New Delhi, May 26 -- Traffic gridlocks notwithstanding, travellers have been visiting popular pilgrimage destinations across the country this year, with travel companies seeing a rise in demand ranging from 30% to 100% compared to the last summer season.

Despite the heat, this year's pilgrimage season has started strongly, with travellers heading to Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Uttarakhand, the Char Dham circuit, and Tirupati.

Travel agency Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has witnessed a 100% increase in bookings over the last year for its Char Dham yatras, with growing interest among younger, millennial travellers. For them, the company has tailored a 'Pilgrimage Plus' offering, which combines temple visits with local experiences like cuisine...