Reimagining Religious Tourism With Giresh Kulkarni's Temple Connect

Religious Tourism With Temple Connect| Spirituality has emerged as more than just a personal pursuit in recent years. It has become a compelling reason for travel. For many Indians and international visitors, spiritual getaways now rival beach holidays and mountain retreats. The rush to reconnect with faith has brought temple towns into the limelight, turning them into bustling hubs of religious tourism and economic opportunity.

As India embraces this surge in spiritual tourism, temples like Kedarnath in Uttarakhand or the Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai witness extraordinary crowds during peak pilgrimage seasons. These are no longer just religious experiences; they are curated journeys, complete with stays, food trails, souvenirs, and even mobile apps guiding you through temple rituals. The faithful are not just walking barefoot into temples anymore—they are booking "quick darshan" packages, some priced between INR 1,500 and INR 2,500, depending on whether you want an aarti included or wish to get a close-up of the deity.

But in this transformation, a question arises: where do we draw the line between reverence and revenue? To find out these answers, Outlook Traveller spoke to Giresh Kulkarni, the founder of Temple Connect and ITCX (International Temples Convention & EXPO). The platform unifies stakeholders from temple authorities and governments with experts to ensure temples are run well and serve better while integrating a digital touch into the spiritual experience.

Commercialisation Vs Spiritual Essence

The influx of tourists has undeniably benefited local economies. Street vendors, hotels, eateries, and transport services see a boom during festival seasons. But with it comes the risk of commodifying faith. Temples, once sacred spaces, now often echo with logistical chaos—long queues, agents selling fast-track passes, and rituals feeling more like performances than sacred acts.

"Rituals are not for display—they carry deep meaning and emotion. Our goal is to ensure that income generated from tourism strengthens temple infrastructure without diluting the soul of the experience,” elaborated Kulkarni.

With temples managing enormous footfalls, donations, and emotions daily, Kulkarni believes that a professional approach is the need of the hour. “Most temples don’t have access to structured systems. We want to change that—whether it’s by training staff, digitising processes, or creating platforms for temple boards and government bodies to work together.”

Through a combination of storytelling, tech-driven guides, information boards, and immersive digital content, Temple Connect is reimagining the darshan experience. One such innovation includes virtual guides explaining the significance of rituals in real time, helping devotees understand what they are witnessing and why it matters.

Challenging VIP Culture in Religious Tourism

One of the more controversial aspects of temple tourism is VIP culture. Special queues and paid access for those with influence or money often leave regular devotees feeling sidelined. Kulkarni believes inclusivity is the only way forward. “Faith should feel equal for everyone. Technology like online time slots, digital queue management, and smart crowd control can make darshan fairer,” added Kulkarni.

But technology alone won’t solve the issue. It also takes a mindset shift. “Temple trustees need to believe in equality of access and implement systems that reflect that belief,” he added.

Sustainable Temple Economy

The commercialisation of religion doesn’t have to be exploitative. Done right, it can be a lifeline—for temples and communities alike. Digital darshan has brought blessings to those unable to travel. Sales of artisanal, tradition-based products have helped preserve crafts and opened up new avenues of income.

Saying how one can make the optimal use of commercialisation, Kulkarni cited: “If one lakh photo frames of a deity are sold in and around a temple annually, and INR 1 from each is channelled back to the temple, it can support maintenance, heritage preservation, and community initiatives.” It’s a win-win situation when spiritual engagement meets sustainable commerce.