When you think of a holiday, beaches, hill stations and fancy hotels may come to mind. But a new government survey shows that for Indians, travel often has a very different purpose. Pilgrimage and religious travel accounted for 47.7% of domestic overnight trips in the year ending June 2026, making it the most common reason Indians travelled overnight.
Indians Are Travelling For Faith!
The numbers come from the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey 2025-26, conducted by the National Statistics Office between July 2025 and June 2026. The survey covered more than 2.46 lakh households across 24,778 locations, offering a glimpse into how Indians are travelling within the country.
According to the survey, almost 48 out of every 100 domestic overnight trips were made for pilgrimage or religious purposes. This was followed by health and medical travel at 29.6% while holidaying, leisure and recreation accounted for 22.1%. Shopping made up just 0.6% of overnight trips.
According to NDTV, interestingly, religious travel was the most common purpose in both rural and urban India. It accounted for 48.4% of overnight trips in rural areas and 46.6% in urban areas. So, whether it’s a temple visit with family, a pilgrimage with a group or a spiritual getaway, religious travel appears to be a major part of domestic tourism across the country.
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan: Richest Indian Actors On Hurun 2026 List
India Travel: Holiday Wasn’t The Top Reason To Pack A Bag
Holidaying, leisure and recreation accounted for 22.1% of domestic overnight trips during the survey period. While this may seem surprising, the numbers highlight that domestic travel in India isn’t just about taking a break from work.
In fact, the survey found that Indians spent an average of ₹11,723 per overnight holiday trip, with transport making up around 30% of the expenditure.
When it comes to where Indians travelled, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest share of total visitor-trips at 15.7%, followed by Tamil Nadu at 13.4% and Rajasthan at 8%.
Also Read: Only 2 Indian Destinations Make It To Lonely Planet’s 2027 Travel List; What To Explore & Eat There?
So, while weekend getaways remain popular, the numbers show that temples and pilgrimage sites are a major reason Indians pack their bags and travel.
Cover Image Courtesy: Pexels
FAQs
What is the most common reason Indians take overnight trips?
According to the government’s Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey 2025–26, pilgrimage and religious travel was the most common purpose, accounting for 47.7% of domestic overnight trips.