ixigo Sees Explosive Growth in Travel Bookings to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, with Flight Bookings Up 5.4x and Bus Travel Soaring 20x

Published on March 13, 2025

ixigo, India’s top online travel agency catering to the Next Billion Users, has revealed a remarkable surge in travel bookings to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela (January 13 – February 26, 2025). Flight bookings soared with a 5.4x year-over-year (YoY) increase, while nearby airports in Lucknow and Varanasi saw a 69% YoY growth. Train bookings experienced a 4x YoY rise, but the most significant increase was seen in bus bookings, which surged 20x YoY, reflecting an overwhelming demand for the world’s largest spiritual event.

Gen Z and Solo Travelers Spark Historic Surge in Travel to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh 2025

Data from ixigo’s bus platform, AbhiBus, reveals a notable spike in younger travelers, with those aged 20-25 accounting for 26% of total bus bookings. Gen Z bus travel saw an extraordinary 20-fold YoY increase during the Kumbh Mela, with 50% of bus passengers heading to Prayagraj being under 30. Key origin cities contributing to the increased demand included New Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Meerut, Varanasi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ranchi, and Ayodhya. A major shift in travel patterns was also observed, with solo travelers dominating train bookings, making up 60% of total bookings, surpassing group travel for the first time.

Speaking on this, Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, ixigo, said “The Maha Kumbh Mela has spotlighted the rapid
rise of spiritual tourism in India, with a remarkable surge in participation from young travelers. Our data
shows that Gen Z and millennials are increasingly embracing cultural and religious journeys, making
experiential travel the new norm. As faith-based tourism evolves, the future of travel will be driven by
seamless multimodal connectivity – ensuring greater accessibility and convenience for a new generation
of spiritually inspired explorers.”

ixigo Group’s Maha Kumbh 2025 Booking Insights and Trends

ixigo Flights

• Flight bookings to Prayagraj saw a dramatic 5.4x YoY increase
• Nearby airports in Lucknow and Varanasi experienced a 69% YoY growth
• Leading origin cities: Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa, and Bhubaneswar

ixigo Trains & ConfirmTkt

• Train bookings to Prayagraj surged 4x YoY
• Solo travelers now represent 60% of all train bookings, surpassing group travel
• Key origin cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Meerut, Varanasi, and Lucknow

AbhiBus

• Bus bookings to Prayagraj skyrocketed 20x YoY
• Travelers aged 20-25 made up 26% of total bus bookings
• Major origin cities: New Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Ranchi, and Ayodhya
• Gen Z bus travelers saw a 20-fold increase compared to last year
• 50% of bus passengers traveling to Prayagraj were under 30 years old
• The highest-ever bus seat price was recorded in February 2025 for the Vijayawada-Varanasi route, sold at INR 14,860