My Tirth India, a spiritual tourism startup, is shutting down operations due to financial difficulties, as announced by its founder Indraneel Dasgupta. The company faced severe funding shortages following the death of its main investor and mentor, Subrata Roy, the founder of Sahara India Pariwar.
Challenges of My Tirth India
In his announcement, Indraneel Dasgupta expressed deep sorrow over the shutdown. He explained that the company had been striving to enhance spiritual tourism by connecting temples, hotels, travel agents, and wellness centers. However, the death of Subrata Roy, who had invested nearly $1 million in the startup, left the company without essential financial support.
“We aimed to bring back the ‘smile’ to spiritual tourism and support local economies dependent on temples,” Dasgupta said. “Despite our efforts to provide a holistic experience for pilgrims and create jobs across various regions, we are now forced to close due to financial constraints.”
Dasgupta shared that the company operated with a skeletal staff who had not been paid, working out of their homes with no office space. He noted that the pain of the shutdown would stay with him for life, reflecting on the challenges faced and the effort to honor cultural traditions and heritage.
What My Tirth India Offered
Founded in 2019, My Tirth India aimed to simplify spiritual travel by integrating various services onto one platform. The startup facilitated tours to major religious destinations in India and offered a range of services including bookings for temples, hotels, and travel agents. It also provided spiritual products like agarbatti, puja samagri, and idols through showrooms in cities such as Lucknow, Varanasi, Kolkata, and Noida.
In addition to travel services, My Tirth India launched spiritual membership programs and partnered with astrologers and wellness centers to offer a comprehensive spiritual experience.
The closure of My Tirth India marks the end of a venture that sought to blend spirituality with modern travel conveniences. The startup’s shutdown highlights the significant impact of financial instability and the challenges faced by new businesses in the spiritual tourism sector. The founder’s heartfelt farewell underscores the personal and professional toll of such closures.
