Agoda Reports Holi Travel Trends in India, with Jaipur and Udaipur Drawing Strong Interest

Rising accommodation searches highlight growing appeal of cultural celebrations and immersive festival experiences

India, February 2026 – As Holi approaches, travellers are planning trips centred around places where the festival is most deeply and uniquely celebrated. Digital travel platform Agoda analysed accommodation search data for domestic travel for the upcoming Holi week, revealing a rise in travel interest compared to last year in destinations such as Jaipur, Udaipur and Vrindavan, where traditions, rituals and community celebrations shape the experience. Alongside temple towns and heritage cities, travellers are choosing destinations that allow them to participate in vibrant festivities and shared cultural moments.

Rajasthan’s Pink City, Jaipur, known for its grand palace-led Holi celebrations and home to the iconic Amer Fort, registered a 282 percent increase in accommodation searches compared to the Holi period last year. Udaipur saw a 233 percent rise in travel interest, as visitors look to experience lakeside Holi festivities set against the backdrop of Lake Pichola, with heritage hotels and boutique stays hosting curated celebrations. Pushkar, the revered pilgrimage town, experienced a 195 percent increase in searches, appealing to travellers drawn to its vibrant street gatherings and community-led celebrations unfolding around Pushkar Lake and its 52 bathing ghats.

In the north, Vrindavan draws travellers to its temple courtyards where flower Holi ceremonies, bhajans and traditional festivities create an immersive spiritual celebration, recording a 126 percent rise in travel interest. Mathura recorded a 109 percent increase in interest, attracting visitors keen to witness Holi in the birthplace of Lord Krishna, where temple rituals and traditional street celebrations bring the festival to life. Moving south, Hampi saw a 128 percent rise in searches, as its UNESCO-listed ruins and open temple squares transform into lively Holi gatherings that appeal to culture and history enthusiasts. Shanti Niketan in West Bengal, known for its Basanta Utsav, a distinctive cultural interpretation of Holi centred around music and art, registered a 43 percent increase in travel interest. These destinations saw a collective rise in travel interest of 211 percent.

International interest also added to the trend. Udaipur recorded a 459 percent increase in searches from across Asia compared to the previous year, while Jaipur saw over 191 percent growth in travel interest. The rise in interest was led by travelers from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

Gaurav Malik, Country Director, Indian Subcontinent & Indian Ocean Islands at Agoda said, “Holi has evolved into a key travel moment for both domestic and international visitors. India’s cultural festivities continue to strengthen the country’s global appeal, drawing travellers to plan their trips around distinctive local experiences. The increasing travel interest in temple towns and heritage cities reflects how cultural calendars are influencing travel decisions. At Agoda, we aim to simplify holiday planning by bringing together a diverse mix of stays, flights, and experiences, helping travellers make the most of their time during special occasions like Holi.”

As festivals like Holi continue to shape travel behaviour, Agoda provides access to a wide range of accommodations across price points and property types, alongside flights and activities that can be booked together in one place. With over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, travellers can plan complete trips with ease. Discover the latest deals on the Agoda mobile app or visit Agoda.com for more information.

Ayushmann Khurrana becomes ‘Mr. Vacaywala’ in new Agoda TV ad, encouraging Indians to ‘take a break from stress’

New Delhi, 1 July 2025 – Digital travel platform Agoda has launched its latest India campaign, ‘Escape the Stress, See The World For Less’, featuring Bollywood superstar Ayushmann Khurrana in an exciting double role. The campaign highlights the increasing need for frequent breaks in today's fast-paced world and positions Agoda as the go-to travel solution for affordable getaways
Discover the impactful journey through Film 1 and Film 2 now available for viewing on YouTube.

However, frequent travel can be financially challenging. Agoda addresses this by offering affordable travel options across over 5 million holiday properties in India and abroad.

