Skyscanner unveiled The India Culture Travel Index

Hyderabad, August 4th 2026: Leading global travel app Skyscanner today unveiled findings from The India Culture Travel Index, revealing a growing appetite for culture-led travel among Hyderabad travellers. Regional food experiences emerged as the biggest cultural travel draw (56%), followed by festivals and celebrations (54%) and spiritual journeys (51%). The findings underscore a shift beyond traditional sightseeing, with travellers increasingly seeking immersive experiences that connect them with a destination's food, traditions, heritage and local communities.  

Neel Ghose, Travel Trends and Destinations Expert, Skyscanner India, said: "For Hyderabad travellers, culture is no longer just part of the destination, it's increasingly becoming the reason for the trip. Food is leading that shift, reflecting a growing desire to experience places through their local flavours, traditions and communities. At the same time, Hyderabad's strong connection to spiritual heritage and Telugu culture shows that travellers are looking for experiences that feel authentic and meaningful. As more people plan holidays around festivals, local cuisine and cultural moments, staying flexible with travel dates and comparing options can help them make the most of these journeys. ”

Interest in culture-led travel is increasing amongst travellers from Hyderabad, with more than half (51%) now planning holidays primarily around cultural experiences, while a further 36% say culture enriches their trips even when it is not the main reason for travel. The shift is also translating into travel behaviour. Nearly all Hyderabad travellers (95%) have travelled beyond Telangana for a cultural experience, while 87% say they are willing to travel outside their home state or to lesser-known destinations in search of authentic cultural experiences. 

Beyond the city's culinary culture, Charminar, the Old City and historic monuments (50%), spiritual sites such as Yadadri, Bhadrachalam and Chilkur Balaji Temple (41%), and Telugu culture, music and regional traditions (38%) emerge among the experiences Hyderabad residents most strongly associate with the region's cultural identity.R

espondents also believe Charminar and Old City heritage walks (39%), Bonalu celebrations (33%), Medaram Jatara and Telangana's tribal and rural cultural experiences (33%), Bathukamma (31%), and the Warangal heritage circuit and Kakatiya architecture (30%) deserve greater visibility, highlighting opportunities to encourage more travellers to discover Telangana's rich and diverse cultural heritage.