Airfares to Prayagraj have seen a significant surge ahead of the Mahakumbh 2025, with some flight routes experiencing up to a five-fold increase in ticket prices. As millions of pilgrims and tourists flock to the Uttar Pradesh city for the grand religious event, airlines have raised fares to capitalize on the high demand.
Travel portal ixigo reported that a one-way flight from Bhopal to Prayagraj now costs ₹17,796, compared to ₹2,977 last year, marking a staggering 500% increase. Flights from other major cities have also seen considerable price hikes. For example, passengers traveling from Bengaluru to Prayagraj will now pay ₹11,158, up by 41% from the previous fare. Similarly, the cost of flights from Delhi to Prayagraj has risen by 21%, with one-way fares averaging ₹5,748. From Mumbai, the price has jumped 13%, reaching ₹6,381. Flights from Ahmedabad have also surged by 41%, with tickets now priced at ₹10,364.
Among other cities in Uttar Pradesh, flights to Prayagraj from Lucknow and Varanasi have also become more expensive, with fare hikes ranging from 3% to 21%, according to ixigo’s analysis. This data was based on one-way average fares booked 30 days in advance for the period from January 13 to February 26, which coincides with the Mahakumbh festivities.
In response to the increased demand, Air India announced that it will operate daily flights between Delhi and Prayagraj from January 25 to February 28, aiming to accommodate the influx of travelers. The airline’s additional services will help meet the surge in travel demand as the religious gathering progresses.
The analysis also revealed a massive spike in flight bookings to Prayagraj, which have jumped by 162% compared to the same period last year. The city is now connected to over 20 destinations via direct and one-stop flights, a significant improvement from the previous Mahakumbh when only one flight was available from Delhi.
As airfares continue to rise, early bookings are recommended to avoid steep ticket prices during the peak period of Mahakumbh 2025.
