Zostel logs 76% June booking jump in Shimla as urban Indians rush to hills

Mountain getaways are surging in June, with Zostel reporting 76% YoY booking growth in Shimla and up to 95% in Srinagar, Tirthan Valley and Gangtok. Last-minute travel is dominant—48% book within 72 hours—while non-metro travellers now drive 67% of footfall, up from 65% a year ago.

— Source publishedSun, 21 Jun, 2026, 13:41 IST·First seen Sun, 21 Jun, 2026, 13:49 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Zostel reports June mountain bookings up 76% YoY in Shimla and 95% in Srinagar/Tirthan/Gangtok, with 48% of travellers booking within 72 hours and non-metro

Key facts

  • 76% YoY booking surge in Shimla
  • 95% footfall growth in Srinagar/Tirthan/Gangtok
  • 7-9% overall mountain booking growth
  • 48% bookings within 72 hours
  • 15-18% occupancy rise at Kasauli property
  • 67% non-metro footfall vs 65% last year

Why this matters

Hill-station hospitality assets and last-minute booking platforms catering to non-metro travellers are screening as attractive M&A or partnership targets given the 67% non-metro mix and accelerating tier-2 wallet share.