In the new TV commercial, Ayushmann Khurrana takes on dual roles. He is first seen as an overworked employee before appearing in the role of the charismatic "Chief Wellness Officer" Mr. Vacaywala, who provides the perfect solution: stress-free travel with Agoda. The ad cleverly showcases how Agoda’s competitive prices make frequent escapes possible, allowing people to refresh and recharge.

Ayushmann Khurrana shared, “Between juggling jam-packed schedules and marathon days on set, I could definitely use a Mr. Vacaywala in my life. Playing this character for Agoda's campaign was a blast, and it was a fun reminder that we all need to hit pause and recharge every now and then.”

Gaurav Malik, Country Director India at Agoda shared, "Ayushmann brings a unique charm to this campaign, embodying the essence of what Agoda stands for – making travel fun as well as stress-free and affordable. And the message of his ‘Mr. Vacaywala’ persona rings true. When we surveyed 2025 travel motivations, 80% of Indian respondents gave relaxation as the prime reason to travel, so we’re excited to see how the ‘take a break from stress’ message will appeal to Indian travelers."

As Agoda continues to expand its presence in the Indian market, this campaign is set to connect with consumers seeking hassle-free, budget-friendly travel options. Agoda teamed up with creative agency Ogilvy to bring this vision to life. The campaign will reach audiences on both television and digital channels.

Agoda launches AI Vacation Planner in India starring Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana

New Delhi, June 2025 – Digital travel platform, Agoda, has unveiled a one-of-a-kind AI Vacation Planner for Indian travelers as part of its latest marketing stunt. The travel planner, available for a limited time only on a special campaign website, is built using Google’s AI technology and experiments with a new approach to visual travel planning. Bollywood star and Agoda brand ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana features in this AI-powered marketing stunt, taking on the new role of the charismatic "Chief Wellness Officer," Mr. Vacaywala.

The campaign is slated to run for a limited time only, with the AI Travel Planner being accessible via AgodaVacationPlanner.com until 30 June. In the videos generated by the AI Travel Planner, Ayushmann Khurrana provides stress-free and budget-friendly travel solutions. Taking on the new role of Mr. Vacaywala, the Bollywood star presents hyper-personalized itineraries and even addresses travelers by their first name.

Ayushmann Khurrana shared, “Travel is all about discovery and inspiration. Agoda’s use of AI to create personalized recommendations and stunning visuals makes it easier for people to dream, plan, and book their next adventure. And the best part is that we take away the stress of putting together an itinerary, because we do it for you! It’s amazing to see AI bring such creativity to life and I’m proud to be part of this innovation.”

Agoda’s AI Travel Planner was created in collaboration with Google. The combination of Google Gemini and Imagen, with Agoda’s global inventory, delivers customized destination and itinerary suggestions based on travelers’ personal needs and desires. 

This means Indian travelers can get a tailor made itinerary in a matter of seconds and receive additional discounts in the process, without having to go through the over 5 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities that are available on Agoda’s platform. 

Gaurav Malik, Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal at Agoda, shared, "Imagine travel planning that's as exciting and smooth as the journey itself. That's what we've achieved by blending Google's advanced AI models with Ayushmann Khurrana's dynamic Mr. Vacaywala. On the campaign website AgodaTravelPlanner.com, we've redefined the travel planning experience to be both personal and inspiring, and we're absolutely thrilled to make this available to Indian travelers this month!"

How it works:

• The AI Travel Planner leverages the advanced natural language understanding capabilities of Gemini to understand traveler preferences and intent, and draws upon Agoda’s extensive inventory of destinations, attractions, restaurants, accommodations, activities, transportation options and more to generate detailed itineraries and personalized recommendations. 

• Imagen brings this all to life by turning the itinerary into a beautifully presented, interactive, and visually rich travel itinerary.

• Mr. Vacaywala summarizes and narrates the day-to-day itinerary with text-to-speech AI.

• Agoda travelers can get their dream itineraries within seconds and easily download and share them with travel companions. 

