Pilgrimage travel is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments of India’s tourism industry, with accommodation bookings across 56 destinations rising by 19% in FY 2024-25, according to MakeMyTrip’s Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25 report.
The study highlights that spiritual journeys are no longer limited to traditional centres alone. While Varanasi, Ayodhya, Puri, Amritsar, and Tirupati continue to see strong demand, newer destinations such as Khatushyam Ji in Rajasthan, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, and Thiruchendur in Tamil Nadu are also witnessing double-digit growth. In fact, 34 destinations recorded double-digit growth, and 15 saw bookings rise by more than 25%, pointing to broad-based momentum.
Short, purpose-driven travel dominates
The report notes that more than half (53%) of all pilgrimage travellers opted for single-night visits, compared to 45% in leisure travel. Two-night stays accounted for 31%, while longer stays of four nights or more made up less than 5% of bookings. “Pilgrimage travel has always been part of our culture, but what we see now is its scale and consistency across the country,” said Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip.
Interestingly, nearly two in three pilgrimage bookings were made within six days of departure, underlining the last-minute booking behaviour typical of Indian travellers.
Premium stays and group travel on the rise
While budget rooms priced under Rs 4,500 accounted for the bulk of bookings, demand for premium accommodation is rising sharply. Bookings in the Rs 7,000–10,000 range grew by 24%, while those above Rs 10,000 were up 23%. At the same time, group travel has a stronger presence in pilgrimage, making up 47% of trips compared to 38.9% in leisure destinations.
The surge in demand has spurred a wave of new hotels, homestays, and apartments, with more than a third of accommodation supply in pilgrimage destinations added in the past three years. Premium supply has also grown rapidly, with 63% of available upscale rooms launched during this period.