Starts October 31, 2026 · main Amrit Snan Aug–Sep 2027

Nashik Kumbh (Simhastha) 2027: dates, ghats and planning

Name: Nashik Kumbh (Simhastha)
Start: 2027-08-02
End: 2027-09-12
Location: India

Before dawn the ascetics walk into the Godavari first

The Nashik Kumbh, called Simhastha because it falls while Jupiter is in Leo (Simha), is the twelve-yearly Kumbh Mela on the Godavari, shared between the Ramkund ghats in Nashik and the temple town of Trimbakeshwar 28 km away. The mela formally opens with a flag-raising on 31 October 2026, but the days that matter are the three Amrit Snan in 2027: 2 August, 31 August (the main one) and 11 September in Nashik, 12 September in Trimbakeshwar.

Countdown2 August – 12 September 2027

When2 August – 12 September 2027

The Kumbh Mela comes to the Godavari: Nashik and Trimbakeshwar host western India's great pilgrimage

The Maharashtra government announced the period and the three Amrit Snan dates in June 2025, after meeting the thirteen akharas.

The legend

🏹

In the Ramayana, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spend their exile in Panchavati, the forest of five banyans on the Godavari.

Tradition says Rama bathed in the Godavari at the spot now called Ramkund.

The river itself rises nearby, below Brahmagiri hill at Trimbakeshwar, home to one of the twelve jyotirlingas.

🪐

When Jupiter enters Leo, Simha, a great fair gathers at the river's source: a chronicle described it as early as 1695.

So every twelve years Nashik and Trimbakeshwar host the Simhastha, and pilgrims come down to the Godavari.

Meaning

Shaivas

Shaiva akharas hold Trimbak to be the true site of the mela and bathe in Kushavarta, the sacred tank at the Godavari's source.

Vaishnavas

Since 1789 the Vaishnava akharas have bathed in Nashik itself, at Ramkund, the spot linked with Rama.

Ujjain

Ujjain's Simhastha grew out of Nashik's: in the 18th century the Maratha ruler Ranoji Shinde invited ascetics from Nashik.

Customs

🚩 Flag hoisting

The mela formally opens with a flag hoisted at Ramkund and Kushavarta, and closes when it is lowered.

🥁 Amrit Snan

On the main days the akharas enter the Godavari first, and only then everyone else.

Kalaram temple

In Panchavati stands the Kalaram temple, where Rama is carved in black stone.

🪨 Sita Gufa

Nearby is Sita Gufa, a cave that tradition links with Sita.

Words of the festival

सिंहस्थ

Simhastha

"Jupiter in Leo", the name of the Nashik and Ujjain mela

रामकुंड

Ramkund

the Godavari tank where Rama is said to have bathed

कुशावर्त

Kushavarta

the sacred tank at Trimbakeshwar, at the Godavari's source

पंचवटी

Panchavati

"five banyans": Rama's forest, now a part of Nashik

त्र्यंबकेश्वर

Trimbakeshwar

Shiva's temple town at the source of the Godavari

True or myth

Nashik's name has to do with a nose.

✅ True. Legend says Lakshmana cut off the demoness Shurpanakha's nose here, and nasika is Sanskrit for nose.

The Godavari is India's longest river.

❌ Myth. It is the second longest, after the Ganga, and rises at Trimbakeshwar, only a few dozen kilometres from Nashik.

The Trimbakeshwar temple has a single linga.

❌ Myth. There are three, standing for Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.

What happens on a bathing morning

A Kumbh is less an event than a temporary city. For months the akharas, the orders of sadhus, live in camps by the river; pilgrims come and go, listen to teachers, bathe and eat at the camp kitchens. Then, on an Amrit Snan morning, everything narrows to the water.

The akharas go first. From before dawn their processions walk to the river behind banners and drums, the naga sadhus among them ash-smeared and unclothed, and enter the Godavari in a fixed order. Only after the last akhara has bathed do the ghats open to everyone, and then the river fills from bank to bank. In Nashik the Vaishnava akharas (Nirmohi, Nirvani and Digambar) bathe at Ramkund in Panchavati, where tradition says Rama bathed during his exile. The Shaiva akharas, who hold Trimbak to be the true site of the mela, bathe in Kushavarta, the tank at the source of the Godavari beside the Trimbakeshwar temple.

