Delhi has always been more than its monuments — and now, its government is betting the world will finally see why. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, attended the 'Spiritual and Heritage Tourism Conference 2026' at Akshardham Temple, unveiling four new tourism circuits designed to pull visitors beyond the postcard version of the capital. Sharing the stage with spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, CM Gupta laid out a vision rooted in Delhi's layered past — from the mythic memory of Indraprastha and its civilisational links to Lord Krishna, to the medieval stepwell of Agrasen ki Baoli, the ancient Yogmaya Temple in Mehrauli, the astronomical marvel of Jantar Mantar, and the spiritual grandeur of Akshardham itself. Four circuits, 21 sites, one overlooked city The four circuits — 'Soul of Delhi', 'Heritage of Delhi', 'Sacred Harmony', and 'Echoes of Delhi' — together connect 21 spiritual, cultural, and heritage sites across the city. The stated goal: bring an 'unseen Delhi' to the world. As CM Gupta put it, 'aisi andekhi Delhi ko duniya ke saamne laana' — revealing a Delhi the tourist map has long ignored. The announcement places Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the centre of the initiative's political framing, with CM Gupta crediting his leadership for driving the circuit-based approach to heritage tourism. Akshardham as the launchpad The choice of venue was deliberate. Akshardham Temple, the BAPS Swaminarayan complex inaugurated in 2005, draws millions annually and already functions as one of Delhi's foremost spiritual destinations. Hosting a tourism policy conference here signals that the government sees spiritual sites not just as places of worship but as anchors for structured visitor circuits. The presence of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of the Isha Foundation and one of India's most prominent voices on yoga and cultural heritage, lent the conference a wider symbolic reach — connecting the policy moment to a broader national conversation about India's civilisational identity. Where circuit tourism fits India's larger playbook The circuit model is not new. The central government's Swadesh Darshan scheme, launched in 2015, pioneered theme-based tourist circuits across India — covering pilgrimage, tribal, eco, and heritage routes. Delhi's four new circuits appear to extend that logic into the capital, applying it specifically to spiritual and cultural assets that have historically been overshadowed by the city's more prominent Mughal-era landmarks. The operational rollout — which sites are linked, how visitor infrastructure will be built, and when the circuits formally open — remains the critical next step. The conference in August 2026 marks the announcement; delivery is what the tourism industry and heritage visitors will now watch for. Delhi has always had more stories than any single itinerary could hold. The question now is whether these four circuits can finally get travellers to stop, look deeper, and stay longer.