Haridwar Kumbh 2027: Dates, Amrit Snan and Travel Guide

The Haridwar Kumbh 2027, officially the Haridwar Ardh Kumbh, runs for 97 days, from 14 January to 20 April 2027. It is an Ardh Kumbh by the calendar, but the state government is preparing it on the scale of a full Kumbh, and the Mela administration expects crores of pilgrims over the season. This guide covers every bathing date, what to expect on the big days, how to get there, where to stay and how to keep your family safe.

Haridwar Kumbh 2027 snan dates

There are ten official bathing dates. Three of them are Amrit Snan days, when the akharas take their ceremonial dip at Har Ki Pauri and the crowds are at their largest.

Which date should you choose?

• To see the akhara processions: come for an Amrit Snan day, 6 March, 8 March or 14 April. Expect the strictest traffic rules and the longest walks of the whole Kumbh.
• For a calmer dip with elders or children: pick a regular snan day, or a weekday between the big dates, such as late January or the days between 20 February and 6 March.
• If you also want the Char Dham: plan two trips. The Kumbh ends on 20 April, but in 2027 the Char Dham temples are expected to open around early May, as Gangotri and Yamunotri traditionally open on Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on 9 May 2027. The Kedarnath opening date is announced on Mahashivratri, 6 March 2027.

What happens on an Amrit Snan day

The akharas go to Har Ki Pauri in procession and bathe first, at times fixed by the Mela administration. While they bathe, access to the main ghats is controlled, and pilgrims are directed to other ghats along the Ganga. Roads into the centre are closed to private vehicles, and you should expect to walk a long way.

Arrive in Haridwar a day early and stay close to the ghats, rather than driving in on the morning of the snan.

How to reach Haridwar for the Kumbh

• By road: Haridwar is about 220 km from Delhi. During the Kumbh, plan extra time for diversions and checks at the entry points.
• By train: Haridwar Junction has direct trains from Delhi and many other cities. Book early, as Kumbh trains fill up fast.
• By air: the nearest airport is Dehradun's Jolly Grant, about an hour's drive from Haridwar on a normal day.

Parking, traffic and getting around

The Mela Officer has said there will be parking and shuttle services at the city's entry points, that the Kumbh area will be pedestrian-friendly, and that there will be special arrangements for elders and local residents on major bathing days. In practice:

• Your car or taxi will most likely stop at a parking area outside the centre, and you take a shuttle or walk from there.
• On the biggest days, the area around the ghats is effectively open only on foot.
• Diversions change with the crowd, so follow police and Mela signs rather than your phone's map.

A driver who knows Haridwar's routes and parking zones makes a big difference. We drop you as close as the rules allow and pick you up at a fixed point.

The ghats

Har Ki Pauri, with Brahmakund, is the main ghat and the heart of the Kumbh. Other ghats along the Ganga include Malviya Ghat, Subhash Ghat, Gau Ghat, Kushavarta Ghat, Bhimgoda Ghat, Narayani Shila Ghat, Chandi Ghat and Bhupatwala Ghat, and new ghats are being built to spread the crowd. When Har Ki Pauri is full, the police direct pilgrims to the nearest open ghat.

Where to stay during the Kumbh

Rooms in Haridwar sell out months ahead for a Kumbh, and prices rise sharply on snan dates, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

The government is also planning tent settlements for pilgrims, in areas including Shyampur, Gandikhata and Chandighat. Locations, categories and rates have not been published yet. We will add them here when they are.

Tips for elders and families

• Keep everyone's ID with them, and put a paper with your phone number and hotel address in each elder's and child's pocket.
• Fix a meeting point near your hotel. If anyone gets separated, go straight to the nearest police post or the Mela's lost-and-found centre.
• Avoid the peak hours of Amrit Snan days with elders. An early weekday dip is calmer and safer.
• January and February mornings are cold, and the Ganga is colder. Carry warm clothes, a towel and a change of clothes for after the dip.
• Hold the chains and railings at the ghat and stay in shallow water. The current is strong.
• Carry only what you need. Leave jewellery and extra cash at the hotel.

How Kedarnath Saathi helps

We are based in Bhupatwala, Haridwar, and work with hotels across the city. We arrange stays near the ghats in every budget, pick your family up from Delhi or any city, drop you as close to the ghats as the rules allow, plan Kumbh trips with Rishikesh, and plan your Char Dham yatra for later in the year. See Kumbh 2027 stays and cabs or tell us your dates.