Pradesh received over 1.80 crore domestic tourists in 2024, but the number dropped to 1.44 crore in 2025, representing a decline of nearly 36 lakh visitors within a year.

Experts attribute the decline to natural disasters, landslides, and changing weather conditions that affected travel across the hill state. However, foreign tourist arrivals in Himachal increased marginally from 82,765 in 2024 to 84,828 in 2025, providing only limited support to the state's overall tourism performance.

Madhya Pradesh Leaves Goa Behind in Domestic Tourism

Goa, India's most famous beach destination, also trailed Madhya Pradesh in terms of domestic tourist arrivals.

After attracting 33.08 lakh domestic tourists in 2021, Goa recorded 1.03 crore domestic visitors in 2025, significantly lower than Madhya Pradesh's nearly 14 crore domestic tourists.

Although Goa welcomed approximately 5.51 lakh foreign tourists in 2025—considerably more than Madhya Pradesh's 1.81 lakh international visitors—the overall number of tourists visiting Madhya Pradesh was substantially higher.

Industry experts suggest that Madhya Pradesh's affordability, geographical diversity, rich cultural heritage, wildlife experiences, and expanding religious tourism have made it increasingly attractive for Indian travelers seeking varied travel experiences.

Heritage, Wildlife and Spiritual Tourism Drive Growth

Tourism officials attribute the state's success to its wide range of attractions that appeal to different categories of travelers.

Pilgrimage destinations like Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Khajuraho, tiger reserves including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench, as well as scenic destinations like Bhedaghat's Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls, continue to attract millions of visitors each year.

The combination of cultural heritage, wildlife safaris, religious tourism, and improved infrastructure has diversified Madhya Pradesh's tourism portfolio, making it a preferred destination throughout the year.

Strong Outlook for Tourism

With consistent growth in domestic travel, Madhya Pradesh is emerging as one of India's fastest-growing tourism destinations. Officials believe continued investments in infrastructure, destination development, and promotional campaigns will further strengthen the state's position in the coming years.

As travel preferences evolve, the latest figures indicate that tourists are increasingly looking beyond beaches and hill stations, placing Madhya Pradesh firmly among India's top choices for heritage, spirituality, nature, and wildlife tourism.

The holy city of Ujjain is preparing to witness a record-breaking surge of pilgrims during the upcoming Shravan-Bhadau season, as advance railway bookings for August and September have already surpassed previous years' figures. Anticipating an average of nearly 95,000 passengers every day, the Indian Railways is introducing several crowd-management measures, including a one-way traffic system at Ujjain Railway Station, drone surveillance, additional trains, and enhanced security arrangements.

According to railway officials, the special arrangements will remain in place during the Shravan-Bhadau period, scheduled from July 30 to September 7, when lakhs of devotees are expected to visit the famous Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple for darshan.

Advance Bookings Break Previous Records

Railway data indicates that Ujjain Railway Station usually handles around 72,000 passengers daily under normal conditions. However, advance ticket reservations for the upcoming pilgrimage season have already crossed 95,000 passengers per day, reflecting a sharp rise in the number of devotees planning to visit the city.

Officials believe this year's pilgrimage could become the busiest in recent years, largely due to the growing popularity of Mahakal Lok, which has significantly increased tourist and pilgrim footfall since its inauguration.

One-Way Traffic System to Be Introduced

For the first time during the Shravan season, Ujjain Railway Station is expected to operate under a one-way passenger movement system to reduce congestion.

According to Railway Protection Force (RPF) Station In-charge Narendra Yadav, a proposal has been submitted to the railway division for approval. Under the proposed plan:

• Passengers will enter the station through Platform No. 1.
• Exit will be allowed through Platform No. 8.
• Entry from the goods yard side will remain completely closed.

The move is aimed at ensuring smoother passenger flow and preventing overcrowding at the station premises during peak hours.

Six Additional Trains on Bhopal Route

Railway authorities have also announced plans to operate six additional trains, particularly on the Bhopal-Ujjain route, which witnesses the highest number of pilgrims during the holy month.

Officials say passenger traffic has consistently increased after the development of Mahakal Lok. While approximately 70,000 passengers visited the station daily during last year's Shravan season, the station now handles nearly the same volume even on regular days. This year's festive rush is expected to push the number beyond 95,000 daily passengers.

Waterproof Holding Area for Devotees

To improve passenger convenience and manage crowds efficiently, a waterproof holding area with a capacity of 1,200 passengers is being constructed outside the railway station.

The facility will provide basic amenities and allow authorities to regulate passenger entry into the station in a phased manner, reducing pressure on platforms and entry gates.

Officials believe the holding area will prove especially useful during heavy rainfall, which is common during the monsoon pilgrimage season.

Drone Surveillance and Enhanced Security

Security arrangements are also being strengthened to handle the anticipated crowd.

Railway authorities have requested 50 additional security personnel for deployment during the festival period. The number of CCTV cameras at the station will also be increased to improve surveillance.

For the first time, drones will monitor crowd movement around the station and adjoining areas. Officials say aerial surveillance will enable quicker response in case of emergencies, overcrowding, or any security-related incidents.

The integrated monitoring system is expected to significantly improve real-time crowd management during peak pilgrimage days.

Trial Run for Simhastha Crowd Management

Railway and district administration officials believe that the arrangements introduced this year will serve a larger purpose beyond the Shravan pilgrimage.

The one-way traffic system, drone monitoring, holding areas, and additional security deployment are expected to act as a trial run for future crowd management during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings hosted in Ujjain.

Authorities hope that the experience gained during this year's pilgrimage season will help formulate more efficient crowd-control strategies for future mega-events.

With record advance bookings already in place, Ujjain is preparing for one of its busiest pilgrimage seasons ever. The combination of improved infrastructure, enhanced security, additional train services, and innovative crowd-management measures is expected to ensure safer and smoother travel for thousands of devotees arriving every day to seek the blessings of Lord Mahakal.