If you are planning a short getaway from Delhi during the extended weekend around Independence Day, it’s time to hurry up and make your travel or hotel bookings or you will miss the bus.
With August 15 being a Monday, many Delhiites are planning to take a short break, with some even planning take a day off on Friday, August 12, to make the weekend longer. But getting a train ticket is proving to be a tall task while airfares have shot up due to the increased demand.
Travel operators said that while there is a huge demand for nearby places such as Shimla, Nainital, Jaipur and Udaipur, Goa remains a hot favourite. Those with deeper pockets are even planning a short vacation to Thailand, Sri Lanka, Dubai or Malaysia.
“Goa, a perennial favourite in almost all seasons, is witnessing a huge rush. As road conditions in the hills are bad at this time due to rains, many are avoiding driving to places such as Mussoorie. Areas that can be accessed by train, even if partially, such as Nainital or Shimla, are seeing a lot of rush,” said Rajji Rai of the Travel Agents Association of India.
Airfares to Goa, which usually are around Rs. 3,500 at this time, have peaked and tickets are selling for more than Rs. 11,000 during the extended weekend.
“Many people are also flying to international destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. Sri Lanka has also emerged as a favourite destination due to its proximity and affordable accommodation and shopping options,” Mr Rai said.
“There is a rush everywhere, both for domestic and international destinations. In fact, not many tickets are available for Sri Lanka, Dubai, Thailand and Malaysia from August 12 onwards,” said Subhash Goyal, Chairman, Stic Travels.
IRCTC packages
Keeping the long weekend in mind, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has planned a semi-luxury train tour that will take travellers from Delhi to historical and religious places of Rajasthan, including Udaipur, Ajmer and Pushkar, between August 12 and 16. The all-inclusive package has been priced at Rs. 29,000 for AC second class and Rs. 35,000 for AC first class per person.
“Indians love utilising long weekends for short breaks. The trend is catching up with young couples and working singles. Earlier, bookings for extended weekends used to close by one or two weeks prior to the holiday season but in the past few years hotel rooms are getting sold out a month or two in advance as people have started planning early,” said Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head, Expedia (India).
“The rise in number of bookings and queries has increased by 37%-40% as the extended weekend approaches. This August, the long weekends include Independence day and Raksha Bandhan in the same week,” he said.
