‘Mera Bharat Mahan’: Comedian books flight to Dubai after finding Delhi-Jaisalmer fare to be Rs 31,000

The high costs of domestic air travel in India have shocked many travellers, with some finding it more economical to fly internationally than to certain domestic destinations. Stand-up comedian Ankit Grover recently shared an example that highlights this trend.

Grover, who is based in London, revealed that the flight from Delhi to Jaisalmer cost a staggering Rs 31,000 per person. In contrast, an international flight to Dubai cost him 30,000 rupees per person, a lower fare for a longer flight. While planning a trip to Jaisalmer to celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, Grover was surprised by the exorbitant local ticket prices and eventually chose the Dubai trip instead.

The comedian shared his experience in an Instagram comment, which has now gone viral on X (formerly Twitter). But he did not mention the specific dates or times at which he checked ticket prices. “For my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, I was booking tickets to Jaisalmer. The Delhi to Jaisalmer flight was for 15,000 and when I was about to book after a gap of 3-4 days, it went up to 31,000. I ended up booking Dubai for 30,000. ,” he wrote in his Instagram comment and added: “And who is the loser? Mera Bharat Mahan.” This comment was later shared by the Gems on

Many social media users expressed shock and raised concerns about the rising prices of domestic flights. One user commented, “Yes of course Mera Bharat Mahan, there are no regulations on fare charges. The government should intervene in this matter otherwise local tourism will be hampered.” Another added: “Ankit Groverni is at a loss, and the government has nothing to lose.”

A third user noted, “People are exploring foreign trips because of the same price range. When going out of Goa during New Year, people prefer to go to Vietnam or Thailand rather than Goa in the same price range. “This needs some serious thinking among the authorities.”