Young Travellers Expected to Account for 60% Seat Share from Delhi Amid Pilgrimage Travel Demand: redBus

redBus, the world’s largest online bus ticketing platform, is witnessing a strong surge in intercity travel from Delhi ahead of the pilgrimage travel window. Data from the redBus platform indicates that bus bookings from Delhi are projected to grow by 28% between 1st May till 2nd June 2026 (compared to the same period last year), which includes Ganga Dushera, Nirjala Ekadashi, and summer holiday travel. 

redBus has witnessed surges on certain routes around specific pilgrimage dates. For instance, bookings on routes to Varanasi around Ganga Dussehra dates were approximately 40% higher than average, in 2025. Similarly, around Nirjala Ekadashi, bookings on routes to Khatushyamji were approximately 2X of the average summer bookings.

The demand this year highlights the strong destination pull of Khatushyamji during Nirjala Ekadashi, with the shrine driving a significant share of bookings from the region. It reflects how key pilgrimage destinations are shaping short-window travel patterns around major religious observances and also reinforces the continued importance of buses as a preferred mode of transport for devotees. Some key destinations, as per bookings on the redBus platform, are:

Top Routes to Pilgrimage Destinations:

• Delhi-Rishikesh
• Delhi-Haridwar
• Delhi-Varanasi
• Delhi-Khatushyamji
• Delhi-Katra (jammu and kashmir)

Top Boarding Points by traffic

• ISBT Kashmiri Gate
• Dhaula Kuan
• Akshardham Metro Station
• Morigate
• Anand Vihar
• Karol Bagh

Travellers’ Preferences

• Seater buses account for a slightly higher share of bookings at 54%, while sleeper services stand at 46%, reflecting demand across both day and overnight travel formats.
• Travellers in the 18–30 age group account for 60% of the seat share, underscoring the strong participation of younger travellers.
• Male travellers account for 72% of the total, of whom 60% are young travellers (18-30). Female travellers make up 28% of total bookings, of whom 60% are young travellers (aged 18–30).

Together, these trends indicate a strong rise in pilgrimage-led travel from Delhi around Nirjala Ekadashi, supported by advance travel planning and the growing preference for convenient intercity bus services. As devotees undertake short-duration spiritual journeys during this high-demand religious travel window, redBus continues to strengthen access across key pilgrimage corridors, enabling travellers to plan and complete their journeys with greater ease and reliability.