Agoda reports sharp Holi booking rise to Jaipur, Udaipur

Rail and air bookings into Jaipur and Udaipur spiked in the run-up to Holi 2026, with accommodation search volumes rising by 282% and 233% respectively compared with the previous year, creating short-term pressure on local transport, last-mile transfer services and hotel inventory.

Search spikes and destination breakdown

Data from the digital travel platform Agoda shows a concentrated surge in demand for culturally rich destinations during Holi week. The increase in searches is not uniform: heritage cities and lakeside towns recorded the highest growth, driven by curated events at historic sites and hotel-hosted festivities.

What is driving the domestic uptick?

Local traditions and community-led celebrations are the primary motivators: visitors are actively searching for immersive, festival-focused stays rather than generic holiday packages. In particular, heritage hotels in Jaipur and Udaipur have been marketing curated Holi events — from palace courtyards to lakeside soirées — which contributes to elevated search interest and early locking of transport and accommodation inventory.

International demand and market sources

International search volumes for these destinations also rose markedly. Interest from Southeast and East Asia led the growth: Udaipur recorded a 459% increase in international searches while Jaipur saw a 191% rise. Key source markets included travellers from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, signaling Holi’s broader appeal as a cultural tourism draw.

Logistics implications for travel and local operators

Rapid search-to-booking conversion during short festival windows stresses multiple parts of the tourism supply chain:

• Transport capacity: Higher demand for flights, intercity trains and buses requires dynamic rescheduling and surge pricing management.
• Last-mile mobility: Local taxis, app-based rides and private transfers see peak loads around event timings and heritage site access points.
• Accommodation inventory: Heritage and boutique hotels must balance curated event packages with standard bookings, impacting room allocation and F&B planning.
• Activity providers: Local guides, cultural performers and event staff need short-term scaling, often sourced through third-party platforms.

Lake and waterfront operations in Udaipur

Udaipur’s lakeside events create a specific set of logistics: boat operators, pier management and safety services must be coordinated with hotel events on Lake Pichola. While Udaipur does not host large ocean-going yachts, the surge elevates demand for small craft charters, sightseeing boats and private boat transfers — all of which require licensed captains, fuel planning and mooring coordination near busy ghats and hotel jetties.

Operational checklist for waterfront events

• Pre-book private boats and verify captain licensing and insurance.
• Coordinate docking windows with hotel event teams to avoid mooring conflicts.
• Confirm passenger manifests and life-jacket availability before each sortie.
• Schedule staggered boarding to minimize congestion at narrow ghats.

Historical overview: festival travel and Holi’s evolution

Holi has long been a pilgrimage and community festival, but the last two decades have seen its transformation into a curated travel product. Traditional hotspots such as Vrindavan and Mathura retain their religious significance with temple rituals and flower Holi; Pushkar’s lakeside ceremonies and Shantiniketan’s Basanta Utsav have attracted art-focused audiences; while Hampi’s temple ruins have become a draw for heritage travellers seeking unique cultural backdrops.

The shift from local participation to tourist-oriented events has been gradual. Heritage properties and boutique hotels expanded event programming to include experiential dinners, guided cultural walks and photo-friendly rituals, aligning local know-how with the expectations of domestic and international travellers. This commercialization accelerated Holi’s calendarization — planners and platforms now see Holi week as a predictable peak that requires inventory hedging months in advance.

Collective growth and what it signals

Collectively, the mentioned destinations registered roughly a 211% increase in travel interest year-over-year, reflecting both domestic momentum and growing international recognition of Holi as an authentic cultural experience. The rise indicates that festival tourism is maturing into a category that can be actively marketed across seasons and source markets.

Practical guidance for travellers and operators

For travellers planning Holi trips to heritage and lakeside towns:

• Book transport and accommodation early — high-demand properties can sell out quickly.
• When planning lake activities, confirm boat availability, and hire licensed captains if opting for private charters.
• Expect higher local surge pricing for transfers; consider group transfers arranged by hotels to reduce costs.
• Respect local customs and designated celebration zones to ensure safety and positive community relations.

For operators and municipal planners, the key actions are inventory forecasting, temporary transport scaling, and clear communication of safety protocols for waterfront events.

In summary, the Agoda data highlights a pronounced shift toward culturally immersive festival travel during Holi 2026, with Jaipur and Udaipur leading domestic demand and notable international interest. The spike has operational consequences for transport, accommodation and waterfront services, and hints at longer-term opportunities for curated cultural itineraries. For travellers seeking lake-side celebrations, private boat charters or guided activities, and for operators evaluating market response for yacht or boat-related offerings, this trend points toward growing integration of festival-focused travel with boating, charter and on-water activities. The marketplace GetBoat.com is an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, likely the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget — a useful resource for organising lake or coastal charters, hiring a captain, or arranging boating activities in festival destinations. Overall, the Holi search surge underlines how cultural festivals can drive demand across hotels, marinas, boat rentals and broader tourism services, shaping future yachting, boating and charter opportunities in heritage and waterfront Destinations.