There is growing interest in India’s spiritual destinations ahead of September, with several temple towns noting an increase in searches, alongside continued popularity of Southeast Asian cities, according to latest accommodation search data by a global digital travel platform.

Growing interest in India's temple towns

Among domestic destinations, Pachmarhi, known as the “Queen of Satpura”, recorded an almost seven times increase in accommodation searches for September compared with the same period last year, according to digital travel platform Agoda's latest report. Set in the Satpura ranges of Madhya Pradesh, the hill destination is home to the Jatashankar Temple, a cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is also known for its forests, waterfalls and scenic views. Ujjain, another city in the state, recorded an almost three times increase in accommodation searches. Known for the Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the city offers travellers a mix of pilgrimage, historic ghats, and cultural experiences.
 
In Puri, accommodation searches increased by two times, with the Jagannath Temple being a key part of the city’s identity, while the coastline and beaches of Puri offer travellers another experience during their stay. Varanasi recorded a 44 per cent increase in searches, with its temples, ghats and cultural heritage offering another way to experience India’s spiritual traditions. Further down south, Tirupati recorded a 29 per cent increase in accommodation searches. Known for the Sri Venkateswara Temple, the destination remains an important pilgrimage centre and spiritual travel destination of interest.