Hyderabad to Prayagraj airfare crosses ₹1.02 lakh per person, leaves pilgrims to Maha Kumbh in a bind

The airfares from Hyderabad to Prayagraj left pilgrims to Maha Kumbh Mela in a bind as they are higher than normal.
| Photo Credit: By Arrangement

With the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj drawing crores of devotees from across India, Hyderabad too has seen a surge in travellers heading to what is considered the largest human gathering in the world. However, the pilgrimage has been overshadowed by exorbitant airfares, with ticket prices ranging from ₹28,000 to ₹1.02 lakh
per person for a one-way journey.

A glance at ticket booking websites revealed that direct flights from Hyderabad to Prayagraj are fully booked till February last week, compelling travelers to opt for connecting flights. The fastest route, involving a one-hour layover in Mumbai, takes five hours and is priced at ₹28,901 for January 29. A day later, on January 30, the same flight is priced at ₹36,901. Other options include a six-hour journey with a two-hour layover in New Delhi, priced at ₹28,700 on January 29.

January 31 has emerged as the most expensive day for travel to Prayagraj from Hyderabad, with ticket prices soaring further. The cheapest flight, a 26-hour journey with two layovers, is priced at ₹34,310, while another flight with a layover in Mumbai costs ₹65,900. The most expensive flight from Hyderabad to Prayagraj on this day is ₹1.02 lakh.

“I planned a four-day trip to Prayagraj, but the airfare has left me in complete shock. These prices feel like outright extortion. First, I pay exorbitant fares for flights, and now I hear hotels in Prayagraj are equally overpriced. It’s disheartening to think that visiting a pilgrimage requires lakhs of rupees,” said 37-year-old Nagendar Rao from Hyderabad, who was planning to go for the holy dip.

The sharp increase in airfare has sparked outrage among pilgrims and religious leaders. At Hyderabad’s Chilkur Balaji Temple, a special prayer was held on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) to address the issue, during which the temple’s priest, C.S. Rangarajan, criticised airlines for exploiting the situation.

“The Maha Kumbh Mela occurs once every 144 years. It is a unique event, and naturally, everyone wants to go and take the holy bath. Unfortunately, the airline industry is taking advantage by pricing tickets as high as ₹50,000 for one person for one way. Why is the DGCA allowing this? We urge airlines to regulate fares and call upon the central government to ensure airlines refund the excess amounts charged. This is a pilgrimage, not an opportunity to extort money,” Rangarajan said.