What is kumbha mela all about?

It's the 'Pot Fair', 'Grand Fair' or just 'the big du party!'

The Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Allahabad  while the Purna (complete) Kumbh always takes place at Allahabad every twelve years . Over 45 days beginning in January 2007, more than 70 million Hindu pilgrims took part in the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, and on January 15, the most auspicious day of the festival of Makar Sankranti, more than 5 million participated.

Watch Kumba Mela video

When is the next Kumbha Mela?

January 14 to April 28. 2010

Where is it?

Hardiwar, Uttarakhand.

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How to get to the there?

Haridwar is connected by Train from Delhi. Shatabdi express takes six hours and leaves every morning. There are other trains but are slower.

How long should i go for?

1-2 days depending on your tolerance for crowds and claustrophobia.

When are the best times to go?

January 14        Makarsankranti
January 15        Maunai Aamawasya-Surya
January 20        Basant Panchami
January 30        Maaagh Purnima
February 12      Shr Maha ShivratriShahiu snan
March 15           Somawati
March 16           Navsamvatarambh snan
March24           Shree ramnavami snan
March 20           Chaitra purnima
April 14            Mesha Sankranti
April 28            Viaskh aadhimass purnima

What should I expect at the Kumbha Mela?

Sadhus are renunciates who live in caves, forests and temples all over India.

There are 4 or 5 million sadhus in India today often revered for their holiness, sometimes feared for their fearce looks. So these motley hippies are thought to be good luck and cleans their daily bad deeds. So they are well paid beggars.

Not every Sadhus drives a nano. Some live in goa or manali and act as guru to foreigners. Some live in the mountains alone for years at a time, eating only a few raisans.

Who are the Naga Baba's?

Where will i stay?

The obvious strategy for a tourist is to stay in Rishikesh not far away. From there you can do a day trip to Haridwar and the Kumbha Mela. Rishikesh is about 20 minutes to Haridwar

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Mussoorie at 2000m is another choice. If you want quiet and cool this is the place. Mussoorie is not so far by taxi to Haridwar 1-2 hours.

Dehradun is close to Haridwar but not a very interesting town.

Hardiwar it self. There will be a variety of accommodation including tents set up. Just show up you find somewhere to sleep. That what it is a Kumbha Mela!

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