Holi Travel 2026 Sees 1,244 Special Trains Run by Indian Railways

Indian Railways is augmenting its services for the Holi 2026 festival, deploying over 1,244 special train services between February 25 and March 18 to accommodate a significant surge in travel demand across India. These additional services are primarily aimed at alleviating congestion on routes connecting major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata with regions such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. The railway authorities anticipate the total number of special services could approach 1,500, with East Central Railway leading the deployment with 285 trains, followed by Western Railway (231) and Central Railway (209). Specific routes, like the Malda Town–Anand Vihar Holi Special and the Asansol–Jaipur one-way unreserved special, have been introduced to cater to specific demands.

The substantial increase in train services is a direct response to extensive waitlists on regular trains, necessitating the addition of capacity and extra coaches on high-traffic corridors. This initiative underscores Holi's evolution into a significant travel season, with travelers increasingly opting for extended trips rather than short returns. The festival, falling mid-week on March 4, is facilitating multi-day cultural getaways.

The heightened travel demand is also evident in other transport sectors. Flight bookings for the Holi period have seen a year-over-year increase of approximately 70-75%, with heritage destinations like Jaipur (282% rise in accommodation searches) and Udaipur (233% increase) experiencing a notable surge in interest. Temple towns such as Vrindavan and Mathura have also attracted significant travel interest. International interest in destinations like Udaipur and Jaipur has also grown, particularly from Asian travelers, indicating Holi's expanding appeal to global audiences and signaling a broader transformation in festival tourism.

Intercity bus bookings are also reflecting this trend, with RedBus projecting a 31% rise in bookings from Delhi during the period. Advance bus bookings have increased by over 70%, with a notable rise in bookings by women travelers. Key corridors like Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Pune are showing substantial growth. The increased mobility is also benefiting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which are reporting strong increases in flight bookings.

This widespread increase in travel demand is positively impacting the broader travel economy, with hotels, aviation operators, and ground transport providers all reporting heightened activity. Destinations like Udaipur, Dehradun, Srinagar, Goa, and Jaipur are experiencing robust booking trends, highlighting the significant economic activity generated by festivals across various sectors, with Holi now acting as a nationwide travel catalyst.