But when a family begins planning a pilgrimage, finding a dependable Dharamshala near a temple can still involve calling distant relatives, searching through old contact lists, relying on forwarded WhatsApp messages and making repeated phone calls, often without clear photographs, updated information or confirmed availability.
For a journey meant to begin with faith, the experience frequently begins with uncertainty.
This gap inspired four entrepreneurs, Miller Khandhar, Ankita Khandhar, Shikha Doshi and Supriti Batra, to create My Divine Stays, a platform built to help pilgrims discover Dharamshalas, Ashrams and Temple Trust stays across India.
The idea behind My Divine Stays is simple: spiritual travellers should be able to find dependable accommodation with the same clarity and confidence available to other travellers, without taking away the traditions, values and individuality that make these institutions special.
A large ecosystem that remains difficult to navigate
Pilgrimage is not a niche category in India. It is woven into the lives of families across regions, languages and generations.
India recorded approximately 2.95 billion domestic tourist visits in 2024, a significant increase from around 1.73 billion in 2022. These figures include pilgrimage and religious travel, although a separate national count of pilgrims is not maintained.
Behind these numbers are deeply personal journeys: parents taking their children for their first darshan, senior citizens fulfilling a long-held wish, families travelling for a religious ceremony and young Indians rediscovering sacred destinations in their own way.
Yet the accommodation supporting these journeys often remains difficult to discover online.
Many Dharamshalas and Ashrams have served pilgrims for decades. They may be trusted within particular communities but remain largely invisible outside them. Information about rooms, facilities, location, policies and booking procedures is frequently fragmented or unavailable.
The problem is therefore not the absence of accommodation. It is the absence of a reliable bridge between pilgrims searching for it and institutions already offering it.
The idea behind My Divine Stays
“My Divine Stays did not begin as a technology idea. It began with a problem that almost every Indian family has experienced,” said Miller Khandhar, Founder of My Divine Stays.
“You may know exactly which temple you want to visit, but not where your family can stay nearby. What follows is often a chain of calls, references and uncertain answers. We felt there had to be a simpler and more dependable way.”
My Divine Stays has been created as that bridge.
The platform enables travellers to search for Dharamshalas, Ashrams and Temple Trust stays according to their destination, state or place of worship. Instead of depending entirely on scattered sources, pilgrims can access relevant stay information in one place and make a more informed booking decision.
But the founders are clear that My Divine Stays is not trying to convert Dharamshalas into hotels.
A Dharamshala is more than an affordable room. It can represent service, community, tradition and a sense of belonging. An Ashram may follow a particular discipline and way of life. A Temple Trust stay may operate according to its own customs and policies.
My Divine Stays intends to make these properties easier to find while allowing each institution to retain its identity.
Four founders, one shared purpose
The platform brings together four founders with different but complementary responsibilities.
Miller Khandhar leads the company’s vision and strategy. Ankita Khandhar manages finance and legal functions. Shikha Doshi leads marketing and brand development, while Supriti Batra looks after strategic partnerships.
What unites them is the belief that improving pilgrimage travel does not always require changing the journey itself. Sometimes, it begins by removing the uncertainty surrounding it.
“Pilgrimage is an emotional experience,” said Supriti Batra, Co-founder of My Divine Stays. “People are not simply looking for a room. They are looking for a stay that feels sacred for the purpose of their journey. The brand therefore needs to communicate trust, respect and warmth and not merely convenience.”
This philosophy is reflected in the platform’s message: Aapki Yatra Dhanya Ho.
Building for the next generation of pilgrims
Pilgrimage travel in India is evolving. Senior citizens continue to form an important part of the audience, but families, working professionals and younger travellers are also visiting spiritual destinations more frequently.
Their expectations are changing too. They want the authenticity of a traditional stay, but they also want accessible information and greater confidence before they travel.
My Divine Stays wants to help traditional accommodation providers participate in this shift without losing what makes them distinctive. Greater digital visibility can help these institutions reach pilgrims beyond their existing community networks, while travellers benefit from a more organised discovery process.
The company’s long-term vision is to build a trusted digital ecosystem for pilgrimage accommodation across India—one that brings technology and tradition together thoughtfully.
The launch is only the beginning. The founders now plan to listen closely to pilgrims, families, Dharamshala operators, Ashrams and Temple Trusts as the platform develops.
The road to a sacred destination may be long, but finding a place to stay should not be the most difficult part of the journey.
Aapki Yatra Dhanya Ho.
Visit: www.mydivinestays.com
About My Divine Stays
My Divine Stays is a pilgrimage accommodation platform helping travellers discover Dharamshalas, Ashrams and Temple Trust stays across India. Founded by Miller Khandhar, Ankita Khandhar, Shikha Doshi and Supriti Batra, the platform aims to make spiritual journeys simpler and more dependable while respecting the traditions of the institutions it represents.
Media Contact
Shikha Doshi
My Divine Stays
Email: shikha@mydivinestays.com
Phone: 9022618025
