MakeMyTrip turns 25: Founders reflect on surviving crashes, COVID and comebacks

Twenty-five years ago, a young entrepreneur named Deep Kalra set out to revolutionise the way Indians travel by venturing into the then-nascent world of online bookings. Today, MakeMyTrip stands as one of India’s leading travel companies, capping off a record-breaking year in 2023–2024.

The numbers tell a compelling story: over 80 million lifetime transacting customers, more than 490 million app downloads, and 519 million shopper visits. These milestones reflect the scale and impact of MakeMyTrip’s journey over the last quarter-century.

In 2010, the company took a major leap by listing on the Nasdaq. Since then, it has expanded through a series of strategic acquisitions, weathered its share of challenges, and emerged stronger—with valuable lessons learned along the way.

CNBC-TV18 sat down with Deep Kalra, Founder & Chairman, and Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, to reflect on the company’s 25-year journey—and to look ahead at what the next 25 years…