Barabanki (UP), Jul 26 (PTI) The ancient Lodheshwar Mahadev temple here is set for a grand overhaul, with rejuvenation and construction works to be completed by October next year, officials said on Sunday.
Under an integrated tourism development project worth around Rs 48.79 crore approved by the tourism department, the expansion of modern facilities in the temple premises is progressing rapidly, they said.
The project, aimed at making the revered shrine more accessible, will also see establishment of a state-of-the-art visitors’ facility complex for tourists and devotees, according to an official statement issued Sunday.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had laid the foundation stone for the project on July 20.
“After the completion of the land transfer process, construction work gathered pace from April 2026. At present, foundation and piling work for the main building is underway. We are committed to completing all the facilities within the stipulated timeline. The target is to complete the construction by October next year,” Construction & Design Services (C&DS) Project Manager Devvrat Pawar said.
Barabanki District Magistrate Ishan Pratap Singh said, “In line with the vision of the state government, the ancient religious site of Lodheshwar Mahadev Temple in Barabanki is being equipped with modern tourism facilities. Despite land-related obstacles, the work is now progressing rapidly.
“This project will create a beautiful confluence of faith and tourism. The district administration is regularly monitoring this important development work to ensure it is completed within the stipulated time and to the highest quality. It will also boost the local economy and attract a larger number of tourists.” With the expansion of modern facilities, devotees will receive comfortable accommodation, security, medical facilities and better arrangements. Facilities such as entrance gates, a covered corridor, cloak room, medical unit and command centre will transform the temple premises into a modern visitors’ facility complex, the statement said.
Landscaping and development of shops will further enrich tourism experience, it said.
The development works, being carried out over an area of 12,980 square metres, is being executed by C&DS.
The project envisages construction of five entrance gates, a landscaped garden spread over 2,734 square metres, a 3.25-metre-wide and 652-metre-long covered corridor along the boundary wall, a cloak room, 26 toilets each for men and women, four toilets for ‘Divyangjan’, drinking water facilities, a security staff hall, nine shops, a CCTV system, a control and command centre, a pantry and a medical centre.
These facilities will provide better amenities to devotees and develop the premises into a modern tourist destination, the statement said.
Located on the banks of the Ghaghara river in Ramnagar tehsil of Barabanki, the Lodheshwar Mahadev Dham is an ancient and revered shrine of Lord Shiva. The ‘Shivling’ here is considered one of the 52 rare ‘Shivlings’ in India. It is believed that the Pandavas performed a ‘mahayagya’ (ritual) here, with the Pandav-Koop (room) here memorialising the Mahabharata myth.
Every year, lakhs of devotees visit the temple on Mahashivratri. PTI NAV ARB
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