At the same time, places like Khatushyam Ji in Rajasthan, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh and Thiruchendur in Tamil Nadu are also becoming popular
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Pilgrimage travel is emerging as one of the fast-growing segments of India’s travel and tourism industry.
According to MakeMyTrip’s Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25, accommodation bookings across 56 pilgrimage destinations grew by 19 per cent in FY24-25.
The pilgrimage travel trends highlight broad-based momentum, with 34 destinations recording double-digit growth and 15 destinations growing by over 25 per cent, underscoring how spiritual journeys are becoming a powerful driver of travel demand.
The breadth of growth across pilgrimage destinations can be seen in centres such as Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab) and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), which continue to grow. At the same time, places like Khatushyam Ji (Rajasthan), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh) and Thiruchendur (Tamil Nadu) are also registering strong momentum, reflecting the widening canvas of spiritual travel in the country.
The strong growth in pilgrimage demand is also driving an aggressive expansion of accommodation supply across key destinations. Travellers are largely opting for short, purpose-driven stays, with more than half choosing single-night trips. At the same time, premiumisation is gaining momentum, bookings for rooms priced above Rs 7,000 grew by over 20 per cent.
Speaking about the Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25, Rajesh Magow, co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, “Pilgrimage Travel has always been part of our culture, but what we see now is its scale and consistency across the country. We are seeing steady growth, fuelled by stronger connectivity and Indians across all age groups and income segments planning pilgrimage-led trips. This growing demand is broadening traveller expectations and prompting the industry to innovate in ways that better serve the unique needs of the pilgrim traveller.”
Nearly 2 in 3 pilgrimage bookings made within a week of travel
The late booking trend is characteristic of Indian travellers, cutting across all segments of travel. Pilgrimage travel, much like leisure, continues to be booked very close to the date of travel, with more than 63 per cent of bookings made within six days of departure.
Pilgrimage travel characterised by short, purpose-led stays
Pilgrimage travel remains defined by short, purpose-driven stays. More than half of all travellers (53 per cent) opt for single-night visits, compared to 45 per cent in leisure travel. Two-night stays make up nearly one-third (31 per cent) of trips, while three-night stays account for just 11 per cent. Longer durations of four nights or more together contribute less than 5 per cent of bookings, in contrast to leisure travel, which shows a more even spread across multiple nights.
Group travel distinctly stronger in pilgrimage
Group bookings form a much larger share of pilgrimage travel, with 47 per cent of trips made in groups compared to 38.9 per cent in leisure destinations. This underlines the collective character of pilgrimage journeys, where families, friends, and community groups often travel together, further reinforcing pilgrimage as a deeply shared experience.
High-value bookings in pilgrimage cities outpace leisure destinations
While most pilgrimage accommodation bookings (71 per cent) are for rooms priced below Rs 4,500 per night, premiumisation is gaining clear momentum. In FY24-25, bookings for rooms in the Rs 7,000–10,000 range grew by 24 per cent, while those above Rs 10,000 grew by 23 per cent In parallel, alternate accommodation options such as homestays and apartments have also gained traction, contributing nearly 10 per cent of room night bookings in pilgrimage destinations.
Pilgrimage travel spurs wave of new hotels and homestays
Over the past three years, pilgrimage destinations have seen a sharp rise in accommodation supply. More than a third of all hotel rooms available today at these locations were launched during the past three years, with even faster growth in homestays, apartments, and hostels. The expansion of homestays reflects both new additions and existing properties coming online as hosts tap into rising demand. Premium supply has also scaled rapidly, 63 per cent of the premium accommodation available today were launched during the same period, reflecting how businesses are actively investing to capture the demand in premium segment.
Travellers increasingly combine pilgrimage with leisure experiences
In FY 2024-25, over half (52 per cent) of all holiday package bookings on the platform were made by travellers seeking pilgrimage-led destinations only. At the same time, nearly 48 per cent of bookings were from travellers who sought a combination of pilgrimage as well as leisure destinations within the same holiday package. Taken together, these trends point to a shift, with increasing number of travellers blending spiritual journeys and leisure pursuits to create a more wholesome experience.
*MakeMyTrip’s Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25 is based on accommodation bookings as well as Pilgrimage Holiday Packages sold on the platform in the FY24-25.
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