Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned a bold new future for Uttarakhand — one where the Devbhoomi transforms into the Spiritual Capital of the World. Speaking at the silver jubilee celebration of Uttarakhand’s statehood at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun, the Prime Minister urged the state to link its yoga, Ayurveda, and wellness hubs with the global wellness tourism network.
Calling Uttarakhand’s 25-year journey “an inspiring story of resilience and progress,” Modi highlighted how the state has evolved from a resource-scarce hill region to a thriving economy with a budget that has grown from ₹4,000 crore to over ₹1 lakh crore. Power generation has quadrupled, roads have doubled, and access to education and healthcare has expanded to every corner of the state.
To mark the milestone, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth ₹8,000 crore and outlined ongoing connectivity works of nearly ₹2 lakh crore — initiatives that promise to make Uttarakhand more accessible, tourism-ready, and economically vibrant.
Modi encouraged the state to think beyond pilgrimage tourism and nurture new-age travel experiences — from developing each Vibrant Village as a tourist destination and celebrating “One District, One Mela” to creating horticultural hubs that combine livelihood with sustainability.
Pushing for tourism innovation, the Prime Minister urged the state to brand itself as a ‘Wed in India’ destination, identifying five to six scenic wedding hubs that could redefine India’s luxury wedding tourism map.
He also praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s leadership and lauded Uttarakhand’s implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), calling it a “trailblazer for other states.”
“Uttarakhand’s next 25 years,” Modi concluded, “should blend spirituality with sustainability — where the divine and the developmental walk hand in hand, making the state a global beacon of faith, wellness, and natural beauty.”
