Religious tourism takes center stage in India; Ayodhya, Ujjain, Badrinath among top searched destinations

As the date for consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya comes closer, travel portals in India are seeing a jump in searches and bookings not just for Ayodhya but across religious places. In one such striking revelation, MakeMyTrip Insights unveils a remarkable 97% surge in searches for spiritual destinations on its platform over the last two years (CY 23 Vs CY 21). Among the celestial hotspots, Ayodhya emerges as the reigning star, experiencing an astonishing 585% growth in searches. However, Ayodhya is not the only destination that people have on their minds; it's part of a broader surge in pilgrimage interest. The top 10 destinations witnessing substantial growth in searches include Ujjain (359%), Badrinath (343%), Amarnath (329%), Kedarnath (322%), Mathura (223%), Dwarkadhish (193%), Shirdi (181%), Haridwar (117%), and Bodh Gaya (114%). The inauguration announcement acted as a catalyst for Ayodhya's soaring popularity, with on-platform searches skyrocketing by an astronomical 1806% since the Ram Temple inauguration announcement. The crescendo reached its peak on December 30th, coinciding with the day of the airport's inauguration. The platform data also suggests that Ayodhya's allure extends globally. International searches for Ayodhya showcase a diverse audience, with the USA leading at 22.5%, closely followed by the Gulf region at 22.2%. Canada, Nepal, and Australia contribute significantly at 9.3%, 6.6%, and 6.1%, respectively. This surge in spiritual tourism not only signifies a growing interest in India's sacred sites but also underscores Ayodhya's newfound prominence on the global spiritual map.