Airfares from Hyderabad to Major Pilgrimage Hubs Surge by Up to 200%

Airfares for flights departing Hyderabad for major pilgrimage destinations across the country have surged by 100% to 200% following the onset of Saravana Masam on Thursday, according to booking portals and travel agents.

The sharp rise in ticket prices is driven by thousands of devotees travelling to prominent temples across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh during the auspicious month.

A scan of flight booking platforms shows that one-way tickets from Hyderabad to Madurai—the closest airport for travellers visiting the Meenakshi Amman Temple and Rameswaram—are currently selling for approximately Rs 14,000. This marks an increase of at least 200% compared to typical fares, which generally range between Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,000.

Similarly, airfares from Hyderabad to Mangaluru, the nearest airport for those travelling to the Murudeshwar temple, have climbed to nearly Rs 17,000. The route usually commands prices between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000.

The price escalation extends across multiple other major spiritual destinations. Flights connecting Hyderabad to pilgrimage centres including Varanasi, Shirdi, Puri, and Tirupati have registered drastic increases. Ticket prices on the Hyderabad-to-Shirdi sector have risen from normal levels of around Rs 4,500 to more than Rs 9,500.

Travellers heading to Tirupati have also faced steep price hikes amid high demand and limited transport options. With tickets on at least 10 trains to Tirupati fully sold out, passengers checking flight alternatives encountered fares between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000, compared to expected rates of Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.

Due to these sharp spikes, families planning pilgrimage trips have reported that the expense of air travel now surpasses their combined expenditure on accommodation, food, and other travel necessities, prompting many to reconsider their journey plans.