All roads lead to Maha Kumbh: Rs 40,000 for stay, 162% jump in flight bookings to Prayagraj

The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, one of the largest and most significant religious events in the world, is taking place from January 13 to February 26, 2025.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is celebrated in Prayagraj to mark the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles, occurring once every 144 years. This grand and sacred event is known for its highlight, the Shahi Snan, or holy dip.

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With an estimated 400 million devotees expected to attend, this 45-day festival is also expected to attract several tourists and culture enthusiasts eager to witness what is considered one of the largest religious congregations on the planet.

As a result, there has been an unprecedented surge in demand for flights and hotel bookings. Prayagraj, the sacred city hosting the event, has become a top destination for both Indian and international tourists attending the Maha Kumbh.

Massive growth in hotel, flight bookings

With travel demand expected to soar, airlines are ramping up efforts to launch flights to Prayagraj from various cities.

The Airports Authority of India has announced 20 new flight connections specifically for the Maha Kumbh. IndiGo has introduced flights from Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, while SpiceJet is offering connections from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.

The Prayagraj Airport is also improving its facilities. The existing terminal is undergoing upgrades, and a new terminal is being built to accommodate around 2,700 passengers during peak hours. Hotel prices are also on the rise, with room rates reaching as high as Rs 40,000 per night, CNBC TV18 said in a report.

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Notably, Prayagraj has seen a 162 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in flight bookings on Ixigo. Nearby airports in Varanasi and Lucknow have also experienced growth, with bookings up by 127 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively, according to Moneycontrol.

Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, stated that demand peaks during the opening and closing weeks of the event. “Searches for Prayagraj have surged by over 23 times YoY,” he said.

The state government has allocated a whopping Rs 5,496 crore for the event, a massive increase from 2019. Further, 4,000 hectares of land have been designated for the Maha Kumbh Mela, more than double the 1,900 hectares allocated for the Purna Kumbh in 2013.

Hotel rates near the Triveni Sangam, the central gathering area, range from ₹11,000 to ₹30,000 per night, according to Mint. For example, ISKON Prayagraj’s Guest House costs over ₹25,000 for a single night for two adults. More affordable options are available, with prices ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹7,800 per night.

Over 1,50,000 tents and 25,000 accommodations are being arranged for both domestic and international devotees. For the first time, a complete tent city will be available on Google Maps. The state is expecting that the Maha Kumbh Mela will generate around ₹25,000 crore in revenue, according to CNBC TV18.

Airfares to Prayagraj from cities including Jaipur, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Kochi, and Mumbai have surged nearly threefold compared to last year, Anuj Rathi, Chief Business and Growth Officer at Cleartrip, told Moneycontrol.

Key routes like Delhi-Prayagraj and Mumbai-Varanasi are seeing massive traffic, and connecting flights from tier 2 cities like Ahmedabad and Pune are also experiencing higher demand and increased fares, said Ramalingam S., President of Cox & Kings.

Not just flights – train bookings are soaring as well

IRCTC is launching a special ‘Bharat Gaurav train’ service from January 15 to February 23, featuring 14 coaches and able to accommodate around 750 passengers per trip. This service is part of the “Mahakumbh Gram IRCTC Tent City at Prayagraj” package.

Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO of Ixigo Trains and ConfirmTkt, told Moneycontrol, “Train bookings for Prayagraj have surged 187 per cent YoY. What’s interesting is that 57 per cent of the bookings are by solo travellers, 39 per cent of which are females. Group bookings stand at 43 per cent.”

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Travellers can also reach Prayagraj Junction from various stations in Delhi, including Anand Vihar and New Delhi.

Amid the rise in travel demand, Indian Railways has launched an extensive operation to manage the crowds during the Mela. Over the 50-day period, 10,000 regular trains and 3,000 special services will run. This includes about 700 long-distance Kumbh Mela Express trains and 1,800 short-distance trains (covering distances of 200-300 kilometres), ensuring smooth travel for pilgrims.

The “Ring Rail” service will also be available for pilgrims visiting sacred sites such as Chitrakoot, Banaras, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj, providing a circular route that starts and ends in Prayagraj.

Western Railway has introduced 98 special trains, while North Eastern Railway (NER) has unveiled 80 specially designed Mahakumbh-themed coaches to improve the pilgrimage experience, according to Moneycontrol.

IRCTC has also set up a temporary “tent city” in Prayagraj, providing accommodation for pilgrims. Medical booths and small hospitals are present at all major stations, with trained medical staff on hand around the clock to offer first aid and manage serious health concerns.

Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj: All you need to know

With preparations in place for “any situation,” over 50,000 police officers and more than a dozen drones are working “round the clock,” according to the Mela Authority.

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A senior police official told ThePrint, “More than 50,000 police officers, including traffic police, Jal Police, NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal), and BSF (Border Security Force), remain deployed.”

The Ministry of Tourism has partnered with key tourism entities like the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC), IRCTC, and ITDC to offer curated tour packages and luxury accommodation options.

According to officials, by 10:30 am on Tuesday, 13.8 million devotees had taken a holy dip at the Sangam during the first ‘Amrit Snan’ of Maha Kumbh 2025. On day one of the event, over 1.5 crore pilgrims had already bathed in the holy waters.

To ensure security in the area, National Security Guard (NSG) commandos have been deployed.

The grand event is expected to draw 450 million devotees, tourists, and pilgrims from around the globe.

Key ‘snaan’ dates to remember include January 14 (Makar Sankranti - First Shahi Snan), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya - Second Shahi Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami - Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

With inputs from agencies