More than half of Ahmedabad travellers plan holidays primarily around cultural experiences, driven most strongly by heritage, festivals and spiritual journeys.
AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT | 06th AUGUST 2026 | Leading global travel app Skyscanner today unveiled findings from The India Culture Travel Index, revealing a growing appetite for culture-led travel among Ahmedabad travellers. Half (50%) of respondents most closely associate Ahmedabad’s cultural identity with its rich festive traditions, alongside its culinary heritage, spiritual destinations and Gandhian legacy. These cultural roots are also shaping travel choices, with heritage and history (57%) emerging as the biggest motivation for culture-led holidays, closely followed by festivals and celebrations (54%) and spiritual journeys (54%).
Neel Ghose, Travel Trends and Destinations Expert, Skyscanner India, said: “For Ahmedabad travellers, culture is no longer just part of the destination, it’s increasingly becoming the reason for the trip. Ahmedabad’s rich festive traditions are at the heart of the city’s cultural identity, reflecting a growing desire to experience places through their history, celebrations and local communities. At the same time, the city’s strong connection to heritage and spiritual traditions shows that travellers are looking for experiences that feel authentic and meaningful. As more people plan holidays around heritage, festivals and spiritual experiences, staying flexible with travel dates and comparing options can help them make the most of these journeys. For instance, try mixing and matching airlines or airports when searching for flights, and use tools like Skyscanner’s Price Alerts to find better value when planning your travels.”
Heritage, festivals and spirituality are shaping Ahmedabad travellers’ holiday choices
Interest in culture-led travel continues to grow among Ahmedabad travellers, with 88% saying their interest has increased in recent years. More than half (56%) now plan holidays primarily around cultural experiences such as heritage, festivals, food and traditions, while a further 30% say culture enriches their trips even when it is not the primary reason for travelling.
The shift is also translating into travel behaviour. Nearly all Ahmedabad travellers (94%) have travelled beyond Gujarat for a cultural experience, while almost 9 in 10 (88%) say they are willing to travel outside their home state or to lesser-known destinations in search of authentic cultural experiences. The biggest drivers behind this trend include the growth of food, craft and heritage trails (46%) and growing pride in India’s heritage (42%).
When asked which Indian states offer the richest cultural experiences, (26%) of Gujarat travellers ranked their own state first, followed by Rajasthan (25%), Uttar Pradesh (12%), and Kerala (7%).
Festivals and faith continue to inspire travel
Major cultural celebrations are increasingly influencing travel plans, with nearly 3 in 4 (74%) saying they would consider planning a trip specifically to attend a major cultural or religious festival.
Durga Puja (35%) and Kumbh Mela (35%) emerge as the top festival travel draws, followed by Rath Yatra (33%).
Travellers are primarily motivated by the opportunity to experience authentic once-a-year cultural celebrations (34%), followed by a spiritual or emotional connection (24%).
Ahmedabad residents are looking beyond borders for cultural experiences
Interest in culture-led travel extends overseas too. One in three Ahmedabad residents (33%) have already travelled overseas for cultural experiences, while 59% aspire to do so in the future.
Japan is the most sought-after destination for international culture-led travel, selected by 25% of respondents. It is followed by Thailand and Vietnam (20%), Italy (18%), the United Kingdom (12%) and Egypt (10%).
Festivals, food and spirituality define Gujarat’s cultural identity
Ahmedabad’s vibrant festive traditions continue to shape how residents perceive the city’s cultural identity. Half of respondents (50%) most closely associate Ahmedabad with its festive culture followed by Gujarati food and culinary traditions (45%), spiritual destinations such as Akshardham, Dwarka and Somnath (42%), nearby cultural getaways including the Rann of Kutch, Patan, Modhera and Vadodara (40%), and Sabarmati Ashram and Gandhian heritage (38%).
Respondents also identified several cultural experiences they believe deserve greater visibility, including the Dwarka and Somnath’s spiritual circuit (47%), Rann of Kutch village and folk culture experiences (45%), Gujarati culinary trails beyond dhokla and fafda (36%), Folk music, Garba and regional storytelling traditions (34%), and Modhera Sun Temple and cultural festivals (30%).
Practical considerations continue to shape travel decisions
While enthusiasm for culture-led travel remains high, practical considerations continue to influence holiday planning. Crowds and overtourism (45%) emerge as the biggest barrier preventing Ahmedabad travellers from taking more culture-led trips, followed by price spikes during festival periods (41%), safety concerns (36%), high travel costs (32%) and weather or seasonal disruption (30%).
As interest in heritage-led travel continues to grow, Skyscanner is helping travellers discover destinations, compare travel options and plan journeys around heritage trails, festivals and local cultural experiences. From finding inspiration to tracking fares and comparing travel dates, a range of built-in tools makes planning culture-led journeys simpler and more flexible.
Dr Navina Jafa, an expert in heritage tourism, sustainability, cultural strategy, and Kathak dance, said: “India’s cultural heritage is not only about monuments, but also the ecosystems around heritage landscapes: creative skilled communities, cultural traditions, and living practices. Studies show a growing number of travellers seeking immersive heritage experiences, underlining India’s need to invest in its vast geographical diversity and multilayered cultural legacy. This fast-growing sector offers major opportunities for conservation, economic growth, and for strengthening heritage tourism nationally and globally.”
Skyscanner tools to help plan culture-led journeys
As more travellers plan around festivals and seasonal events, flexibility has become just as important as inspiration. Skyscanner offers a range of tools to help travellers compare dates, track prices and discover destinations that match the experiences they’re looking for:
- Explore with AI: Describe the kind of trip you’re looking for in natural language, such as “cheap flights to Japan in December” or “heritage destinations for a long weekend”, and receive personalised destination suggestions with insights on prices, weather, flight duration and travel style.
- Price Alerts: Track fares for a chosen route and receive notifications when prices change, making it easier to book when fares drop.
- Whole Month Search: Compare flight prices across an entire month to identify the most affordable travel dates, particularly useful when planning trips around festivals or seasonal events.
- Nearby Airports: Compare fares across nearby departure and arrival airports to uncover better-value flight options and more flexible routes.
- Flight Tracker: Access real-time flight information, including departures, arrivals, gate details and baggage belt updates for added peace of mind on travel day.
- DROPS: Available exclusively on the Skyscanner app, DROPS highlights flights that have fallen by 20% or more over the previous seven days, helping travellers spot great-value fares.
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