Relief for pilgrims after Maha Kumbh airfares drop by 50%, average ticket price down to Rs 10,000

Unprecedented demand as millions head to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh sent airfares rocketing. (file photo)

Flight tickets to Prayagraj have finally begun to get cheaper after Maha Kumbh triggered unprecedented demand sent them rocketing, forcing the government to step in after the issue was raised in Parliament.

In a relief for devotees heading to the world’s largest religious gathering, airfares have fallen almost 50 percent since February 1, EaseMyTrip CEO and co-founder Rikant Pittie said.

A one-way Delhi-Prayagraj ticket, which surged to Rs 39,000, is now available for Rs 10,000 on average because of the newly introduced measures and more flights.

“Airlines such as IndiGo have ramped up their operations, scheduling nearly 900 flights for the Maha Kumbh period and reallocating capacity from other routes to meet demand,” Pittie said. While exact prices remain subject to availability, the drop in fare ensures that pilgrims and travellers have more affordable options to reach Prayagraj, he said.

Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi account for the highest air traffic to Prayagraj. When booked 15 days in advance, the average one-way fare comes to about Rs 16,729, Rs 12,751, and Rs 12,616 for Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, respectively. If booked seven days before travel, the fares come to Rs 22,319, Rs 19,659, and Rs 13,569.

Spot fare for Prayagraj from Bengaluru is Rs 19,334, Mumbai Rs 15,490 and Delhi Rs 4,121.

Also Read : Mahakumbh Traffic Jam: Heavy traffic restrictions in Prayagraj lead to food and fuel shortage

The fare reduction, announced by civil aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, came after the government held meetings with aviation companies to address the spike in ticket prices.

Moneycontrol reported that airfares to Prayagraj, where millions of people are converging for a holy dip, remained around 98-210 percent higher in the first week of February compared to the same period last year.

“To accommodate the surge in demand, additional flights have been introduced, bringing the total number of available flights to 132. This move has significantly lowered ticket prices, making travel more affordable for pilgrims and visitors,” Pittie said.

Data from travel platform Ixigo last week showed that while the average spot fares for flights from Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai to Prayagraj had fallen to Rs 13,000-25,000 for last-minute travel on February 3, 2025, from Rs 17,000-33,000, seen around January 28, 2025, ticket prices were still high, compared to the same period last year.

Maha Kumbh, which began in Prayagraj on January 13, will end on February 26. Hindus believe that taking a dip during the Maha Kumbh, held after 12 years, at the confluence of three sacred rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, which is believed to flow underground,  absolves people of sins and brings salvation from the cycle of birth and death.

Pittie said among the top source markets, Uttar Pradesh leads the way as the host state, with devotees coming in from cities such as Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra.

Madhya Pradesh is a close second, with millions of people from Bhopal, Indore, and Jabalpur making their way to Prayagraj. “Similarly, Bihar sees a high volume of travellers from Patna, Gaya, and Muzaffarpur, where religious devotion plays a central role in many households,” he said.

Other significant contributors include Rajasthan, with devotees from Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur visiting Prayagraj for religious ceremonies, and Haryana, where Gurugram and Faridabad serve as major hubs for spiritual travel.

Also Read : Divine Deals: Influencers cash in on Maha Kumbh 2025, charge lakhs for a single post

Beyond the north, Maharashtra has emerged as a strong source market, with Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur being key contributors. Karnataka, with growing interest from Bengaluru and Mysuru, reflects the increasing trend of inter-state religious tourism, Pittie added.

During the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha on February 10, Congress’ Pramod Tiwari said the airfare from New Delhi to London was only Rs 23,000 while one-way fare from Chennai to Prayagraj was Rs 53,000. A ticket to Prayagraj from Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi was Rs 47,500 from Bengaluru Rs 51,000. A round trip from Kolkata would cost Rs 25,000.

Prayagraj is more important than London, which is why more people are going there, Naidu said in response.

“This (Maha Kumbh) is a very special event for not just for Indians or Hindus, but all over the world crores of people are trying to come to one location. That is why the demand,” the minister said.

Also Read : More of GenZ flocking to Maha Kumbh; youth driving spiritual travel: Ixigo's Aloke Bajpai

He also said the 6,700 square metres of terminal capacity at Prayagraj airport expanded to 18,000 sq mts and the connectivity increased to 15 destinations from eight. Daily connections too had more trebled from 18 to 46.