As India celebrated its Independence Day, the long weekend led to a surge in bus bookings across the country. AbhiBus, one of India’s bus booking platforms, reported a 54% YoY increase in bookings, highlighting how travelers took advantage of the extended break.

Over the weekend, several leisure destinations saw a rise in bookings. Pondicherry recorded over 200% boost, Dehradun experienced a 184% increase, Manali, a popular hill station, reported an uptick of over 170% in bus bookings, and Goa saw a 44% rise.

Alongside leisure travel, spiritual hotspots also saw a notable surge in bookings during the long weekend as travelers took the opportunity to visit religious and wellness destinations. This trend saw an average of over 100-300% increase in bookings to key places where Ayodhya, Banaras (Varanasi), Tirupati, and Rishikesh topped the charts.

The long weekend is also seeing a rise in the number of female travelers, with bookings from women increasing by 50%. Even more noteworthy is the 37% uptick in female solo travelers. Overall, solo travel also saw an increase of 38%, contributing to the overall surge in travel bookings.

Speaking on this, Rohit Sharma, COO, AbhiBus, said, “It is exciting to see how Indians are actively choosing buses as their mode of travel, specifically for the long weekend. The growing interest in popular leisure destinations like Goa, Manali, and Pondicherry, alongside spiritual hubs like Ayodhya, Banaras, and Tirupati, highlights a diverse trend where Indians are exploring adventure and spirituality with equal enthusiasm.”

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