How This Festival Is Reshaping India’s Religious Travel Sector — India Report

The ongoing Mahakumbh Mela (Mahakumbh Fair) in Prayagraj has led to a surge in religious travel in India. On Tuesday alone, over 35 million people attended the fair with international attendees, including actor Richard Gere, American filmmaker David Lynch, and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs. 

Mahakumbh 2025, which started on January 13, will conclude on February 26. According to data provided by online travel agency Ixigo, the flight bookings to Prayagraj during this period have recorded a 162% year-on-year increase. Nearby Varanasi has also witnessed a 127% increase in flight bookings. 

The surge in bookings is despite a significant increase in airfares as compared to last year. The price of the Bengaluru-Prayagraj route has increased nearly 90%, while the Ahmedabad-Prayagraj route fares increased by 41%, Ixigo showed.

The Role of Aviation: Air India on Tuesday announced it will temporarily operate daily flights between Delhi and Prayagraj to meet this demand.

“This year, aviation is playing a pivotal role in religious tourism, with Prayagraj now connected to over 20 destinations through direct and one-stop flights, compared to just one during the last Kumbh. One-way airfares from major metros to Prayagraj and surrounding airports are averaging between INR 7,000-10,000 ($80-120) if booked 30 days in advance. However, on certain routes like Bhopal-Prayagraj, fares are reaching up to INR 17,000 ($200) one way due to peak demand and limited flight availability,” said group CEO Aloke Bajpai.

Online travel company MakeMyTrip’s co-founder and group CEO Rajesh Magow also shared the travel trends noticed by his platform. “Searches for Prayagraj on MakeMyTrip have surged by over 23 times year-on-year as devotees from across India plan their journey to Maha Kumbh. Travel demand is particularl