Kumbh Mela Trimbakeshwar: Simhastha Kumbh and Kushavarta Kund

The Kumbh Mela moves between four places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and the Nashik-Trimbak region. According to Puranic legend, gods and demons fought over a pot (kumbha) of nectar after the churning of the ocean, and drops fell at these sites. UNESCO has inscribed the Kumbh Mela on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The name Simhastha comes from Simha, the sign of Leo, because the Nashik-Trimbak Kumbh is tied to the period when Jupiter is in that sign. An older historical text, the Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh, mentions a fair at Trimbak held once in 12 years when Jupiter enters Leo, so the town's link with the event is not a recent one. The previous Simhastha Kumbh took place in 2015.

People often say Nashik Kumbh Mela, but the event has two centres, about 30 km apart [TO VERIFY]. Ramkund in Nashik has particular importance for the Vaishnava tradition, while Kushavarta in Trimbak is a key bathing site for Shaiva ascetics. The akharas (ascetic orders) and lay pilgrims are therefore spread across both places, and some main bathing days fall separately for each tradition.

Kushavarta Kund is the sacred tank in Trimbak where the town's Kumbh bathing takes place. It is regarded as a source of the Godavari, and pilgrims bathe here before darshan in ordinary years too. The tank is credited to Shrimant Sardar Raosaheb Parnerkar, the Fadnavis of Indore State, and a bust of him and his wife stands at its edge. Local tradition links the name with kusha grass, which the sage Gautama is said to have used to hold the river here [TO VERIFY].

On major bathing days, access to the tank is likely to be controlled by the authorities, so do not assume you can bathe at a time of your choosing.

The current cycle was scheduled to open with a flag-hoisting at Ramkund on 31 October 2026 and to close on 24 July 2028 [TO VERIFY]. Published schedules list the main bathing days, called Amrit Snan and also known as Shahi Snan, as follows:

• First Amrit Snan: 2 August 2027, Ramkund and Kushavarta [TO VERIFY]
• Second Amrit Snan: 31 August 2027, Ramkund and Kushavarta [TO VERIFY]
• Third Amrit Snan (Vaishnava): 11 September 2027, Ramkund [TO VERIFY]
• Third Amrit Snan (Shaiva): 12 September 2027, Kushavarta [TO VERIFY]

Other dates are listed up to 2028, including Maha Shivaratri at Kushavarta on 27 February 2028 [TO VERIFY]. These come from press reports and travel listings, not from a government notification we have seen, so check announcements from the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority before you book.

Expect heavy crowds, traffic diversions and scarce rooms around the main bathing days in 2027. If your main purpose is a family ritual rather than the Kumbh itself, a date away from those days is usually simpler. Whether a particular rite can be performed on an Amrit Snan day depends on local arrangements, so ask before you fix your travel [TO VERIFY].

Families coming for Kaal Sarp puja or Narayan Nagbali puja can first read how to reach Trimbakeshwar, then send possible dates to Guruji through the contact page.