Maha Kumbh 2025 commenced in Prayagraj on January 13. As per reports, more than 45 crore people are expected to attend this 45-day spiritual mela that will go on till February 26. Due to this once-every-12-years spiritual mela, there has been a massive tourism boost in Prayagraj as well. Scroll on to know more about this.
Massive Tourism Surge Noted In Prayagraj Due To Maha Kumbh Mela
According to data shared by ixigo, due to the Maha Kumbh Mela, there has been a 162% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase in flight bookings to Prayagraj. That’s not all, they have also witnessed 127% and 42% growth in nearby airports, Varanasi and Lucknow, respectively.
The surge in demand has also resulted in an increase in airfares as well. As per Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, ixigo, “One-way airfares from major metros to Prayagraj and surrounding airports are averaging between ₹7,000-10,000 if booked 30 days in advance. However, on certain routes like Bhopal-Prayagraj, fares are reaching up to ₹17,000 one way due to peak demand and limited flight availability.”
What’s also interesting is that airfares are higher before key ‘snan’ dates. For example, fares for January 27 from Mumbai are as high as ₹27,000 one-way for non-stop flights! Not just flights, but even train travel has seen an upswing during Maha Kumbh Mela. As per ixigo Trains & ConfirmTkt, train bookings to Prayagraj have observed a 187% Y-o-Y surge.
Top cities driving train bookings to Prayagraj for travel around January 13 – February 26, 2025, are as follows –
1. New Delhi – Prayagraj – 101%
2. Mumbai – Prayagraj – 51%
3. Bhiwani – Prayagraj – 800%
4. Kanpur – Prayagraj – 114%
5. Hyderabad – Prayagraj – 700%
6. Varanasi – Prayagraj – 187%
7. Old Delhi – Prayagraj – 643%
Solo Travellers Make For 57% Of The Total Bookings To Prayagraj
What’s interesting to note is that solo travellers make up 57% of the total train bookings to Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela. Out of this, 39% are driven by female solo travellers, while group bookings stand at 43%. According to Rohit Sharma, COO of AbhiBus, Maha Kumbh 2025 has sparked a record surge in bus bookings as well.
“On Day 1, bookings for Prayagraj saw a 220% increase compared to the city’s overall bus bookings during the festive season in October last year. What’s interesting to note is that travellers aged 20-25 now lead with 24%, surpassing those aged 46 and above (21%). Additionally, in the past 30 days, metro cities like Delhi (27%), Nagpur (18%), and Jaipur (15%) have been the top contributors to bookings for Prayagraj. This overwhelming enthusiasm reinforces our commitment to providing seamless and comfortable bus journeys,” he added.
Are you planning to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela soon? Let us know in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/MahaaKumbh & Canva (representative image)
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