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New facility provides luggage storage, shower and changing rooms for pilgrims
India, March 18, 2026: IntrCity SmartBus, India’s leading tech-enabled intercity bus network, has launched a dedicated traveller lounge in Tirupati as part of its broader strategy to strengthen infrastructure across high-demand pilgrimage corridors. The facility offers luggage storage, shower facilities, and changing rooms, aimed at improving the travel experience for pilgrims.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, over 1.43 billion domestic visits to religious destinations were recorded in 2022, generating nearly ₹1.34 lakh crore in revenue, with more than 60% of tourism activity in India linked to religious travel. The sector is expected to grow significantly, with estimates suggesting it could reach $59 billion by 2028, driven by improved connectivity, infrastructure development and rising interest in pilgrimage travel across destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Tirupati.
The newly opened lounge is located near the RTC Bus Stand area, enabling passengers to store their belongings and freshen up before heading towards the temple. According to data from IntrCity SmartBus, a large proportion of passengers travelling to Tirupati arrive in the early morning hours after overnight journeys, creating demand for facilities where travellers can freshen up before proceeding for darshan.
Tirupati, home to the revered Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, is among the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world. The temple records daily visitor numbers regularly exceeding 60,000 to 80,000 devotees, with annual footfall estimated between 30 and 40 million, making the region a major and constant hub for religious tourism. With spiritual tourism witnessing renewed momentum across destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi and Tirupati, infrastructure that supports pilgrim comfort and last-mile travel convenience is becoming increasingly important.
Speaking on the launch, Manish Rathi, Co-founder & CEO, IntrCity SmartBus, said, “Travel demand is consistently high in pilgrimage corridors like Tirupati, particularly on overnight routes that connect significant cities. The opportunity to enhance the overall travel ecosystem surrounding these routes is increasing as more travellers transition to organised intercity bus networks. The Tirupati traveller lounge is a component of our endeavour to fortify the infrastructure of traveller services in significant pilgrimage destinations.”
By combining clean infrastructure, convenient amenities, and reliable connectivity, IntrCity SmartBus continues to strengthen the organised intercity bus travel ecosystem while supporting travellers across some of India’s busiest pilgrimage corridors.
IntrCity SmartBus currently operates on over 630 routes in 15 states, connecting numerous significant pilgrimage destinations, such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Shirdi, and Tirupati. In response to the increasing demand for technology-enabled and organised intercity travel, the company has been expanding its services along these routes.
