Lucknow, July 21 -- In a move to honour the legacy of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to transform his ancestral village in Agra, Bateshwar, into a prominent pilgrimage and heritage tourism destination.

According to officials of the tourism department, the initiative includes projects worth Rs.27 crore aimed at revamping spiritual infrastructure, boosting visitor facilities, and positioning Bateshwar on India's religious tourism map.

Out of the sanctioned Rs.27 crore, Rs.19 crore has been allocated to redevelop and beautify the ghats from Gopaleshwar Temple to the cultural complex, they said. The goal is to enhance the spiritual ambience while improving access an...