100 hotel bookings cancelled amid Aurangzeb Tomb Controversy

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The ongoing tensions over the Aurangzeb tomb issue have delivered a severe blow to the hospitality industry in Khultabad and Ellora. In just 15 days, nearly 100 hotel bookings have been cancelled, leading to financial losses worth lakhs. Hoteliers, heavily reliant on religious tourism and heritage travellers, are now grappling with uncertainty.

Ellora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the globally renowned caves and the sacred 12th Jyotirlinga, Shri Grishneshwar Temple. Khultabad, revered for the Bhadra Maruti Temple and prominent Sufi dargahs, also attracts thousands of visitors. Additionally, major tourist landmarks such as Daulatabad Devgiri Fort, Bibi Ka Maqbara, and Panchakki in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar contribute to the region’s steady influx of domestic and international travellers.

Typically, hotels in these areas receive bookings weeks in advance, benefiting from the uninterrupted flow of tourists and devotees. With nearly 100 premium resorts, hotels, and lodgings, the sector generates daily business worth lakhs. However, the turmoil surrounding the Aurangzeb tomb has disrupted this momentum, leading to widespread booking cancellations.

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“Due to the Aurangzeb tomb controversy, my hotel’s online bookings have been getting cancelled one after another for the past 15 days. This has resulted in huge financial losses.”

— Aslam Ahmed Shaikh, Hotel business owner, Khultabad