“At Google, we believe in empowering visionaries to transform industries. Our collaboration with Agoda is a perfect example, as we collectively embark on a journey to truly reimagine travel – moving beyond simple bookings to instantly personalized, vividly inspiring journeys for every traveler, powered by advanced AI,” said Pulkit Lambah, Industry Head for Travel, Google Asia Pacific.

The campaign aims to reach multiple travel-type personas in a precise way using Google AI-infused YouTube and Google Ad platforms, delivering a highly relevant and visually compelling experience. In addition to Google, Agoda partnered with a creative agency, Kulfi Collective, and AI studio, TrueFan, to bring the campaign to life. The Agoda Vacation Planner is available for Indian travelers via AgodaVacationPlanner.com. Agoda will run campaigns on YouTube and Meta to promote the platform.

Agoda’s Pool Popularity Rank: Who’s Making a Splash in Asia?

New Delhi, July 2024 - With heat waves dominating the news across Asia this year, Agoda has unveiled its Pool Popularity Rank, spotlighting which Asian travelers are most eager to book accommodations with refreshing swimming pools. As temperatures soar, Agoda’s search data shows that Indian holiday-goers are most likely to dive into the water to beat the heat. India ranks #1 out of 10.
When analyzing the travel habits of ten Asian markets, Agoda found that Indians are most likely to use a search filter that only shows accommodations with a swimming pool. India is followed closely by South Korea, with Malaysia, Thailand, and Philippines rounding out the top five. Japan, and Taiwan form the middle of the pack, with Indonesians, Vietnamese, and Singaporeans least likely to care about the presence of a pool facility.

Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply at Agoda shared, "It’s clear that for some travelers, a holiday isn’t a holiday until they have taken a plunge in the pool. Whether for a relaxed solo swim or for some water fun with the family, Agoda’s Pool Popularity Rank shows that the appeal of swimming pools is shared across Asia. The easy-to-use search filters on Agoda’s platform help all travelers find the ideal amenities most suited to their needs on a trip.”

The presence of a pool is one of the five most popular search filters on Agoda. Other popular filters include complimentary breakfast, star ratings, user reviews, and free cancellation.

In addition to over four million holiday properties, the Agoda platform also offers more than 130,000 flight routes and over 300,000 activities, which can all be combined in the same booking. Agoda’s wide offerings make it the ideal online travel platform for finding great value deals and booking a hassle-free vacation.

Agoda shares most searched summer holiday destinations for Indian travellers heading abroad

New Delhi, June 2024 – Digital travel platform Agoda has revealed the most searched international summer holiday destinations for Indian travellers. Bali, Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur have emerged as the top city destinations for outbound Indian tourists during the upcoming summer season, specifically in May and June.

These insights, derived from Agoda's extensive search trends, indicate a strong affinity for Southeast Asian destinations. This is also reflected in the most searched markets, with Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia being the most searched markets respectively, and the United Arab Emirates rounding out the top five.

As the summer travel season approaches, Indian travelers are showing a growing interest in diverse cultural experiences, vibrant cityscapes, and palm-fringed beaches offered by these overseas destinations.

Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director India Subcontinent and Maldives at Agoda shared, "The allure of Southeast Asia continues to captivate Indian travelers as they seek out new experiences and leisure opportunities. The diversity of destinations like Bali, with its serene beaches and rich traditions, along with the urban excitement of cities like Singapore and Bangkok, serves a broad spectrum of travel preferences. Furthermore, the many searches for Dubai and Kuala Lumpur show an inclination towards combining shopping, entertainment, and cultural engagement."

Regions that offer a mixture of leisure, culture, and culinary delights continue to rank high, reflecting the evolving tastes and travel habits of Indian tourists. Agoda's platform caters to this demand by offering Indians an array of accommodations, flights, and activities, facilitating the ease of planning and booking their ideal summer break.