Religious tourism emerges as new travel trend in India with Ayodhya, Varanasi and Tirupati as hotspots

Pilgrimage Tourism on the Rise in India

Pilgrimage travel is emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing travel segments, with destinations like Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Tirupati leading the surge. According to MakeMyTrip’s Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25, accommodation bookings across 56 pilgrimage cities grew by 19% in FY24-25, with 15 destinations seeing over 25% growth.

The report highlights that Indian travellers are increasingly opting for short, purpose-driven trips, with more than half of pilgrims choosing single-night stays. Group travel remains a key feature, with 47% of trips booked for families, friends, or community groups. Late bookings are also common, as over 63% of pilgrims make reservations within a week of travel.

Premiumisation is gaining momentum, with bookings for rooms above Rs 7,000 per night growing by over 20%. In parallel, homestays and alternate accommodations now account for nearly 10% of bookings.

Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, said, “Pilgrimage travel has always been part of our culture, but now we are seeing its scale and consistency across India, prompting the industry to innovate for pilgrim travellers.”

With stronger connectivity and growing interest across age and income groups, religious tourism is poised to become a major driver of India’s travel industry, with cities like Prayagraj, Puri, Amritsar, Khatushyam Ji, Omkareshwar, and Thiruchendur also witnessing strong growth.