Digital travel platform Agoda’s latest accommodation search trends highlight a continued rise in spiritual tourism across India. In the first three months of 2025, both domestic and inbound travellers have shown a growing interest in destinations rooted in cultural and spiritual significance.
Allahabad has emerged as a prominent success story among both domestic and inbound travellers. Early 2024, the city did not feature in Agoda’s top 50 accommodation search rank. However, this year, it has climbed to #11 for domestic searches and #15 among inbound travellers in January, February, and March. This rise aligns with the return of the Mahakumbh Mela after 12 years. During this period, Agoda recorded a 233% year-on-year increase in domestic accommodation searches for the primary host city, Allahabad.
Other domestic destinations that experienced a rise in rankings include Ayodhya (#25, up 11 spots), Rishikesh (#19, up 9 spots), Manali (#21, up 9 spots), and Vrindavan (#24, up 8 spots). Among inbound travellers, Varanasi (#6, up 9 spots), Amritsar (#14, up 8 spots), Agra (#12, up 7 spots), and Coimbatore (#22, up 7 spots) saw a noticeable uptick.
Talking about this rising trend, Gaurav Malik, Country Director India Subcontinent at Agoda, said “This interest in India’s spiritual destinations indicates a growing trend in how people travel, with more travellers looking for cultural connection and personal meaning. Thanks to the great value deals and ever-expanding offerings of holiday accommodations on Agoda, we are well-positioned to cater to the evolving needs of travellers.”
In the wake of the Mahakumbh Mela, the upcoming Chardham and Amarnath Yatras are future spiritual events for travelers to look forward to.
