India’s Pilgrimage Travel Sees 19% Growth Across 56 Destinations, Boosting Domestic Tourism In 2025

Published on September 11, 2025

India’s pilgrimage travel continues to thrive, pinch a important 19% summation successful accommodation bookings crossed 56 ineffable destinations successful nan 2024-2025 period, according to MakeMyTrip, 1 of nan country’s starring recreation platforms. As spirituality becomes an basal portion of home travel, this surge successful visit request has triggered a accelerated description of accommodation options successful cardinal belief hubs. With some short, purpose-driven stays and longer belief journeys connected nan rise, India’s belief tourism marketplace is witnessing a move shift, gathering nan needs of travelers from divers backgrounds and demographics.

Growing Popularity of Pilgrimage Tourism successful India

The surge successful pilgrimage tourism reflects nan strong, enduring relationship that millions of Indians support pinch their belief roots. Pilgrims are progressively visiting ineffable sites crossed nan country, from celebrated temples and shrines successful cities for illustration Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Tirupati, to lesser-known but culturally important locations specified arsenic Khatushyam Ji and Omkareshwar. These destinations are playing an basal domiciled successful shaping India’s tourism economy, not only by offering profound belief experiences but besides by fostering community-based tourism that encourages deeper taste knowing and section economical development.

According to information from MakeMyTrip, accommodation bookings astatine these destinations person grown steadily, indicating an expanding request for recreation packages and stays astatine visit sites. As galore Indian travelers proceed to activity meaning done their travels, visit has go 1 of nan astir influential sectors wrong India’s domestic tourism landscape.

Pilgrimage Travel Driving Expansion successful Accommodation Supply

In FY24-25, MakeMyTrip reported that accommodation bookings astatine 56 visit destinations successful India grew by 19%, pinch belief recreation contributing importantly to nan wide request for edifice rooms, impermanent houses, and homestays. This uptick has driven nan expansion of accommodation supply, pinch section and world hospitality providers adapting to meet nan increasing demand.

While budget accommodations stay nan astir celebrated prime for nan mostly of pilgrims, nan inclination toward premiumization is evident. A rising number of pilgrims are opting for mid-range to luxury rooms, pinch bookings for rooms priced betwixt Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 increasing by 24%, and those for rooms supra Rs 10,000 expanding by 23%. This displacement reflects a broader inclination successful Indian tourism, wherever travelers are progressively seeking comfort, higher standards, and value services alongside their belief pursuits.

The Widening Scope of Pilgrimage Travel

While well-known belief destinations for illustration Prayagraj, Amritsar, Puri, and Varanasi stay apical draws for pilgrims, different sites are besides witnessing important maturation successful visitors. The fame of Khatushyam Ji, Omkareshwar, and Thiruchendur has surged successful caller years, highlighting a broadening liking successful lesser-explored visit destinations crossed India. This inclination is reflective of nan expanding diverseness wrong nan pilgrimage tourism market, which is moving beyond accepted hotspots and tapping into caller regions that connection unsocial belief experiences.

The maturation successful regional visit tourism has not only accrued recreation wrong India but has besides contributed to a much inclusive and equitable tourism model. More pilgrims are now seeking experiences that connection deeper taste insights and a richer relationship pinch section traditions, opening up caller opportunities for smaller, location businesses and work providers.

Emerging Trends successful Pilgrimage Travel

One notable emerging inclination is nan increasing request for alternative accommodation options, specified arsenic homestays, apartments, and guest houses. These types of accommodations are providing a much personalized experience, pinch nearly 10% of room bookings successful pilgrimage destinations now attributed to these replacement forms of lodging. The entreaty of staying successful a homestay aliases flat lies successful nan desire for a much authentic experience, often providing a person relationship to nan organization and section culture.

Alongside this, tour packages that harvester visits to aggregate belief destinations are gaining popularity. Many travelers now for illustration organized travel, which includes transportation, accommodation, and guided tours, helping them negociate logistics while they attraction connected their belief journey.

The Role of Spiritual Journeys successful Promoting Domestic Tourism

Pilgrimage travel has emerged arsenic a awesome pillar of India’s home tourism industry. As much Indians prioritize spirituality and taste experiences successful their recreation plans, visit destinations are benefiting from accrued ft traffic. The expansion of proscription networks, including amended roadworthy connectivity, obstruction services, and airlines offering nonstop flights to celebrated visit hubs, has made it easier for visitors to entree these destinations.

The MakeMyTrip study emphasizes that pilgrimage tourism is driving a caller shape of maturation successful India’s travel sector. With a attraction connected spiritual well-being, these trips not only enrich nan lives of travelers but besides lend importantly to section economies by creating jobs and generating business for hospitality providers, artisans, and circuit operators.

Challenges and Opportunities successful Pilgrimage Tourism

While nan maturation of visit tourism is promising, challenges remain. The improvement of tourism infrastructure astatine immoderate lesser-known sites continues to lag, perchance hindering nan maturation of location visit tourism. There is besides nan request for sustainability measures to sphere nan biology and taste integrity of these ineffable spaces. Over-commercialization and mismanagement tin detract from nan belief experience, and sustainable tourism practices must beryllium prioritized to guarantee that some pilgrims and nan destinations use successful nan agelong term.

However, nan opportunities are vast. Local governments, travel agencies, and hospitality businesses are progressively recognizing nan imaginable of pilgrimage tourism and nan request to create a much holistic recreation experience. This includes improving facilities, offering culturally authentic products, and enhancing customer service to meet nan increasing request for value belief recreation experiences.

The Future of Pilgrimage Travel successful India

Looking ahead, nan early of pilgrimage tourism successful India appears to beryllium bright. As much group activity retired meaningful recreation experiences that blend spirituality pinch exploration, nan request for high-quality services and tourism offerings will proceed to rise. The manufacture is expected to evolve, pinch premium travel options, alternative accommodation, and multi-destination packages gaining greater prominence.

Moreover, India’s rich | belief heritage will proceed to beryllium a cardinal driver of home travel, and nan assemblage will lend to nan nation’s economical maturation by fostering inclusive tourism and supporting local economies.

In conclusion, pilgrimage travel is an basal and expanding portion of India’s tourism industry, driving economical maturation and taste speech while allowing travelers to embark connected profoundly transformative journeys. With continued development, nan assemblage holds nan imaginable to further fortify India’s position arsenic a world leader successful belief and practice tourism.