Connect with us

Travel Guides & Articles

Rising Spiritual Journeys: Pilgrimage Travel Fuels Growth in India

Published

on


India’s pilgrimage travel emerges as a major driver of the tourism sector, according to the latest trends report by MakeMyTrip for FY24-25. Accommodation bookings across 56 holy destinations have surged by 19 percent, reflecting the rising demand for spiritual journeys.

The report reveals strong growth in pilgrimage interest across cities like Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Tirupati, with newer destinations such as Khatushyam Ji and Thiruchendur gaining traction. The surge is attributed to enhanced connectivity and interest from a diverse age and income demographic planning pilgrimages.

Bookings for rooms priced between Rs 7,000-10,000 have increased by 24 percent, and those above Rs 10,000 by 23 percent. Additionally, group bookings now form a significant portion of this travel trend, making up 47 percent of all pilgrimage trips.

(With inputs from agencies.)



Source link

Travel Guides & Articles

10 rare Indian animals and where they are found

Published

on


Snow leopard

The elusive snow leopard, often called the “ghost of the mountains,” are found in places like Hemis National Park in Ladakh, Nanda Devi National Park in Uttarakhand, and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. A small, scattered population is also found in the higher reaches of Arunachal and Sikkim.



Source link

Continue Reading

Travel Guides & Articles

Delhi Metro QR Tickets Are Now Available On ixigo Via ONDC; Seamless Booking Experience Ahead

Published

on


One of India’s leading travel platforms, ixigo Trains, is making travel easy for Delhiites. The company has partnered with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to launch Delhi Metro ticketing on the ixigo Trains app. With this new feature, passengers can book QR-based metro tickets directly through the app and make payments in-app. Scroll down for more details. 

ixigo Trains Launches Delhi Metro QR Tickets

Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ JackF ( Representative Image)

ixigo Trains has launches Delhi Metro ticketing services on its platform. With this launch, the app will become a one-stop solution to book trains, buses, flights, hotels, and metro. First-time users booking Delhi Metro tickets on the ixigo Trains app between 9-11 AM will receive 100% cashback up to ₹50 in ixigo money. On this, Dr. Vikas Kumar, Managing Director of DMRC, said that they aim to make travel convenient. The new launch will offer flexibility and encourage digital ticketing.

Mr. Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO of ixigo Trains & Confirmtkt, added, “Our aim at ixigo is to be the most customer-friendly travel platform. Millions of Indians already use ixigo for trains, buses, and flights. By adding Delhi Metro ticketing, commuters can enjoy a seamless last-mile travel experience, save time, avoid queues, and plan complete journeys on a single app. This partnership with DMRC and ONDC supports our vision of a connected travel ecosystem, encouraging digital-first commuting habits.”

Also Read: Delhi May Lower Legal Age For Drinking Beer To 21; Here’s The Age Limit In Other Metro Cities

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Network

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) operates on nearly 400 km of network. It is India’s largest and busiest metro system. In August 2025, it recorded its highest-ever single-day ridership of over 81 lakh journeys. The new ticketing feature on the ixigo app is part of efforts to strengthen the travel ecosystem and make daily commuting easier.

Since 2013, ixigo Trains has introduced various features for train travellers, including Travel Guarantee for waitlisted tickets, real-time train status with delay updates, predictions for waitlist, and more. It would be interesting to see how Delhi commuters will use this new feature for booking metro tickets.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!

Also Read: From Paris To Delhi And Mumbai: Ladurée Brings Its Iconic Chocolate Fondant Cake To India

Cover Image Courtesy: Flickr

First Published: September 12, 2025 5:41 PM



Source link

Continue Reading

Travel Guides & Articles

Money blog: The way we travel will soon start changing – here’s what you need to know | Money News

Published

on


In exactly a month, some Britons will be required to scan their passport and have their fingerprints and photograph taken to enter European countries. 

The European Union is rolling out its new entry-exit scheme, known as EES, but it will be a while until it is fully operational. 

It’s being introduced to replace passport stamping for all non-EU citizens, helping countries to make sure visitors aren’t breaking the 90-day visa-free travel rule and strengthen their border control.

Here’s what you need to know…

12 October 2025

EU countries will start introducing EES for UK and non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay.

This will require some visitors to register at the border by scanning their passport and completing “biometric checks” – these are having fingerprints and a photograph taken.  

Some people visiting the Schengen area, which includes 29 countries, will be required to complete the biometric checks, to start with. 

This is because countries have six months to phase in the new system to minimise any disruption. 

ABTA, the UK’s largest travel association, says at least one border point in each country should operate the new system by 12 October.  

You can see the full list of the countries introducing the system below… 

Once you’ve completed this registration process, you’ll only need to scan your passport and provide either fingerprints or a photograph to enter or exit any of the listed countries. 

Children under 12 will not be fingerprinted, but they will be photographed under the new rules.  

You don’t have to do anything before travelling, but you should be prepared for longer queues at the border. 

The UK government says the checks should only take one to two minutes for each person, but they may lead to longer waiting times at border control. 

11 December

By this point, 10% of border points in each country should be operating the new system. 

All travellers entering the country at these points should be using the EES.  

January 2026 

At this stage, half of border crossing points in each country should have the system up and running. 

But only a third of passengers will need to use it, the European Commission has said.  

10 April 2026

The way we travel now will come to an end, and all border points in participating countries will need to have the system running. 

Passports will not be stamped or checked manually from this date. 

Using the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel from the UK to travel? 

In most cases, the EES checks will happen when you arrive in the country you are visiting. 

But, if you are heading abroad using the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel at Folkestone or the Eurostar at St Pancras International in London, you will complete the checks before you leave the UK. 

The government has provided funding to support the change in infrastructure, but has warned that travellers will need to leave more time for their journey. 

A spokesperson said: “While we have done everything we can to ensure the required infrastructure is in place, anyone who is planning a trip to the European mainland once these checks are introduced will still need to allow more time for their journey as the new EU systems bed in.” 

What happens to your data? 

The European Commission says the data being collected when you use the EES is…

  • The information listed in your travel document(s) (eg full name, date of birth, etc.)
  • Date and place of each entry and exit 
  • Facial image and fingerprints
  • Whether you were refused entry

This data will be stored in the system and cannot be transferred to third parties – except in specific cases, which you can read about here

Your data will be used by countries for several reasons including, identifying travellers who aren’t allowed to enter, find those using fake identities and help prevent and investigate serious crimes. 

If you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending