UP Approves Barsana Hills Beautification Plan for Religious Tourism Boost:

The green cover and tourism potential of the hills around Barsana, which is positioned in the Mathura district, will be developed via a significant project from the UP Braj Tirth Vikas Parishad. Jhansi has also sanctioned the council’s request for the Supreme Court’s direction to eradicate exotic species like Acacia and Kikar tree and plant species associated with the time of Lord Krishna.

This announcement has been made by the council’s chief executive officer cum vice president of the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority, Shyam Bahadur Singh.

Barsana Section Of Tourism Receives ₹206 Crore Funding

As the number of tourists visiting Barsana has increased post visiting Mathura and Vrindavan, the council has suggested 10 tourism development projects in the area costing ₹206 crore. Out of these, the proposal for enhancing and beautifying three primary hills surrounding Barsana has been sanctioned.

The Hills Are Titled After Radharani’s Eight Friends

The eight hills around Barsana are regarded as representing Radharani’s companions, ‘The Ashta Sakhi,’. The hills were once covered with trees but currently, they are mostly void of shrubs, as well as non-beneficial trees like Kikar and Babul have taken over the region, which have been deforested for several decades.

Religious and Cultural Significance of Barsana Hills

The beautification and preservation of these hills is of utmost importance because they are believed to have witnessed Lord Krishna and Radharani’s divine pastimes. In the first phase, eco-restoration of the Rakholi, Dhabhala and Sakhi Giri hills will commence with Rakholi hill, which is 98 hectares.

Eco Restoration and Fencing Works

Singh states that the works include fencing, planting of traditional species, water and culture resources management. Restoration of Rakoli Hill is planned with a total budget of ₹2.11 crore, out of which ₹1.30 crore has already been released.

Additionally, the works involve the removal of exotic species and the planting of Dwapar era trees like Kadamba, Pilu and Dhak. The Supreme Court has granted clearance for this work.