With Maha Shivratri just around the corner, the world’s largest religious gathering, the Maha kumbh, is drawing to a close. Despite its impending conclusion, the enthusiasm remains unparalleled. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, approximately 60 crore devotees have already taken a holy dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam, with the number expected to exceed 65 crore by the final ‘amrit snan’ on February 26.
Sky-high travel costs
While the spiritual experience remains priceless, the pilgrimage has come at a steep financial cost for many. Devotees travelling to Prayagraj have faced soaring expenses, with flight fares, hotel tariffs, and local transport costs skyrocketing up to 300% compared to usual rates. A study by Local Circles reveals that 87% of airline passengers surveyed paid between 50% to 300% more than the regular fare, while 67% faced similar hikes for accommodations and local transport, including boat rides.
A one-way flight from Mumbai to Prayagraj on February 25 costs anywhere between Rs 21,500 and Rs 42,954. Similarly, flights from Delhi to Prayagraj range between Rs 13,199 and Rs 44,697 on February 25.
Railways operating beyond capacity
To accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims, the Ministry of Railways initially scheduled 13,500 trains, including both regular and special services. However, due to rising demand, over 14,000 trains have been deployed. Since the beginning of Maha Kumbh 2025, around 13,667 trains have transported devotees to Prayagraj. Among them, 92% belonged to Mail, Express, Superfast, Passenger, and MEMU categories, while premium services included 472 Rajdhani and 282 Vande Bharat trains.
The sale of unreserved tickets has also surged dramatically. Reports indicate a steep rise in ticket sales, with figures reaching 3,429 tickets in a single hour between 8 PM and 9 PM during the weekend. The unprecedented demand has led to overcrowding in trains and stations across the country.
Local transport prices hit devotees hard
Beyond air and rail travel, local transportation costs have also seen an exponential rise. Boats, auto-rickshaws, and taxis ferrying pilgrims to and from the holy sites have significantly increased their charges. According to the Local Circles survey, 18% of respondents reported paying up to 300% more for these services on crucial snan dates.
