The Rush is Already Here
If you're waiting until October to book your travel for Diwali, which falls on November 8th this year, you might already be too late for a good deal. Travel platforms and airlines are reporting a significant surge in bookings much earlier than usual.
For the 2026 festive season, search volumes for travel have jumped by 40-45% month-on-month, indicating that travellers are planning further in advance. Hotel bookings are pacing 10-15% ahead of last year for the same period. This isn't just a feeling; it's a clear trend. The window for affordable festive travel is shrinking, and it's closing fast.
Why Is Everyone Booking So Early?
Several factors are fuelling this early rush. Firstly, there's a growing trend of 'intentional travel' where people are planning holidays around specific cultural events like Durga Puja, Dussehra, and Diwali. For many, these festivals are no longer just a holiday but a primary reason to travel, prompting them to lock in plans months ahead. Secondly, travellers are becoming more strategic to avoid the notorious last-minute price surges. Airlines use dynamic pricing, which means fares climb steeply as demand rises and cheaper seats sell out. With domestic airline capacity reportedly down by 5.6% in September compared to last year, fewer seats are available to meet the festive demand, adding more pressure on prices.
The Golden Booking Window
So, when is the right time to book? For train travel, the answer is simple: as soon as bookings open. Indian Railways generally allows reservations up to 60 days in advance, and for the busy Diwali period, bookings opened as early as September 6th. These tickets, especially on popular routes like Delhi-Patna or Mumbai-Varanasi, get snapped up within hours. For flights, the optimal window is typically between 60 to 90 days before your travel date, which for Diwali 2026 was August and September. By October, experts predict prices could increase by 30-40%, and in the final two weeks before the festival, fares on key routes can double or even triple, with some hitting as high as ₹18,000 to ₹20,000 for a one-way ticket.
Beyond Just Tickets: Hotels and More
The early booking trend extends beyond transport. Hotels in popular festive destinations like Jaipur, Varanasi, Udaipur, and Kolkata are also seeing a sharp increase in demand. Room rates at sought-after leisure hotels are already tracking 8-10% higher than last year, with steeper hikes expected on peak dates. Accommodations with unique views or cultural significance, such as hotels overlooking the ghats in Varanasi, are often the first to sell out, sometimes months in advance. If your festive plans include a hotel stay, booking it at the same time as your travel is a wise move to secure both availability and a better price.
Strategies for Late Planners
If you've missed the early booking wave, don't despair. While the best prices may be gone, there are still ways to manage costs. Be flexible with your travel dates; flying a day or two before or after the peak rush can make a significant difference. Mid-week departures are often cheaper than weekend ones. Consider flying on the day of Diwali itself, as most travellers prefer to arrive beforehand. You can also look at alternative airports or consider bus services, which offer more flexibility. Setting up fare alerts on travel websites can notify you of any price drops, but at this stage, it's generally better to book what you can find rather than wait for a deal that may never come.
