After the Maha Kumbh, Holi, Eid long weekends keep India’s travel boom going
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Want to celebrate Holi in Varanasi or spend Eid unwinding in the Maldives? Be ready to pay up. With Holi falling on 14 March (Friday) and Eid expected on 31 March (Monday), travellers are seizing the back-to-back long weekends, sending hotel rates soaring.
Luxury stays are commanding record prices. In Agra, Oberoi Amarvilas near the Taj Mahal is charging ₹1 lakh per night, while in Varanasi, Taj Nadesar Palace costs ₹1.35 lakh, excluding taxes. Other top-tier stays are also seeing steep markups.
In Varanasi, Brijrama Palace—By The Ganges is priced upwards of ₹77,000 a night, while a Holi weekend stay at Goa’s Taj Exotica costs ₹37,000 per night, dipping slightly to ₹35,000 for Eid. Meanwhile, Westin Rishikesh has crossed ₹37,000 per night. At the high end, wealthy Indian travellers are opting for quick getaways to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Seychelles, Bali, Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand.
Some high net-worth travellers are booking luxury holiday packages to nearby international destinations, with many high-end options already sold out, said Radhika Khanijo, founder of Delhi-based Welgrow Travels, which caters to premium travelers. Another travel agency, STIC Travel Group, has seen early demand for these long weekends. A lot of travellers booked their packages a month in advance, with Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other locations already sold out, said Subhash Goyal, chairperson of STIC Travel Group.
The holiday-driven surge follows the 600-million-strong pilgrimage rush to Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh in January and February. Now, demand is spilling over into Holi hotspots like Mathura and Vrindavan, beach destinations like Goa, and international retreats in Southeast Asia. Read this | Maha Kumbh
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