ixigo, India’s leading online travel agency catering to the Next Billion Users, has announced a remarkable surge in travel bookings to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela (January 13 – February 26, 2025). Flight bookings saw a 5.4x year-over-year (YoY) increase, while nearby airports in Lucknow and Varanasi experienced a 69% YoY growth. Train bookings rose by 4x YoY, but the most significant increase was observed in bus bookings, which surged an astounding 20x YoY, reflecting a massive demand for the world’s largest spiritual gathering.
Gen Z and Solo Travelers Spark Surge in Travel
Data from ixigo’s bus platform, AbhiBus, revealed a notable increase in younger travelers, with those aged 20-25 making up 26% of total bus bookings. Gen Z travel saw an extraordinary 20-fold YoY increase during the Kumbh Mela, with 50% of bus passengers heading to Prayagraj being under 30 years old. Key origin cities contributing to the demand included New Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Meerut, Varanasi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ranchi, and Ayodhya.
A significant shift in travel patterns was also observed, with solo travelers dominating train bookings, accounting for 60% of total bookings, surpassing group travel for the first time.
Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO of ixigo, commented: “The Maha Kumbh Mela has spotlighted the rapid rise of spiritual tourism in India, with an unprecedented surge in participation from young travelers. Our data highlights how Gen Z and millennials are embracing cultural and religious journeys, turning experiential travel into the new norm. As faith-based tourism evolves, the future of travel will be shaped by seamless multimodal connectivity, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience for a new generation of spiritually inspired explorers.”
