Hospitality chain Oyo said on Wednesday that it will add 500 hotels at major religious centers across India to support the government’s programmes to boost spiritual tourism in India. The expansion will focus on popular pilgrimage destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Puri, Haridwar, Mathura, Vrindavan, Amritsar, Ujjain, Ajmer, Nasik, and Tirupati.The company said it plans to add over 150 hotels in Ayodhya, making it the 'focal point of the expansion' since the demand for quality accommodation is growing after the opening of Ram Temple last year. Oyo said Ayodhya has also gained significant traction as the most searched religious destination for new year holidays this year, with searches on the Oyo app recording a 39% year-on-year growth. Thousands of devotees are expected to visit Ayodhya later this month, on January 22, 2025, to mark the first anniversary of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple.In addition, Oyo will expand its presence in other prominent pilgrimage destinations, starting with 100 hotels in Varanasi, followed by 50 hotels each in Prayagraj, Haridwar and Puri.The booking requests for the Maha Kumbh period are already twice the available inventory of Oyo in Prayagraj, the company had stated earlier. Oyo said most of these hotels will be introduced under the ‘company serviced’ category indicating Oyo’s active involvement in the operations of these hotels to ensure superior guest experience.Oyo said the initiative is also in line with the insights from Oyo.Travelopedia report 2024, which underscores the rising popularity of spiritual tourism, with Puri, Varanasi, and Haridwar emerging as the top destinations for travelers seeking spiritual experiences.Varun Jain, chief operating officer, Oyo India said the company is collaborating with the tourism departments of all major states to better understand their specific needs and priorities."Our focus is on launching strategically located hotels, particularly in key religious centers, to cater to the growing demand for high-quality accommodations among pilgrims and visitors," he said."We are also actively monitoring emerging trends in religious tourism, including shifts in visitor preferences, seasonal travel patterns, and the growing popularity of lesser-known pilgrimage destinations," he added.