New Delhi: India’s travel calendar is being shaped by two clear patterns: monsoon escapes and winter pilgrimages. As booking volumes rise, travellers are
choosing short leisure breaks during the rainy season and spiritual journeys toward the year’s end. Fresh data from Via.com, part of Ebix Travels, records 14 per cent year-on-year growth at the start of the current fiscal year, signalling steady demand across domestic and international routes.
Hill stations, river towns and cultural centres see strong traction in July, while cities known for spiritual heritage draw visitors between October and January. Industry executives say this shift highlights evolving travel behaviour, supported by regional markets and stronger digital access. Smaller cities are playing a larger role in driving bookings, as local agents adopt technology platforms to widen their reach. Together, leisure travel and faith-led tourism are sustaining momentum across seasons and redefining how India moves within and beyond its borders.
Travel trends in India
Rise of monsoon getaways
According to Via.com’s historical booking data, July consistently ranks among the busiest months for travel bookings on the platform.
Unlike traditional summer holidays earlier in the year, July travel is driven by short international breaks, monsoon leisure trips and wellness retreats. Hill stations, river towns and cultural destinations become particularly attractive during this period, offering cooler weather and lush landscapes.
Destinations such as Kangra, Rishikesh and Mysore continue to attract travellers seeking a mix of adventure, culture and spiritual experiences during the monsoon season.
Trend shifts to pilgrimage travel during winter
Travel demand shifts noticeably towards the end of the year. As the calendar moves into the October to January period, bookings increasingly gravitate towards spiritual and heritage centres.
Cities such as Varanasi, Haridwar and Agra witness a surge in visitors as spiritual tourism gathers pace. January, in particular, records strong demand as holiday travel extends into the new year and coincides with the beginning of peak pilgrimage activity.
Regional travellers drive next wave
Another trend shaping the sector is the growing influence of travellers from smaller cities and regional markets.
To tap into this demand, Via.com has been expanding its Business Associate Centre (BAC) network, which connects local travel agents to its digital booking platform. The network currently operates 20 centres across India and is expected to double to 40 by the end of 2026, with new centres planned in Jaipur, Patna, Guwahati and Srinagar.
Agents using the platform have reported a 25 to 30 per cent increase in booking capacity, reflecting how digital tools are enabling local travel businesses to expand their reach.
Digital and regional networks support growth
Commenting on the trend, Ankur Sharma, Chief Business Officer at Via.com (Ebix Travels), said the company’s growth reflects the strength of its hybrid travel ecosystem.
“Our growth trajectory is anchored in our phygital strategy, which integrates a robust digital platform with an expanding regional network. As we scale our agent and BAC ecosystem, we are seeing measurable productivity gains and deeper penetration across key leisure and spiritual travel hubs. Our focus is on building a scalable, data-driven platform that delivers consistent value to partners and customers.”
The company’s international presence in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates is also contributing to an increase in short-haul international trips and transit travel, helping diversify demand beyond domestic seasonal cycles.
According to Vikas Garg, Chairman of Ebix Group, the diversity of travel motivations is helping sustain growth throughout the year.
“Our diversified model spanning leisure, spiritual tourism and international transit allows us to balance seasonality while sustaining steady expansion. We remain confident of maintaining strong growth momentum through the year.”
As travel continues to rebound and diversify, India’s tourism scenario is being shaped by scenic escapes and spiritual journeys, two forces that are increasingly defining how the country travels.
