The authorities have set up tented camps along the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, but with about 100 million people attending, demand for accommodation is very high.

BBC: India hosts the world��s biggest gathering

Meanwhile, immigration and rising numbers of single-person households have driven demand for rented accommodation.

ECONOMIST: An Englishman��s rented flat is his castle

But more demand for rental accommodation has cut the supply of houses for sale to first-time buyers.

ECONOMIST: Immigration and agriculture