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By Hariharan U
Published on August 10, 2025
Ekostay, one of India’s leading names in the alternative hospitality space, has taken a big step forward in its growth journey with the launch of 19 premium villa properties across the country’s most sought-after leisure destinations. The move reflects the brand’s long-term goal of expanding its reach and meeting the rising demand for private, immersive holiday stays.
From scenic hillside retreats in Ooty and Kodaikanal to coastal escapes in Goa, and popular weekend getaways in Lonavala, Alibaug, Karjat, Igatpuri, and Pune, these newly added villas are designed to combine comfort, local charm, and personalised service. With over a dozen properties in Tamil Nadu’s hill stations and nearly half a dozen spread across Maharashtra’s favourite holiday hubs, Ekostay is strategically strengthening its presence in high-demand travel zones.
Market insights from Wryght Research & Capital reveal the potential ahead: India’s vacation rentals market is projected to grow from USD 3.45 billion in 2025 to USD 16.7 billion by 2034, with branded villa stays alone expected to touch USD 1.56 billion by 2029. Rising trends like workcations, leisure travel, and the digital nomad lifestyle are fuelling this growth.
“At Ekostay, our expansion is not just about increasing numbers. It’s about deepening our connection with travellers across India”, shared Husain Khatumdi, Managing Director and Co-founder, Ekostay. “Each property is designed to feel like a second home while delivering the consistency and quality we’re known for”.
Echoing the sentiment, Varun Arora, CEO and Co-founder, highlighted the shift in travel patterns. “Travellers now want privacy, flexibility, and unique experiences. Our focus is to be present in the places our audience loves while ensuring the service standards they expect.”
Sohail Mirchandani, COO and Co-founder, emphasised that operational excellence remains a priority: “With every new location, we scale our systems, teams, and support to guarantee a seamless stay experience.”
On the acquisition front, Zishan Khan, Chief Acquisition Officer and Co-founder, noted, “We carefully select properties that align with our brand ethos, ensuring they unlock high-demand travel destinations for our customers.”
With this latest expansion, Ekostay now operates over 160 villas across India, reinforcing its leadership in the premium homestay segment and strengthening its presence in both the South and Maharashtra markets.
About Ekostay
Ekostay is a premium alternative hospitality brand offering curated private villas that blend distinctive design, hotel-grade service, and homely comfort. Its portfolio spans beaches, hills, and countryside destinations, delivering stays that combine local flavour with elevated hospitality.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on May 19, 2026
FLY91 has announced an additional weekday daily flight between Pune and Goa for May 2026 to meet increased passenger demand during the summer holiday season. The temporary addition comes as travel activity continues to rise due to vacations, family trips and seasonal travel movement.
The airline already operates daily weekday services on the Pune-Goa route, while weekend operations currently run twice daily. The newly introduced weekday frequency is expected to provide travellers with more options and greater convenience during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
According to the airline, the decision was taken in response to increased movement from holidaymakers, students, families and business travellers. The Pune-Goa route has witnessed steady demand throughout the summer season, making it an important sector within the airline’s growing network.
By adding another service, FLY91 aims to improve schedule flexibility while increasing seat availability between the two destinations. The move is also expected to ease travel during the peak vacation period and support smoother passenger movement.
Pune continues to remain one of western India’s key educational and commercial centres, while Goa attracts a significant number of domestic travellers during the summer months. The additional service is expected to further strengthen connectivity between the two cities and support increasing regional travel demand.
FLY91 said the new flight also aligns with its broader objective of strengthening dependable and safe regional connectivity across underserved and high-demand sectors in India.
The airline currently operates flights across 12 destinations including Goa (GOX), Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Solapur, Jalgaon, Sindhudurg, Kochi, Agatti, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Hubballi.
Published on May 17, 2026
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a special religious journey to Nepal under its Bharat Gaurav scheme, giving travellers and pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh and nearby regions an opportunity to explore important spiritual and tourist destinations in the neighbouring country.
The special 'Pashupatinath Nepal Darshan Yatra' will begin from Indore on June 12 aboard a Deluxe AC tourist train. According to IRCTC, this is the first Bharat Gaurav tourist train service designed for passengers travelling beyond India’s borders, making it a significant addition to its tourism offerings.
The journey will run for nine nights and 10 days, covering some of Nepal’s well-known religious and tourist attractions. The itinerary includes visits to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, and Manakamana Temple. As part of the experience, travellers will also get access to a ropeway ride at Manakamana Temple and a Jeep Safari at Chitwan, arranged by IRCTC.
Passengers can board the train from multiple stations across Madhya Pradesh including Indore, Ujjain, Shujalpur, Sehore, Rani Kamalapati (Bhopal), Itarsi, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, and Satna.
Rahul Holkar, Executive Tourism (Indore), said: "Dining facilities will be available for passengers onboard, with two restaurant coaches arranged for this purpose."
He also shared that the train will have 14 coaches and offer three accommodation categories: First AC, Second AC, and Third AC. The package further includes five-night accommodation in three-star hotels, along with local sightseeing through AC buses.
IRCTC has introduced different fare structures based on the selected category. The package covers rail travel, hotel stays, meals onboard and during the journey, local transportation, sightseeing, travel insurance, tour escorts, security arrangements and housekeeping services.
Officials also clarified that the Nepal Darshan Yatra is a guided tourist journey and should be viewed as a specially curated travel experience rather than a regular international tour package. Bookings for the Bharat Gaurav Nepal Yatra can be made through IRCTC’s official website and authorised offices.
Published on May 16, 2026
Air India has commenced commercial operations to Ludhiana’s newly operational Halwara airport, becoming the first airline to launch services at the airport. The new route strengthens connectivity between Ludhiana and Delhi while also opening access to Air India’s wider international network.
The inaugural flight from Delhi landed at Halwara airport at 0703 Hrs, while the return service departed from Ludhiana at 0800 Hrs. Air India will now operate two daily flights on the Delhi–Ludhiana route using its A320 family aircraft.
The newly launched services have been scheduled to provide passengers with smoother onward connections through Delhi to Air India’s international destinations. Travellers flying from Ludhiana can conveniently connect to cities including London, Paris, Milan, Rome, and Birmingham through a single ticket and a unified baggage allowance system with through check-in facilities.
Passengers will also benefit from same-terminal transfers at Delhi airport, allowing easier movement between domestic and international flights.
The flight schedule for the Delhi–Ludhiana route includes:
With the launch of operations at Halwara airport, Air India continues to expand its domestic network while strengthening connectivity between regional cities and international destinations.
Bookings for Air India’s Ludhiana flights are now open across all channels, including the airline’s website, mobile app, and travel partners worldwide.
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