Lessons from Maha Kumbh for scaling Indian heritage tourism

(We need to redesign India’s Heritage tourism as a blend of authenticity, innovation, and sustainability, creating immersive experiences that not only honour the past, but also drive economic growth )

As the sun rises over the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati beckons millions , the Maha Kumbh Mela shows its centuries, old spiritual grandeur. It is indeed an important lesson for India’s tourism industry in how to showcase combination of heritage and tourist expectations to create an impactful and transformative experience.

The Kala is about reimagining the very idea of Heritage visit. It is a very powerful idea that India’s wealth of history and culture, when paired with modern engineering, has the potential to shape Heritage tourism that resonate deeply with today’s global audience.

An aerial view of the Sangam area during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival, in Prayagraj. (Pic credit: PTI)

The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela promises to be unlike any other. With an estimated 1 to 2 crore visitors expected daily, the festival has evolved into a mind, boggling fusion of spirituality, innovation, and infrastructure. There is something for everyone. Beat luxury dome shaped accommodation that tries 15 feet above the ground offering panoramic views of the event. In addition, we see that offering VVIP ‘snan’ with luxury offerings of air conditioned tents and custom built swimming pools are a way to attract a higher revenue generating clientele segment. Or just about a simple tent to cater to the budget, traveller in dormitory style, accommodation.

This Kumbh has demonstrated its resilience to safety hazards with a freak fire incident handled deftly without any loss of life or property. Medical facilities and access to alert ambulance services are all over the venue. Modern infrastructure such as AI driven security arrangements, sanitation facilities for daily use of millions who visit And effective seamless transportation to make an event of this scale very practically acceptable quality. These only show that heritage can be packaged for the modern traveller without losing authenticity. We will have to see this as the potential future for India’s Heritage tourism.

Over the last couple of years, thanks to global platforms like Airbnb and booming online tourism engagement, travellers, now seek immersive and curated experiences. They want to step inside the stories of the places to visit, to truly understand and feel a part of them. Whether it is tasting local delicacies in a village homestay or learning ancient crafts from local art designs, today’s traveller seeks, meaningful connections and memories.

India’s heritages and paralleled, yet so much of it remains under exploited. It is far easier and even cheaper and more cleaner for Indians to travel abroad. That is a shame that we need to accept and work upon. Let us look at what India has to offer in terms of heritage. The grand palaces of Rajasthan, the lush backwaters of Kerala, the temples of Tamil Nadu and the Buddhist monastery of Ladakh, all offer endless possibilities. These are just for amongst thousands of heritage ideas and sites that we have in our midst.

An aerial view of the Sangam area during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival, in Prayagraj. (Pic credit: PTI)

Imagining transforming a visit to Jaipur Amer Fort into a day in the life of a Rajput Royal, complete with interactive exhibits and participatory performances that allow visitors to experience history rather than simply read it or observe it.

These type of ideas, using technology and maintaining the sanctity of our heritage, could make them more accessible while preserving their cultural significance. They can also be ecologically, conscious and economically viable.

For India to unlock its full potential as heritage, tourism site, a three-pronged approach is needed: investments in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure; collaboration between local communities, government bodies, and private Enterprises; and strategic adoption of technology as a pillar of tourism, planning and execution.

At the core of this vision is the remind that heritage is not an outdated or static relic to be admired from a distance, but a living and evolving narrative that can be presented for future generations to cherish. Protecting and preserving India’s cultural legacy would mean going beyond the cosmetic improvements that we have done for far too long. We need to create a sense of ownership, not just amongst the local authorities, but within the general public as well. Too often, Heritage sites are playing by neglect, littering, and damage, as a sanctity of the spaces is not always respected.

Devotees perform rituals during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj. (Pic credit: PTI)

Heritage tourism, when done right, can be an economic driver for India. Events like the Mahakumbh Mela have already demonstrated the vast potential, generating and estimated ₹12,000 crores in 2013, with the 2025 edition expected to generate over ₹20,000 crores. The Taj Mahal alone attracts over 7 million visitors annually, contributing ₹1300 crores, while Rajasthan Heritage tourism generates over ₹10,000 crores and Valley. These benefit not only the local communities but also create national economic growth by generating jobs and driving infrastructure development.

However, with this potential comes, a crucial lesson: heritage cannot be reduced to a visual spectacle. It is a legacy that would require continue care, respect and innovation. We would need to go beyond the superficial tourism campaigns and invest in the long-term upkeep and authentic presentation of our heritage. This includes better infrastructure, improve site management, and a concerted effort to preserve the cultural integrity of each site .

Devotees perform rituals during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj. (Pic credit: PTI)

India does have unparalleled Heritage as one of its greatest assets. But then how do we turn our asset into an economic engine for cultural enrichment and to show to the world we must craft tourism experiences that speak to the traveller of tomorrow. As India aims to welcome its own citizens as well as global citizens as visitors, to its Heritage sites, the promise has to be that we would give them spectacular living conditions with blending Indian tradition with innovation. Heritage tourism, done right, could not only transform the Indian tourism industry, but also show the world of the timeless stories that has shaped remarkable India.