Group travel, short stays and last-minute bookings define pilgrim traveler behaviour.
Gurugram, September 10, 2025: 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% in FY24-25. The pilgrimage travel trends show broad-based momentum. Out of 56 destinations, 34 recorded double-digit growth. Additionally, 15 destinations grew by over 25%. These trends underscore how spiritual journeys are becoming a powerful driver of travel demand.
The breadth of growth across pilgrimage destinations is evident in many centres. Examples include Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), and Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh). Others like Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab), and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) continue to grow as well. At the same time, places like Khatushyam Ji (Rajasthan) are also seeing increased activity. Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh) and Thiruchendur (Tamil Nadu) are experiencing strong momentum. This reflects the widening canvas of spiritual travel in the country.
Single-night trips are widely chosen
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 ₹7,000 grew by over 20%.
Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, spoke about Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25. He said, “Pilgrimage Travel has always been part of our culture. Now, we see its scale and consistency across the country. We are seeing steady growth. This growth is fueled by stronger connectivity. Indians across all age groups and income segments are planning pilgrimage-led trips. This growing demand is expanding traveller expectations. It is 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 is booked close to the travel date, much like leisure. More than 63% of bookings are made within six days of departure.
Pilgrimage Travel Characterized by Short, Purpose-Led Stays
Pilgrimage travel remains defined by short, purpose-driven stays. More than half of all travellers (53%) opt for single-night visits, compared to 45% in leisure travel. Two-night stays make up nearly one-third (31%) of trips, while three-night stays account for just 11%. Longer durations of four nights or more contribute less than 5% of bookings. This is in contrast to leisure travel, which shows a more even spread across multiple nights.
Also read: Top 10 Shiv Temples to Visit During Sawan: A Guide for Pilgrims
Group Travel Distinctly Stronger in Pilgrimage
Group bookings form a much larger share of pilgrimage travel, with 47% of trips made in groups compared to 38.9% in leisure destinations. This highlights the collective nature of pilgrimage journeys. Families, friends, and community groups often travel together. This further reinforces pilgrimage as a deeply shared experience.
High-Value Bookings in Pilgrimage Cities Outpace Leisure Destinations
Pilgrimage traveling in India’s sees a major boost in 2024-25
While most pilgrimage accommodation bookings (71%) are for rooms priced below ₹4,500 per night, premiumisation is gaining clear momentum. In FY24-25, bookings for rooms in the ₹7,000–10,000 range grew by 24%, while those above ₹10,000 grew by 23%. In parallel, alternate accommodation options such as homestays and apartments have also gained traction. These options contribute nearly 10% 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. There has been 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. Sixty-three percent of the premium accommodation available today were launched during the same period. This reflects how businesses are actively investing to capture the demand in the premium segment.
Travelers Increasingly Combine Pilgrimage with Leisure Experiences
In FY 2024-25, over half (52%) of all holiday package bookings on MakeMyTrip were made by travellers. These travellers sought pilgrimage-led destinations exclusively. These bookings highlight the popularity of pilgrimage trips. At the same time, nearly 48% of bookings were from travellers. These travellers sought a combination of pilgrimage and leisure destinations. They wanted both within the same holiday package. These trends point to a shift. An increasing number of travellers are blending spiritual journeys and leisure pursuits. This creates a more wholesome experience.
MakeMyTrip’s Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25 are derived from accommodation bookings. These trends also consider Pilgrimage Holiday Packages sold on the platform in the FY24-25.
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