The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has announced a INR 2 crore project to develop the sacred Shringi Rishi Ashram in Parikshitgarh, Meerut, as part of the Mahabharata Circuit. This initiative aims to promote religious and cultural tourism by preserving the site’s spiritual significance and improving visitor facilities. The ashram is deeply connected to the Mahabharata era and is believed to be where Rishi Shringi cursed King Parikshit, marking the beginning of Kalyug.
The ashram, which features an ancient yagyashala, havan kund, and the footprints of sages, attracts thousands of devotees who come to experience its divine heritage. The integrated development plan includes beautification, upgraded lighting, rest areas, and the installation of information boards, toilets, and drinking water facilities, ensuring a comfortable pilgrimage experience for visitors.
UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh emphasised that this project will enhance local infrastructure while preserving the site’s religious legacy. He stated that the development of Shringi Rishi Ashram will strengthen Meerut’s position as a major spiritual and historical destination within the Mahabharata Circuit, connecting devotees to ancient Indian traditions.
According to scriptures, King Parikshit’s curse and his subsequent death by a snakebite were pivotal events that defined the end of the Dwapar Yug. The site later witnessed King Janamejaya’s ‘Sarpa Yagya’, performed to avenge his father’s death. It is believed that divine intervention ended the ritual, and since then, snakes have never harmed anyone near the ashram—a belief that adds to the site’s mystique.
Meerut, already home to several historic temples such as Maa Chandi Devi, Baba Augharnath, Bileshwar Nath, and Katyayani Devi Temples, continues to be a vital link to India’s mythological past. With its proximity to Delhi and other Mahabharata-linked sites like Hastinapur and Gandhari Sarovar, the development of Shringi Rishi Ashram is expected to attract both devotees and heritage enthusiasts, enriching Uttar Pradesh’s growing network of faith-based tourism destinations.