The “No Vacancy” signs are up across the religious tourism belt of Haryana tonight as the International Gita Mahotsav enters its peak weekend.
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Full Occupancy: Every major hotel, from budget stays near the railway station to luxury resorts on the highway, has been fully occupied since Friday evening. “We have been getting 50 to 60 calls an hour for the past two days, but we have absolutely no rooms left,” said the manager of a prominent hotel in Kurukshetra.
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The Spillover Effect: Due to the saturation in Kurukshetra, the demand shifted to Karnal, located about 35 km away. However, by Saturday afternoon, even Karnal’s hospitality hub reported nearly full occupancy. Tourists are now being diverted to roadside dhabas with rest facilities or private homestays.
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Economic Boom: The high demand has led to a surge in tariff rates, with some premium hotels seeing a 30-40% increase in prices compared to normal weekends. Local businesses, including e-rickshaws, restaurants, and handicraft stalls at the Saras Mela, have reported their highest daily earnings of the season.
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Government Arrangements: The Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has opened up additional temporary tent cities and community centers to accommodate pilgrims who have arrived without prior bookings. Over 20,000 pilgrims are estimated to be staying in makeshift accommodations provided by various religious social organizations (Sanjhas).
