Hushpitality Rising: Agoda Insights Point to a Growing Appetite for Slower Travel in India

Digital travel platform Agoda has recorded a rise in travel interest across a cluster of destinations in India’s Himalayan region, with Dharamshala, Rishikesh and Uttarkashi all witnessing year-on-year growth in accommodation searches. The increase reflects a growing preference among travelers for quieter, slower-paced holidays, with more people seeking peaceful alternatives to crowded tourist destinations, a movement increasingly referred to as ‘hushpitality’.

Rise of Slower Travel
- Indian travelers are increasingly choosing peaceful, slower-paced holidays over crowded tourist hotspots.
- This movement, dubbed hushpitality, emphasizes distance from urban noise, proximity to nature, and unhurried experiences.

Destination Trends
Dharamshala: 154% year-on-year increase in accommodation searches.
- Draws visitors with Tibetan Buddhist culture, meditation centers, and forest trails.
Rishikesh: 65% increase.
- Known for yoga traditions, wellness retreats, and ashram stays along the Ganga.
Uttarkashi: 17% increase.
- Appeals to deliberate travelers seeking authentic mountain terrain experiences.

Traveler Demographics
- Growth led by domestic travelers, but also strong inbound interest from the US, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, UAE, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Nepal.

Motivation
- Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook: 67% of Indian respondents cited relaxation as their primary travel motivation.
- Reflects a shift toward meaningful holidays centered on time, space, and simplicity.

Agoda’s Role
- Offers access to 6 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities.
- Goal: make these slower, wellness-oriented experiences more accessible at the right price.

This trend suggests India’s Himalayan destinations are becoming the new wellness and slow-travel hubs, rivaling traditional tourist centers.