News India Live, Digital Desk: The nature of pilgrimage in India has now changed from ‘dusty’ paths to luxury and ease. According to recent data (MakeMyTrip and government reports), accommodation bookings at religious places have seen an annual growth of 19% to 25%. Now pilgrims are traveling not just for worship, but for a ‘holistic’ experience.1. ‘Premium’ pilgrimage: Rise of luxury hotels and homestays Pilgrims now prefer comfortable and premium experiences over dharamsalas: High-value bookings: Demand for rooms priced at ₹7,000 to ₹10,000 per night has increased by 24%. Top destinations: Five-star hotels in Varanasi, Ayodhya and Tirupati There are long queues of hotels and ‘heritage havelis’.Homestay Culture: 10% of travelers are now choosing luxury homestays and apartments to get a closer feel of the local culture.2. ‘Young’ devotees: When faith became a ‘trend’ The most interesting aspect of this boom is that Millennials and Gen-Z are now becoming the biggest stakeholders of pilgrimage: Spiritual Wellness: Youngsters no longer just visit temples, but are also going to places like Rishikesh and Bodh Gaya for yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic treatment. Social Media Impact: Influencers and Reels (Reels) have made religious places ‘cool’ and ‘aesthetic’, due to which the attraction towards these places has increased among the youth.3. Infrastructure: Impact of ‘Vande Bharat’ and ‘Bullet Train’ Budget 2026 and government schemes have given a new direction to connectivity: High-speed rail: Projects like the Delhi-Varanasi Bullet Train Corridor have limited the travel time to 3-4 hours. Helicopter services: Chopper and ropeway services are now common for inaccessible areas like Chardham (Kedarnath, Badrinath) and Mata Vaishno Devi. PRASHAD Scheme: The government has increased the budget for the development of religious circuits and focused on basic amenities (pure drinking water, modern toilets and Wi-Fi).4. Digital and ‘Seamless’ Experience Smart Ticketing: Now instead of standing in long queues, ‘slot-based’ online booking and QR-code entry have made darshan easier. Virtual Darshan: Many major temples have started the facility of aarti and darshan sitting at home through VR (Virtual Reality), which is proving to be a boon for the elderly and Indians living abroad (NRIs).[Image showing a modern high-speed train reaching an ancient temple city, blending tradition with futuristic infrastructure]Key Spiritual ‘Trends’ of 2026Trend DescriptionGroup TravelPilgrimage 47% of bookings are happening with groups (family/friends). Short Stay53% travelers prefer only 1 night stay (Quick Spiritual Recharge). Buddhist Circuit Rapid expansion of Buddhist tourism in North-East India (Arunachal, Sikkim). Eco-PilgrimageWaste Management and Plastic-Free Pilgrimage People’s movement for places.