Himachal Pradesh is developing a religious tourist circuit to facilitate pilgrims visiting prominent shrines in Una and Bilaspur districts as per IANS report.

'Tourism activities would be given momentum by spending Rs.6.15 crore on the Una-Chintpurni-Bilaspur circuit,' said Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

He said the emphasis would be on developing parking lots, civic amenities and renovation of shrines besides providing quality restaurants to tourists.

A parking lot is being developed in Chintpurni town where devotees throng from different parts of the country to pay obeisance at the temple of Mata Chintpurni, said Dhumal, who also holds a tourism portfolio.

He said civic amenities would also be improved at the shrine of Baba Badbhag Singh in Una district. 'Camping sites and a tourist reception centre would also be developed at Chintpurni,' he added.

Facilities would be developed for pilgrims visiting Naina Devi shrine in Bilaspur district. The hilltop shrine attracted 25 lakh devotees last year. The hill state, also known as 'Dev Bhoomi', the 'land of gods', has 28 prominent Hindu temples that have cash amounting to over Rs.98 crore (Rs.980 million).

The popular shrine of Chintpurni is the richest with Rs.41.78 crore in its kitty, whereas the Naina Devi temple has cash amounting to Rs.10.33 crore. The other prominent shrines are Jwalaji, Chamunda Devi and Brajeshwari Devi in Kangra district and Bhimakali and Hateshwari in Shimla district.