The Karnataka State Tourism Corporation (KSRTC) will ply additional buses to religious destinations as the demand increases. Private tour operators also say that there is a rush to book tickets to places of worship during this season. The top destinations are Dharmasthala, Tirupati, Mantralaya along with Gokarna, Sringeri, Kukke Subramanya, Udupi, Rameshwaram and Madurai.

“This year we are expecting to ply about 150 extra buses around New Year; a large chunk of this will be to Tirupati and Dharmasthala,” said KSRTC General Manager, Traffic and Operations, KA Rajkumar. 

There is more than a 50 per cent increase in reservations to popular pilgrim centres from December 28 to January 2 according to Balaji, package manager, Hoysala Travels. CEO of Sri Satya Sai Tours Chidambara says that every year, the demand is increasing despite the additional buses introduced by KSRTC and private operators.

Many people consider a darshan of the Lord in a place of worship on January 1 auspicious for the year to come.  Freelance management consultant Raman is  travelling to Tirupati along with his family. “Its been a tradition in our family - there is a purity a religious place offers. which is fitting to make resolutions” he said.

With popular religious destinations are all booked, many are opting for alternatives like Chikka Tirupati (70 kms from Bangalore) and Nanjundeshwara Temple (20 kms from Mysore) say tour operators. Others are driving down to temples.

“My wife and I are driving to Kalasa (Chickamagalur District) to visit the Annapurneshwari Temple, which is the only temple of Annapurneshwari in the state, for the New Year,” says Satyanand, regional head, Bonanza Commodities Pvt Ltd.