Puri, Ooty and Munnar emerge as festive travel hotspots as Indian searches surge for October-November holidays: Agoda

Indian travellers are increasingly combining festive celebrations with holidays, with accommodation searches showing interest in international experiences and domestic leisure breaks during the October-November period. According to a recent report from Agoda, Bangkok, Phuket and Tokyo were the top three international cities searched by Indian travellers, while Goa, Puri and Udaipur led domestic searches. The findings are based on searches made between August 1 and September 30, 2026, for stays between October 15 and November 30, covering the festive period around Dussehra, Durga Puja and Diwali.

Gaurav Malik, Country Director, Indian Subcontinent & Indian Ocean Islands, Agoda, shared: “The festive period has traditionally been when travel and celebration come together, but the destinations people are considering reveal that there are now various ways to spend this time. We are seeing interest span beach holidays, city breaks, cultural destinations and hill station escapes, suggesting that travellers are choosing destinations around the experience they want to have, rather than simply following a conventional itinerary. For Agoda, this also means helping people discover the right stay and experiences around increasingly diverse ways of travelling.”

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Asia leads international festive travel searches

Thailand, Vietnam and Japan recorded year-on-year growth of 55 per cent, 86 per cent and 125 per cent, respectively, in searches among the most searched countries.

Sri Lanka recorded nearly 262 per cent growth in searches among the top international destinations, followed by Hong Kong SAR, China, at nearly 138 per cent, indicating rising interest in destinations offering cultural, culinary and leisure experiences.

At the city level, Bangkok and Phuket recorded search growth of 65 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively. Both destinations offer cultural attractions such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, alongside local food and coastal experiences.

In Vietnam, Phu Quoc saw a 124 per cent increase in searches by Indian travellers, with its beaches, island-hopping experiences and night markets attracting interest. Hanoi recorded 94 per cent growth, with attractions such as the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake offering a glimpse of the city's heritage.

Tokyo recorded 109 per cent growth in searches from India. The October-November travel window coincides with Japan's autumn foliage season, when spots such as Shinjuku Gyoen become popular for ‘Kōyō’, Japan's tradition of enjoying the changing colours of the leaves.

Puri and hill stations see rising domestic interest

Within India, Goa recorded nearly 43 per cent year-on-year growth in searches, while Udaipur saw an increase of nearly 29 per cent, reflecting continued interest in established leisure and heritage destinations.

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Puri recorded 318 per cent growth, followed by Ooty at 166 per cent and Munnar at 107 per cent. Varanasi also recorded 92 per cent year-on-year growth, pointing to interest in destinations associated with India's cultural and spiritual heritage, alongside coastal and nature-focused breaks.