Festival Travel Costs
With the festive period of Holi 2026 fast approaching, individuals looking to travel home are encountering a steep increase in airfares. The demand for
flights has surged as train and bus options face extensive waiting lists and fill up rapidly. This heightened demand has led to a near doubling of ticket prices on many popular domestic flight paths, making the journey home significantly more expensive for many. Travelers are advised to note the substantial price discrepancies that exist between dates immediately preceding the festival and those occurring a few days afterward, as waiting can offer considerable savings.
Delhi to Patna Peaks
For travelers intending to fly from the nation's capital, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, to Patna's Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport for Holi 2026, the financial implications are substantial. During the peak travel period just before the festival, specifically around February 26th, one-way tickets were priced upwards of ₹9,000. As Holi's eve approaches, bookings for February 28th could cost over ₹12,500 on carriers like IndiGo. Even for March 1st, fares remained high, hovering around ₹10,000. However, a noticeable price drop is observed on Holi itself, with tickets available for approximately ₹5,500, and by March 10th, fares stabilize further to around ₹4,500. Similar patterns of pre-festival price escalation were seen with Air India, where rates reached as high as ₹12,000 before the holiday rush.
Mumbai Varanasi Surge
The flight route connecting Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is experiencing even more pronounced fare increases for Holi 2026. Those looking to depart on February 28th might find themselves paying over ₹13,000 for a one-way IndiGo ticket. This represents a significant jump in cost. For those flexible with their travel dates, the financial benefit of waiting is considerable. By March 10th, the exact same economy class seat on the same route could be secured for nearly half the price, around ₹7,000. This substantial difference underscores the impact of festival demand on air travel pricing, presenting an opportunity for cost-conscious travelers to plan their journeys strategically.
Last Minute Fares
As the Holi 2026 festivities draw even closer, specifically around March 3rd, the demand for flights remains exceptionally high, keeping prices elevated. For instance, flights from Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad to Patna were priced close to ₹7,000 on this date. Similarly, travelers looking to fly from Mumbai to Patna faced fares around the ₹10,000 mark. The Mumbai to Varanasi route also maintained elevated prices, exceeding ₹8,000 on March 3rd. These figures illustrate that even for journeys originating from different hubs or heading to alternative destinations, the pre-Holi travel window continues to command premium pricing, reflecting the persistent rush to reach destinations before the main celebration.
