Published On:
November 30, 2025
Updated On:
November 30, 2025
The Raya Heritage City is a flagship cultural and tourism development initiated by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in the Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. Conceived as the "Raya Urban Centre," the project is inspired by the Braj culture and the life of Lord Krishna, aiming to create a global-class destination.
The Raya Heritage City, a landmark project spearheaded by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), is set to redefine religious tourism and urban planning in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. Located near Raya in the Mathura district, this expansive township is not just a commercial venture but a meticulously planned "Raya Urban Centre" designed as a modern reflection and celebration of the life of Lord Krishna and the rich cultural tapestry of Braj.
Raya Heritage City is a cornerstone of YEIDA’s larger strategy to establish a premier cultural and tourism corridor along the Yamuna Expressway, directly addressing the massive pilgrimage traffic flowing into Mathura and Vrindavan. The core objective is dual: to create a world-class destination that honors the region's spiritual legacy while providing superior infrastructure and managed facilities that drastically improve the experience for millions of daily devotees.
The design inspiration is explicitly drawn from Braj's traditional architecture, including its temples, ghats (riverbanks), and historic settlements. The project employs a Hybrid Development Model, where YEIDA manages essential urban functions and develops residential/commercial zones, while specialized religious and tourism components are developed via robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements, ensuring both public control and private expertise.
By engaging international consultants like CBRE South Asia to prepare bidding documents, YEIDA aims to attract global investment and expertise, ensuring the township meets international standards for quality and sustainability.
The sheer scale of the project is ambitious, spanning a total planning area of approximately 11,653 hectares (Raya Urban Centre). The immediate focus is a core Heritage City township cluster measuring roughly 735–753 acres, which has been officially notified for focused development under YEIDA.
A critical element of the township's layout is a new six-lane greenfield expressway, approximately 7 km long, which will directly connect the Yamuna Expressway to the revered Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. The Raya Heritage City is strategically laid out on both sides of this new corridor, making it a highly accessible and transit-oriented development. The site selection and road alignment have been carefully adjusted to avoid floodplains and monsoon-prone stretches, ensuring the long-term viability and safety of the urban centre.
The financial commitment reflects the project's magnitude. Officials estimate that the notified portion of the Heritage City alone will require an investment exceeding ₹6,300 crore.
The hybrid model is central to the financial plan:
International development companies are expected to participate eagerly once YEIDA and CBRE finalize the tender documents, promising an infusion of foreign expertise and capital.
The core of the Heritage City is structured around multiple specialized zones that seamlessly weave together spiritual, cultural, wellness, and lifestyle functions:
In addition to these anchor zones, the city plans to include a full suite of supportive urban amenities, including hotels, serviced apartments, senior living facilities, and dedicated parking hubs and modern amenities to alleviate the chronic congestion in central pilgrimage spots like Vrindavan.
Raya Heritage City is a strategic initiative poised to deliver a significant regional and national impact. It aims to achieve enhanced visitor experience and de-congestion by acting as a crucial node that can distribute tourist flows away from the overwhelmed urban cores of Mathura and Vrindavan.
By integrating hospitality, residential, and commercial components, the project is expected to generate a major boost in real estate development and general economic activity along the Yamuna Expressway corridor. Officials describe it as a long-term anchor for regional growth, combining the profound cultural heritage of the Braj region with sustainable, modern urban planning principles to create a truly global-class spiritual and wellness destination.
