Maha Kumbh 2025 Sparks 162% Surge In Flight Bookings And Hotel Occupancy

Ahead of Maha Kumbh, Indians as well as foreign tourists are gathering for the grand event. This has surged the bookings for the flights and hotels. Maha Kumbh 2025, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as it comes back after 148 years.

With Prayagraj now connected to over 20 destinations through direct and one-hop flights, aviation is playing a pivotal role in getting pilgrims and other tourists to this year’s Mela, pointed out Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, ixigo.

Flight Bookings Skyrocket

Airlines are witnessing a remarkable rise in flight bookings to Prayagraj, with a 162% year-on-year increase in bookings on ixigo. Other nearby airports like Varanasi and Lucknow have also experienced significant growth, with bookings up 127% and 42%, respectively.

Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip noted that travel demand is particularly high during the event’s opening and closing weeks. “Searches for Prayagraj have surged by over 23 times year-on-year,” he said, highlighting the growing interest in the event.

The Maha Kumbh is expected to boost foreign tourist arrivals, which have stayed lower than pre-Covid levels. Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip reported receiving substantial bookings from both domestic and international travellers. “The interest isn’t just from people aged 50 and above; younger people are also excited to experience the Maha Kumbh,” he added.

Rajiv Mehra, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), noted that the Uttar Pradesh tourism department’s massive publicity drive has significantly increased the number of foreign groups attending this year’s Kumbh compared to previous events.

Maha Kumbh 2025: Train Bookings Surge Alongside Air Travel

Trains are also seeing a surge in bookings, with travel to Prayagraj up by 187% year-on-year. Solo travellers, particularly women, represent a significant portion of these bookings, with 57% of the train bookings made by individuals, and 39% of them being female. “Group bookings account for 43%,” said Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO of ixigo Trains and ConfirmTkt.

However, routes with limited flight availability, such as Bhopal-Prayagraj, have seen prices rise to Rs 17,000 one-way due to peak demand.

Airfares from cities such as Jaipur, Bengaluru, and Nagpur to Prayagraj have nearly tripled compared to the same period last year, said Anuj Rathi, Chief Business and Growth Officer at Cleartrip.

Maha Kumbh Leads To Rise In Accommodation Demand

The demand for accommodations in Prayagraj has also seen a sharp increase, particularly for the 2,000-tent mini-city set up near the Triveni Sangam.

“People prefer staying in tents to be closer to the action and the sacred site,” explained Kulkarni, a local accommodation provider. The tent city is about 50% full, and demand is expected to rise as many travellers make last-minute bookings.

The Ultimate Travelling Camp’s premium tents are fully booked for key dates, with prices reaching Rs 1 lakh per night. Other options like IRCTC’s Mahakumbh Gram and UPSTDC’s Tent Colony offer rooms from Rs 1,500 to Rs 35,000 per night.

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