Digital
Booking.com reveals top Republic Day weekend getaways
Mumbai: With Republic Day around the corner, Indians are making the most of this three-day extended weekend to plan their getaways as they hit the roads and the skies. Booking.com share insights into the preferred travel destinations for Indian travellers this Republic Day.
Some of the popular destinations for the long weekend include beach destinations like Puducherry, Goa and Alibaug and leisure hotspots like Jaipur, Udaipur, Mahabaleshwar, Ooty and Lonavala, within convenient proximity to major cities. As per Booking.com’s search data, travellers are also searching for closer-to-home international hotspots such as Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok.
Commenting on the same, Booking.com country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia Santosh Kumar said, “2024 has many long weekends presenting a significant opportunity for the travel and hospitality industry to cater to the growing traveller demand and capitalising on this trend. The upcoming Republic Day falling on a Friday this year, has ignited a search in travel demand as Indians eagerly plan to make the most of the long weekend. We are seeing demand come in from couples followed by groups and families. In addition to hotels and resorts, we are seeing Indians opting for alternative accommodations such as homestays, guest houses, apartments and villas for their stay. With travellers indulging in short breaks, exploring destinations near and far, Booking.com is committed to enhancing the traveller experience and making it easier for everyone to experience the world.”
Top searched destinations by Indians travelling domestically for the long weekend (January 26 to January 28, 2024)
Puducherry
Mumbai
Jaipur
Udaipur
Mahabaleshwar
Bengaluru
Ooty
Lonavala
Goa
Alibaug
Top searched international destinations by Indians travelling for the long weekend (January 26 to January 28, 2024)
Dubai
Singapore
Bangkok
Paris
Phuket
London
Hanoi
Kuala Lumpur
Ho Chi Minh City
Tokyo
Top searched accommodation types by Indian travellers travelling within India for the long weekend (26 January to 28 January 2024)
Hotel
Resort
Homestay
Guest House
Apartment
Indian Traveller Demographic travelling for the long weekend (26 January to 28 January 2024)
Couple
Group
Family
Solo
Methodology
The data scientists at Booking looked at the most popular destinations in India and Globally, accommodations searched in India and the travel demographics based on booking data by Indian travellers for search sessions between 15-12-2023 and 15-01-2024 and check-in dates between 2024-01-26 and 2024-01-28.
Digital
How an AI personality became one of India’s fastest-growing influencers
A web series star, podcaster, and 376k Instagram followers, Naina Avtr is India’s first AI superstar
MUMBAI: Move over humans, India’s first AI superstar is taking centre stage. Meet Naina Avtr, a 22-year-old virtual influencer from Jhansi who has captured the imagination of millions. Since her debut in late 2022, Naina has become more than just a CGI creation – she is a bona fide digital celebrity with over 3.76 lakh Instagram followers.
Naina’s claim to fame is packed with firsts. She made her acting debut in October 2025 in the micro-drama series Truth & Lies on Instagram, marking the first time an AI character led a drama alongside human actors. She also hosts The nAIna Show, India’s first AI-driven podcast, where she has chatted with celebrities like Sobhita Dhulipala, Richa Chadha, Kritika Kamra, Saiyami Kher, Esha Deol, Hansika Motwani, and Nargis Fakhri.
The virtual diva has also become a style icon and brand ambassador, collaborating with big names like Nykaa, Puma, and Pepsi. Her Instagram feed, packed with dance routines, outfit reels, fitness tips, and lifestyle snapshots, regularly sparks debate among fans over whether she is real or robot.
Behind the magic is Avtr Meta Labs, led by CEO Abhishek Razdan. Naina comes to life using a blend of CGI, generative AI, and hybrid motion capture, where a human double’s movements are digitally swapped with Naina’s face. Her AI-powered voice can speak in 120 languages, making her a truly global digital star.
The AI icon has not gone unnoticed, winning awards such as the NDTV WhosThat360 AI Creator Award, the Midday Showbiz AI Influencer Award, and the International Iconic AI Influencer title in 2024.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just scrolling for entertainment, Naina Avtr proves that the line between virtual and reality is blurring, and she is leading the parade.
