Pilgrimage travel is fast emerging as a key growth driver in India’s tourism industry. According to MakeMyTrip’s Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25, accommodation bookings across 56 pilgrimage destinations grew by 19% in FY24-25, with several centres recording double-digit growth.
Leading destinations like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Puri, Amritsar, and Tirupati continue to draw visitors, while emerging spots such as Khatushyam Ji, Omkareshwar, and Thiruchendur are also gaining momentum, highlighting the expanding landscape of spiritual travel in the country.
Accommodation Trends and Premiumisation
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%.
Industry Insights
Speaking about the Pilgrimage Travel Trends 2024-25, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, “Pilgrimage Travel has always been part of our culture, but what we see now is its scale and consistency across the country. We are seeing steady growth, fuelled by stronger connectivity and Indians across all age groups and income segments planning pilgrimage-led trips. This growing demand is broadening traveller expectations and 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, much like leisure, continues to be booked very close to the date of travel, with more than 63% of bookings 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 together contribute less than 5% of bookings, in contrast to leisure travel, which shows a more even spread across multiple nights.
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 underlines the collective character of pilgrimage journeys, where families, friends, and community groups often travel together, further reinforcing pilgrimage as a deeply shared experience.
Pilgrimage Travel Spurs Wave of New Hotels and Homestays
Over the past three years, pilgrimage destinations have seen a sharp rise in accommodation supply, led by new hotels, homestays, and premium stays. Businesses are actively investing to meet the growing demand from pilgrims seeking both budget and upscale options.
Travellers Increasingly Combine Pilgrimage with Leisure Experiences
In FY 2024-25, over half (52%) of all holiday package bookings on MakeMyTrip were made by travellers seeking pilgrimage-led destinations only. At the same time, nearly 48% of bookings were from travellers who sought a combination of pilgrimage as well as leisure destinations within the same holiday package. Taken together, these trends point to a shift, with increasing number of travellers blending spiritual journeys and leisure pursuits to create a more wholesome experience.
