Spiritual tourism is on a remarkable rise in India, according to Agoda’s latest accommodation search data for the first quarter of 2025. The digital travel platform revealed a significant increase in both domestic and international interest in culturally rich and spiritually significant destinations. Leading this trend is Allahabad, which has made an impressive leap in popularity, moving from outside Agoda’s top 50 in early 2024 to rank #11 among domestic travelers and #15 among international visitors in the first three months of 2025. This surge is largely attributed to the return of the Mahakumbh Mela after 12 years, resulting in a staggering 233% year-on-year spike in domestic accommodation searches.
Other sacred cities also experienced upward momentum. Among domestic travelers, Ayodhya climbed 11 spots to #25, Rishikesh rose 9 spots to #19, Manali moved up to #21, and Vrindavan advanced 8 spots to #24. For inbound tourists, Varanasi secured the #6 spot with a 9-position jump, while Amritsar, Agra, and Coimbatore all moved up significantly in Agoda’s rankings.
Gaurav Malik, Country Director for India Subcontinent at Agoda, commented on the trend, saying, “This interest in India’s spiritual destinations indicates a growing shift in travel preferences, with more people seeking cultural connections and meaningful experiences. Agoda’s expanding inventory of value-driven accommodations positions us well to meet this demand.”
