Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave to be Held in Ujjain

Ujjain, the city of Mahakal, will host रूहmantic: PHDCCI’s second Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave on August 27, 2025, at Hotel Anjushree, organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. The conclave is designed to bring together spiritual leaders, policymakers, tourism experts and innovators to deliberate on shaping the future of India’s spiritual tourism sector.

The Inaugural Session will bring together distinguished dignitaries, including Dr Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, as Chief Guest, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of India, as Guest of Honour.

Gauranga Das Prabhu, Spiritual Leader, will deliver the keynote address, setting the spiritual tone of the conclave.

The session will also feature addresses by Suman Billa (IAS), Additional Secretary & Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Sheo Shekhar Shukla (IAS), Principal Secretary – Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh.

A highlight of the inaugural session will be the release of the PHDCCI-KPMG Report on Spiritual Tourism, titled ‘Faith & Flow: Navigating crowds in India’s sacred spaces’, offering an in-depth analysis of how faith-driven travel is shaping India’s economy, culture and global positioning.

A high-level Government–Industry Roundtable, chaired by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, will provide a platform for leading corporates and PHDCCI members to collaborate on strengthening infrastructure, cultural promotion and responsible hospitality in spiritual tourism.

The day-long deliberations will feature diverse sessions:

• Temple Economies: Where Faith Meets Livelihood: A dynamic discussion hosted by Samit Garg, President, Event & Entertainment Management Association and MD, E-Factor Experiences, featuring Pratham Kaushik (IAS), Administrator, Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple; Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, CEO, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust; and Prashant Mukund Das, International Spiritual Guide and Senior Counsellor for ISKCON, examining how spiritual circuits sustain local economies and livelihoods.

• Mahakal’s Mandala: Ujjain’s Spiritual Power & Urban Future: A session with Dr Ilayaraja T (IAS), MD, MP Tourism Development Corporation; Raushan K Singh (IAS), Collector & DM, Ujjain; and Atul Singh, MD, MP Incoming, exploring how Ujjain balances heritage with urban innovation.

• Mind, Body & Soul: Wellness as the New Spiritual Frontier: Moderated by Shalini S Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, with panellists Dr Rekha Chaudhari, Global Wellness Ambassador; Chef Manjit Gill, President, IFCA; and Dr Manoj Kutteri, CEO, Atmantan Wellness Centre, highlighting the integration of Ayurveda, yoga and wellness into spiritual destinations.

• Divine in the Digital – Spirituality 2.0: A forward-looking dialogue moderated by Aalap Bansal, Partner, KPMG India, featuring tech innovators Prashant Kumar Mishra, Founder, TechXR Innovations; Prashant Sachan, Founder, AppsForBharat; and Aacharya Dev, Co-Founder, VAMA App, on how digital tools like VR, AI and online platforms are reshaping access to faith.

• Guardians of the Sacred Axis – The Jyotirlinga Circuit: A case study presentation by Dr Dinesh Soni, Founder, Indian.Temples Research and Media Services, tracing the spiritual and cultural significance of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas.

Delegates will also experience the spiritual essence of Ujjain with a guided visit to Shri Mahakaleshwar and Kal Bhairav Temples, marking a memorable conclusion to the conclave.

The conclave is supported by E-Factor Experiences, Sri Mandir App, IRCTC, Mann Fleet Partners, KPMG, Indore Talk, Hotel Anjushree, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI).