Faith: The Main Driving Force of Overnight Trips

For millions of Indians, travel does not always begin with a bucket list. Sometimes, it begins with a prayer. Afterall, faith can move mountains! A new government survey has put numbers to something that has long been visible on India’s roads, railway platforms and temple towns. Nearly 48% of domestic overnight trips undertaken by Indians are for pilgrimage and religious purposes, making faith the biggest driver of such travel.

These latest findings come from the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) between July 2025 and June 2026. The survey covered more than 2.46 lakh households across rural and urban India, looking at not just why Indians travel, but also how they travel, where they stay and what they spend. (See Box)

The numbers reveal a travel story that goes beyond tourism. They point towards the role of faith, family and tradition in determining where Indians go.

There is also a generational shift taking place. For younger Indians, religious travel can increasingly overlap with cultural exploration. A visit to Varanasi, Ayodhya or a historic temple town may involve photography, local food, heritage walks and discovering the stories behind the architecture.

Technology has become part of this journey too. Travellers can research destinations, check timings, book hotels and transport, navigate unfamiliar places and share their experiences online often before they even leave home. This has created a new kind of pilgrimage traveller: one who may be travelling for faith but is also curious about history, culture and the destination itself.

Unlike a conventional holiday, a pilgrimage often comes with a purpose attached to it. It could be fulfilling a long-standing wish, accompanying ageing parents, introducing children to a family tradition or visiting a sacred place during an important festival. “For us, a pilgrimage is not just a religious visit. It is something the whole family looks forward to,” says Komal Karande (38), a homemaker and traveller. “We usually plan it around festivals or important occasions, and it becomes a chance to spend time together.”

That emotional component is perhaps what sets faith travel apart from other forms of domestic tourism. The destination is important, but so is the meaning attached to reaching it. The MoSPI survey also found that health and medical travel were another major reason for travel, while leisure, recreation and holidays also formed a significant share, particularly among urban travellers.

India’s religious travel map is vast and diverse. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 15.7% of domestic overnight visitor-trips, followed by Tamil Nadu at 13.4% and Rajasthan at 8%. Beyond these leading states, destinations across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Kerala also form an important part of India’s pilgrimage and spiritual tourism landscape.

Uttar Pradesh has Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura and Prayagraj, while Tamil Nadu has a dense network of historic temples and pilgrimage centres. Rajasthan, meanwhile, combines religious destinations with its strong heritage tourism appeal.

For travellers, these journeys increasingly extend beyond the place of worship. A temple visit can become a chance to explore local architecture, food, markets, history and traditions. “Earlier, I thought of pilgrimage as something my parents or grandparents did,” says Keerti T (29), a young traveller. “But travelling with friends made me realise there is so much more to these places: the architecture, food, history and local culture.”

The growing scale of religious travel is also creating opportunities for the travel industry. Tour operators are increasingly offering packages that combine transportation, accommodation, sightseeing and pilgrimage visits. For families travelling with senior citizens, convenience can be as important as cost.

“Religious tourism has always been a strong segment for us, but travellers are becoming more particular about convenience,” says Manraj Sharma (44), a Mumbai-based tour operator. “They want comfortable transport, good accommodation and well-planned darshan, especially when travelling with senior citizens.” Better connectivity has further changed how people plan these journeys.

Religious travel does not necessarily mean a long holiday. Short pilgrimage circuits are particularly relevant to working families. According to the survey, 80% of overnight visitors stayed for five days or less. The average overnight trip involved around two visitors.

Transport patterns also reveal the different ways Indians undertake these trips. Buses were the leading mode among rural visitors, while trains were particularly important for urban travellers.

Accommodation too, varies depending on the traveller and destination. Hotels and guesthouses remain important, while religious and community-based accommodation also plays a role, particularly in pilgrimage centres.

For an older generation of travellers, however, the growth of pilgrimage tourism also brings a practical question: how comfortable is the journey? “When we travel for pilgrimage, comfort matters,” says Sujata Gaikwad, a senior citizen traveller. “We may not need luxury, but we need clean accommodation, easy transport and places where senior citizens can rest.”

Accessible transport, clean public facilities, adequate accommodation, crowd management and reliable information can make a significant difference to the pilgrimage experience.

The latest 48% figure is ultimately more than a tourism statistic. For some, it is a religious obligation. For others, it is a family tradition. For many, it is a way of reconnecting with a place.

Prabhjot Singh, a travel industry professional says, “Religious travel is different. People are often travelling towards something that has personal or meaning for them.”

As India’s domestic tourism industry expands, the country’s travel map will continue to be shaped not only by beaches, mountains and weekend destinations, but also by temples and centuries-old spiritual routes.

The journey may be short. But for the traveller, the reason for going can be deeply personal. And that may explain why, in India, faith continues to be one of the strongest reasons to pack a bag and set out.

We may not need luxury, but we need clean accommodation, easy transport and places where senior citizens can rest.”

— Sujata Gaikwad, Senior Citizen Traveller

Religious travel is different. People are often travelling towards something that has personal or cultural meaning for them.”

— Prabhjot Singh, Travel Industry Professional

Religious tourism has been a strong segment for us, but travellers are becoming more particular about convenience.”

“For us, a pilgrimage is not just a religious visit. It is something the whole family looks forward to.”