As Holi 2026 approaches on March 4 (along with Holika Dahan on March 3), airfares on certain domestic routes to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are skyrocketing due to huge demand to travel back home. With long waitlists in trains and oversubscribed buses, passengers are facing almost double the prices compared to post-festival dates.

On the Delhi (DEL) to Patna (PAT) route, IndiGo’s one-way economy fares start at over ₹12,500 for February 28 (pre-Holi weekend), above ₹9,000 on February 26 and around ₹10,000 on March 1. Air India does the same, with fares reaching ₹12,000 before the festival. The relief is visible after Holi: fares fall to around ₹5,500 on March 4 and stabilize around ₹4,500 from March 10-28 (e.g., IndiGo fares are ₹4,502 in late March).

The Mumbai (BOM) to Varanasi (VNS) sector has seen an even higher increase, with IndiGo fares for February 28 exceeding ₹13,000—almost double the ~₹7,000 it was fetching as of March 10. A last minute check for March 3 (just before the festival peak) shows continued high demand.

Other routes also reflect this trend: Ghaziabad’s Hindon airport to Patna flight fares are around ₹7,000, Mumbai to Patna fares are around ₹10,000, and Mumbai to Varanasi fares are over ₹8,000. Overall, fares on the eastern corridor have been reported to have increased by 145–185%, with fares in some sectors reaching close to ₹20,000.

Travelers are advised to book early or consider post-Holi dates to save, as dynamic pricing increases crowding. Indian Railways has started special Holi trains on the Delhi/Mumbai-UP/Bihar route to reduce the pressure, but air travel remains a premium option for many people. Prices vary and are subject to change—check aggregators like MakeMyTrip or airline sites for real-time quotes.