ixigo reveals a massive surge in travel bookings to Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela (January 13 – February 26, 2025). Flight bookings witnessed 5.4x YoY demand, with nearby airports in Lucknow and Varanasi seeing 69% YoY growth. Train bookings surged 4x YoY, while bus bookings observed the highest increase at 20x YoY, indicating strong demand for this spiritual event.

Insights on Young Travelers
Booking data from ixigo’s bus segment, AbhiBus, reveals a 26% increase in young travelers aged 20-25 making bus bookings. Gen Z travelers saw a twentyfold rise in bus travel during the Kumbh Mela, with half of all bus passengers under 30.

Aloke Bajpai emphasized: “The Maha Kumbh Mela has spotlighted the rapid rise of spiritual tourism in India, with increasing participation from young travelers. Our data shows that Gen Z and millennials are drawn to cultural journeys, transforming experiential travel into a new standard.”

Booking Data from ixigo for Maha Kumbh 2025

ixigo Flights

• Flight bookings to Prayagraj surged 5.4x YoY
• Nearby airports have seen a 69% YoY growth
• Top origin cities: Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad.

ixigo Trains & ConfirmTkt

• Train bookings surged 4x YoY
• Solo travelers accounted for 60% of train bookings.

AbhiBus

• Bus bookings surged 20x YoY
• Young travelers aged 20-25 accounted for 26% of bus bookings.

AIRFARES During and Post Maha Kumbh Mela

Origin City	Destination City	Average fare (Feb 1 – 6, 2025)	Average fare (Feb 27 – Mar 4, 2025)	% Decrease in Air Fares
New Delhi	Prayagraj	15763	4360	⇩ 72%
Mumbai	Prayagraj	18343	6037	⇩ 67%