Introduction The long awaited wish of millions of devotees to witness the divine temple of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya Dham has finally come true. Ayodhya, known as the sacred birthplace of Prabhu Shri Ram, now hosts a grand and magnificent temple constructed under the supervision of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. The temple was formally inaugurated on 22 January 2024 by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi along with respected Hindu religious leaders. Understanding the deep faith and devotion of the people of Chhattisgarh, the state government launched a special initiative named “Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana.” The scheme was approved in the state cabinet meeting held on 11 January 2024 under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. The main purpose of this scheme is to provide an opportunity for residents of Chhattisgarh to visit Ayodhya Dham and seek blessings of Shri Ram completely free of cost. Under this program, all travel, food, accommodation, and related expenses are borne by the Chhattisgarh Government. The Tourism Department has been appointed as the nodal agency, and an MoU has been signed with IRCTC to ensure smooth travel arrangements. Recently, the scheme was expanded to include Kashi Vishwanath Darshan and Ganga Aarti along with Ayodhya visit. Contact the Gram Panchayat or Nagar Nigam Office for enrollment under Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana. Benefits Residents selected under the Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana receive several important benefits :- Free pilgrimage to Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Dham. No travel, food, or accommodation charges for beneficiaries. Government covers complete expenses of the journey. Target to send 20,000 devotees every year. Safe and organized travel through IRCTC arrangements. Additional visit to Kashi Vishwanath and participation in Ganga Aarti. Eligibility To avail the benefits of Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana, applicants must fulfill the following conditions :- Must be a permanent resident of Chhattisgarh. Age should be between 18 and 75 years. Applicant must be physically and medically fit for travel. In the first phase, priority is given to people above 55 years. Urban-Rural ratio :- 25% urban and 75% rural beneficiaries. Documents Applicants need to submit the following documents while applying :- Identity Proof (any one) :- Aadhaar Card / Voter ID / Ration Card / Driving License. Age proof document. Recent passport size photograph. Mobile number. Medical fitness certificate. Emergency contact details of two persons. Process to Apply The application process for Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana is kept simple and offline :- Collect the application form from Gram Panchayat or Nagar Nigam office. Fill all details carefully in Hindi. Paste a recent photograph in the given space. Attach required documents and medical certificate. Submit the form at the same Gram Panchayat or Nagar Nigam Office. Authorities will verify the application before approval. Selected Beneficiary will be notified via SMS on their registered mobile number. Process of Selection Selection of beneficiaries under Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana of the Chhattisgarh Government is done in a transparent manner :- Applications are verified at district level. Priority is given to applicants aged 55 years and above. If applications exceed quota, selection is done through lottery system. A waiting list of 25% is prepared. If a selected person cannot travel, waiting list candidate is chosen. Husband and wife are considered as one unit if applied together. Group applications (maximum 10 members) are also allowed. Final list is displayed at department offices. Important Points to Remember Applicants must be medically fit; persons suffering from TB, asthma, serious mental illness, or leprosy are not eligible. People above 65 years can take one attendant. Couples below 65 cannot bring attendants. Travel groups will consist of 850-1000 devotees. Free pick-up and drop to nearest railway station is provided. Personal expenses are not covered by the government. Medical test is compulsory before journey. Important Links Application Form and Guidelines of Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana. Contact Contact the Tourism Department of Chhattisgarh for further help and information :- Toll Free Number :- 18001026415. Contact Number :- 7714224600.