Monsoon Travel: Shimla Sees 76% Rise In Bookings; Indians Are Also Visiting Hidden Fems Like Dobhi & Rajgundha

Monsoon is finally here, giving us much-needed relief from the summer heat. But with it comes traffic jams, waterlogged roads, and daily disruptions that can affect travel plans. Zostel recently shared data revealing how travellers are swapping city trips for mountain getaways. Read on to find out how people are planning their monsoon travel this year.

Where Are Travellers Taking Trips To In Monsoon?

Zostel’s latest data shows that more people are choosing the mountains this monsoon. Bookings at Zostel Homes in Shimla jumped by 76% compared to last June. Popular destinations like Srinagar, Tirthan Valley, and Gangtok saw almost 95% more visitors. We can say that mountain bookings across Zostel properties increased by 7-9%.

These plans were not made months ago. Interestingly, around 48% of mountain bookings were made just three days before the travel date. Most of the remaining travellers booked their trips only 7 to 10 days in advance. This shows that people are no longer planning their holidays months ahead. 

Also Read: What Is Anti-Itinerary Travel? Why More Travellers Are Ditching Planned Trips For This?

Which Lesser-Known Destinations Are Travellers Exploring?

For a mountain trip, everyone’s first choice has always been Shimla with 76% bookings. But this year, people are also exploring lesser-known places like Dobhi, Rajgundha, and Kareri. These places attracted visitors through social media buzz. Meanwhile, places like Srinagar, Tirthan Valley, and Gangtok are attracting visitors from cities such as Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The monsoon travel trend is not only ruled by metro cities. In June, travellers from non-metro areas made up 67% of the footfall at Zostel properties, compared to 65% last year. While Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, and Hyderabad remained the top cities to plan a trip, people from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are also planning mountain getaways.

This monsoon, where are you planning your trip to? Tell us in the comments below!

Also Read: What Is ‘Whycation’? The Travel Trend That’s Changing How We Plan Holidays In 2026

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