CM Yogi highlights 2019 opening of Akshayvat in Prayagraj
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh highlighted how the sacred Akshayvat in Prayagraj was opened to the public in 2019 on PM Modi's initiative, allowing devotees from India and abroad to visit the site and collect water from the Saraswati Koop.
Key Takeaways
The Akshayvat , a sacred immortal banyan tree in Prayagraj , was opened for public darshan in 2019 on the inspiration of PM Narendra Modi .
The site had previously been inaccessible to ordinary devotees due to its location inside a restricted military area within Allahabad Fort .
Devotees can now also collect water from the associated Saraswati Koop , an ancient well of deep ritual significance.
The statement was attributed to CM Yogi Adityanath and posted by the official CMOfficeUP account on 26 May 2026 .
The opening is part of a broader Uttar Pradesh policy of restoring and granting public access to ancient Hindu pilgrimage sites.
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, shared a statement attributed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recalling how the sacred Akshayvat in Prayagraj was opened for public worship in 2019, crediting the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Context
The post, in Hindi, states: 'Varsh 2019 mein aadaraniya Pradhanmantri Shri Narendra Modi ji ki prerana se Prayagraj mein pavitra Sri Akshayvat ko aam shraddhaluon ke darshanaarth khola gaya.' — 'In the year 2019, inspired by the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the sacred Shri Akshayvat in Prayagraj was opened for the darshan of ordinary devotees.' CM Yogi Adityanath further notes that any devotee coming from across the country or the world can now easily visit the site and collect water from the Saraswati Koop.
The Akshayvat — literally 'immortal banyan tree' — is one of the most venerated sites in Hindu tradition, believed to be indestructible and linked to the story of creation. It stands within the precincts of the historic Allahabad Fort in Prayagraj, a site that for decades remained under restricted access due to its location inside a military area.
Policy Backdrop
The opening of the Akshayvat to the general public was facilitated during the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, following directions from the central government. The move was part of a broader effort by both the Uttar Pradesh state government and the Union government to restore and open ancient pilgrimage sites that had been inaccessible to devotees for generations.
Uttar Pradesh under CM Yogi Adityanath has pursued a systematic policy of reopening and upgrading Hindu pilgrimage infrastructure — from temple corridor projects in Varanasi and Mathura to improved amenities at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. The Saraswati Koop, an ancient well associated with the subterranean mythological Saraswati river, is an integral part of the Akshayvat complex and holds deep ritual significance for visiting pilgrims.
Stakeholders and Impact
Millions of pilgrims who travel to Prayagraj — particularly during the Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh cycles — now have unhindered access to the Akshayvat and the Saraswati Koop, a privilege that was unavailable to generations of devotees before 2019. Religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh has grown substantially as pilgrimage sites have been made more accessible, contributing to the local economy of Prayagraj.
The site's opening also carries symbolic weight for the Hindu diaspora abroad, as the post specifically notes that devotees coming from 'across the country and the world' can now visit — signalling the site's relevance to an international community of faith.
What's Next
With Prayagraj continuing to serve as a focal point for large-scale religious gatherings, the Uttar Pradesh government is expected to sustain and expand infrastructure around the Akshayvat complex to accommodate growing pilgrim footfall. The state's emphasis on heritage site accessibility aligns with the national push for religious tourism, and further conservation or facilitation measures at the site remain a possibility as pilgrimage seasons approach.
Point of View
Tying the credit firmly to PM Modi while positioning CM Yogi Adityanath as the executor of that vision in Uttar Pradesh. It fits a well-established pattern of the state government using heritage site access as both a governance achievement and a cultural identity signal. The timing — well after the 2025 Maha Kumbh — suggests an ongoing effort to consolidate the narrative around religious accessibility as a durable policy legacy rather than an event-specific announcement. For the BJP's political messaging, the Akshayvat opening remains a potent symbol of restoring Hindu pilgrims' rights to spaces that were administratively closed for decades.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Akshayvat in Prayagraj?
The Akshayvat is a sacred, ancient banyan tree in Prayagraj believed in Hindu tradition to be immortal and indestructible. It is located within the Allahabad Fort complex and is associated with the Saraswati Koop, an ancient ritual well.
When was the Akshayvat opened for public darshan?
The Akshayvat was opened for public darshan in 2019, during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, following an initiative credited to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What is the Saraswati Koop?
The Saraswati Koop is an ancient well located at the Akshayvat site in Prayagraj. It is associated with the mythological subterranean Saraswati river and holds deep ritual significance; pilgrims traditionally collect its water as a sacred act.
Why was the Akshayvat previously inaccessible to devotees?
The Akshayvat is situated inside the Allahabad Fort, which has historically been under military control, restricting general public access to the site for many decades.
What has Yogi Adityanath said about the Akshayvat?
CM Yogi Adityanath, through the official Chief Minister's Office account, stated that any devotee from India or abroad can now easily visit the Akshayvat and collect water from the Saraswati Koop, crediting the 2019 opening to PM Modi's inspiration.
