With Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan more or less bookending the coming weekend, people in Gujarat seem set to enjoy their mini vacation from August 15 to 19. 

However, in bad news for those planning a trip to Mumbai around that time, the waitlist for tickets on the double-decker Vande Bharat train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai has already crossed 100. 

Similarly, people seeking Goa’s beaches will have to shell out 2.5 times the usual airfare. This means a whopping ₹15,000 for a one-way ticket this weekend. According to industry insiders, this number often exceeds ₹20,000 during the Janmashtami holiday, which falls on Aug 26 this year.

Meanwhile, bus tickets are reflecting the rush towards religious places due to the Shravan month. Ticket fares from Ahmedabad to Somnath, Ujjain and Shirdi on August 14 cost ₹3,000, ₹3,500 and ₹3,000, respectively. 

Ambaji, Chotila, Pavagadh, and Dwarka, will also likely be crowded these two weekends, as will Udaipur, Shreenathji, Mount Abu, and Saputara — all traditionally favoured getaways from Gujarat.