The festive stretch between Dussehra and Diwali has become prime holiday territory for Indian travellers, and this year's booking searches show they're thinking well beyond the usual short break. Data from Agoda, based on accommodation searches made between 1 August and 30 September 2026 for stays from mid-October to the end of November, points to a season defined by variety: beach trips, city breaks, temple towns and hill stations are all in the mix.
On the international front, Asia dominates. Bangkok, Phuket and Tokyo top the list of most-searched cities, and the growth figures behind them are striking. Sri Lanka saw searches jump roughly 262% year on year, the biggest rise among international destinations, followed by Hong Kong at nearly 138% and Japan at 125%. Vietnam isn't far behind at 86%, with island hotspot Phu Quoc up 124% and Hanoi up 94% thanks to draws like the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. Thailand itself posted 55% growth, with Bangkok and Phuket both climbing strongly. Tokyo's 109% surge fits neatly with the calendar: late October and November mark koyo season, when travellers head to spots like Shinjuku Gyoen to catch the autumn leaves at their best.
Domestic travel is just as revealing. Goa remains the favourite, up around 43%, with heritage-heavy Udaipur close behind at 29%. But the fastest risers are destinations tied to coast, hills and spirituality. Puri exploded with 318% growth in searches, Ooty climbed 166% and Munnar 107%, while Varanasi — riding steady interest in cultural and spiritual travel — grew 92%.
What ties it together, according to Agoda's Gaurav Malik, is intent: travellers are picking destinations based on the experience they want, whether that's a beach, a food-filled city weekend or a quiet retreat in the hills, rather than defaulting to a conventional festive itinerary.
For anyone planning a festive escape from India, the takeaway is that the popular windows fill up fast and the emerging hotspots — Puri, Phu Quoc, Sri Lanka — are worth booking early before prices follow the search curves. If you'd rather dodge the crowds, the data also handily flags where they're likely to be.
