Top Indian Destinations to Celebrate the Festival of Colours

For this year’s event, falling on March 21, 2019 Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travellers with the most incredible places to stay, looked into its internal data to find the Indian cities that are most booked for Holi 2019*. Then, the data analysts found what each of these cities are most endorsed for by travellers ranging from ambiance and culture to sunsets and local food.

When comparing this year’s Holi to last year, the fastest growing destinations are Lonavala, Darjeeling, Tirupati, Ooty, Vrindavan, Gangtok, Puri, Pune, Tiruvannamalai and Shirdi.*

The most booked cities for Holi 2019*

New Delhi

New Delhi is known for its bustling Bazaars and mouthwatering street food. It is a popular belief that every festival in Delhi is just EXTRA, because #DilDilli. A crazy mosaic of diplomatic subdivisions, sprawling neighbourhoods and idyllic parkland. Delhi very beautifully juxtaposes ancient architecture with modern, and street shopping with mega malls. Top endorsements for New Delhi include:

• Sightseeing

• Ancient landmarks
• Culture
• Shopping
• Local food

Agra

Agra has now become synonymous to the infamous Taj Mahal, one of the 7 wonders of the world. Home to this grand symbol of love, Agra offers rich cultural experience, the lip smacking street food adds to cherry on top. It further houses UNESCO’s World Heritage sites like the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, along with multiple tombs representative of the city’s golden era at the time of the Mughal rule. Top endorsements for Agra include:

• UNESCO sites (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri)
• Tourism
• Ancient landmarks

• Monuments
• Architecture

Jaipur

Home to multiple religious temples, historic monuments, royal palaces, theatres, museums, bazaars among others, the pink city evokes the royal aura. Want to see and experience life KING size, very literally, this is the place to visit. The rich cultural and historical backdrop adds to the authentic culture of Jaipur that welcomes domestic and international tourists alike. Top endorsements for Jaipur include:

• Shopping for accessories
• Tourism

• Monuments
• Temples
• Culturally diverse food

Mumbai

Often referred to as the financial capital of India, Mumbai sees people migrating not only from around India but across the globe. Known for its colonial architecture, railway network, nightlife, and multicultural cuisine, Mumbai is home to the world’s one of the most popular film industries - Bollywood. Top endorsements for Mumbai include:

• Shopping
• Markets
• Sightseeing
• Seafood
• Nightlife

Chennai

Chennai is one of India’s largest cities known for its medical tourism. This city has an equal balance of medieval and modern architecture, with breathtaking skyscrapers as well as several old churches and temples that meet the eyes of those gallivanting about the city. Top endorsements in Chennai include:

• Shopping
• Temples
• Vegetarian Cuisine
• Food
• Culture

Kolkata

Following shortly after Chennai, Kolkata is India’s second largest city. Also known as the City of Joy, Kolkata can take one back to more serious, colonial times with historical landmarks such as Victoria Memorial, Fort William and Marble Palace - to name a few. You will also find a rich abode of flora and fauna in Sunderbans and the Botanical Gardens. Tagore House, once home to the great poet Rabindranath Tagore can also be visited. But for those who are into the modern partying scene, Kolkata has quite an active nightlife along the Park Street stretch. Also don’t forget to try out Kolkata’s delicious street food to tantalize your palate! Top endorsements include:

• Food
• Culture
• History
• Shopping
• Street Food

Bengaluru

Bengaluru is a tech hub known for its shopping and nightlife. Also hub to the 300-acres Cubbon Park, and the botanical gardens in Lalbagh, this city has rightfully earned its title of being India’s ‘Garden city’. Bengaluru’s breweries are a dime a dozen; each with their own unique drinks to unwind after a day’s long drift across the city. MG Road is one of the most busiest roads, bustling with life in the city littered with restaurants, cafes and shopping centres. Top endorsements include:

• Shopping
• Food
• Business
• Restaurants
• Friendly people

Kochi

Kochi, a major port city on the south west coast of India is a palette of multiple cultures given its historic trading partners from around the globe. Often called the queen of the Arabian sea, the city is tucked away silently in the state of Kerala. The architecture, food and some of the establishments portray the influence of the Dutch, Portuguese and the British from the bygone era. Top endorsements for Kochi include:

• Churches
• Friendly people
• Atmosphere
• Shopping
• Ambience

Varanasi

A city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is regarded as the spiritual capital of India. It draws pilgrims from around the world. Localites and tourists alike ‘undertake’ a pilgrimage on the banks of river Ganga. For the wanderer in you, Varanasi has narrow lanes, each where you can find vendors selling local handicrafts for you to take as souvenirs. Filled with temples ranging from Kashi Vishwanath Temple to Tulsi Manasa temple - this destination becomes the perfect place for a spiritual retreat. Top endorsements include:

• Culture
• Temple
• History
• Atmosphere
• Photography

Udaipur

The city of beautiful sunsets. Udaipur with its scenic landscapes and cultural significance makes for an ideal travel destination. A perfect blend of traditional and modern culture, Udaipur is a sight to behold. It offers multiple activities and sites for visitors to explore ranging from vast forts, and calm lakes to numerous temples. Top endorsements for Udaipur include:

• Temples
• Boating
• Romance
• Sunsets

• Atmosphere

*Methodology: compared bookings with check-in between during or right before Holi (17 of March and 21st of March for 2019 and 26 of February to 2nd of March for 2018). Bookings were ranked by largest YOY growth and had to be booked at least 50 times in 2019 to be included in the analysis. For comparative purposes, the booking had to be more than 10 days before check in.