During the Second Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave 'Rooh-Mantic' in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav claimed that the design of the Indian Parliament is based on ancient temples in his state. He stated that the old Parliament building was modelled on the Chousath Yogini Temple in Morena, while the new one was inspired by the Bijamandal temple in Vidisha. Yadav called this a matter of pride, saying it shows that "Our temples can also be the basis of democracy".
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also spoke at the event, stating that Yadav is committed to making Madhya Pradesh a developed state. Shekhawat emphasised the resilience of Indian culture, saying it is still alive despite facing invasions and 200 years of slavery. He gave the example of the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, where people of every religion and sect gathered to spread a message of world peace.
According to Shivshekhar Shukla, the Principal Secretary for Culture and Tourism, Madhya Pradesh saw 11 crore tourists in 2023 and 13 crore in 2024.
He said that tourism in the state is growing at an annual rate of 20 per cent, with Ujjain being the top religious tourism site. Anil Parashar, president of the PHD Chamber of Commerce, added that the number of foreign tourists visiting India has also increased, with millions visiting the Prayagraj Mahakumbh and the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Parashar also expressed confidence that with the ongoing preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028, Ujjain would become a global centre of religious tourism.
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