Between the bathing days the mela is quieter and easier to see: the akhara camps of Sadhugram at Tapovan, formally opened on 24 July 2027, the Nagar Pradakshina procession of sadhus around the city on 29 July, and every evening from 19:00 to 20:00 the Goda aarti at Ramkund, lamps circling over the river.

Key dates, 2026–2028

Announced by the Maharashtra government in June 2025 after meeting the thirteen akharas.

31 October 2026	Flag-raising (Dhwajarohan) at Ramkund and Kushavarta: the Simhastha period begins
24 July 2027	The akharas raise their flags; Sadhugram opens
29 July 2027	Nagar Pradakshina, the sadhus’ procession around the city
2 August 2027	First Amrit Snan
31 August 2027	Second and main Amrit Snan
11 and 12 September 2027	Third Amrit Snan: 11 September in Nashik, 12 September in Trimbakeshwar
24 July 2028	The flag is lowered and the Simhastha period closes

Ramkund or Trimbakeshwar

Two places 28 km apart; on a bathing morning you can realistically be at one.

Ramkund, Panchavati (Nashik)

The heart of the mela, with the Vaishnava akharas, the Goda aarti and the Kalaram temple, where Rama is carved in black stone. Panchavati puts you within walking distance, which is what a bathing morning needs. Ramkund is about 10 km from Nashik Road station, and on snan days the last stretch from the shuttle drop is on foot.

Kushavarta, Trimbakeshwar

The Shaiva bath, with the naga sadhus, at the source of the Godavari below Brahmagiri hill. The Trimbakeshwar temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (shrines of Shiva as a pillar of light). For non-Hindus: the temple posts a notice at its entrance that non-Hindus may not enter. For this bath stay in Trimbakeshwar itself.

✅ Crowds, river and etiquette

The government expects eight to ten times the pilgrims of 2015. It is manageable with a few rules.

Sleep in town the night before — On Amrit Snan days private vehicles stop at an outer parking ring and shuttle buses carry pilgrims in. The akhara processions start before dawn, so you cannot drive in that morning.
Watch the river — The mela falls in the monsoon. After heavy rain upstream the Godavari at Ramkund can rise over the lower steps; follow the announcements on which ghats are open.
Avoid the central ghats on snan mornings — If it is your first Kumbh, bathe along the river either side of Ramkund once the akharas have finished, not in the densest stretch.
Sadhus and cameras — In the camps dress modestly and ask before photographing anyone. Akhara processions are watched from behind the barricades, not joined.

👣 Booking ahead

Capacity in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar is far below demand, and the dates have been public since June 2025.

Rooms: about six months ahead
Panchavati first, then the newer city (College Road, Gangapur Road, Nashik Road), which depends on the shuttles on snan days. A government tent city is planned; its booking had not opened as of September 2026.
Trains: the day sales open
Reservations open 60 days ahead; for Amrit Snan dates take them that day. From Mumbai, trains from CSMT and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus via Kalyan reach Nashik Road in three to four hours. The railway is preparing five stations for the mela: Nashik Road, Devlali, Odha, Kherwadi and Kasbe Sukene.
Arrive two days early
For the first Amrit Snan on 2 August that means 31 July. Plan at least three nights: two before the bath and one after, since roads do not reopen at once.

The story and the Kumbh rotation

In the Kumbh legend, drops of the nectar of immortality fell in four places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Nashik’s own stories come from the Ramayana: Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spend their exile in Panchavati, “the five banyans”, and by legend Lakshmana cuts off the demoness Shurpanakha’s nose here, which is how tradition explains the name (nasika is Sanskrit for nose). A fair at the river’s source when Jupiter enters Leo was described in a chronicle as early as 1695, and since 1789 the Vaishnava akharas have bathed in Nashik itself.

After the 2025 Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, the rotation runs Nashik in 2027, then Ujjain in 2028 ([Ujjain Simhastha](/en/festivals/ujjain-simhastha2028/)), the Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh in 2031 and Haridwar in 2033. Nashik is smaller than the Prayagraj Kumbhs, which makes it an approachable first Kumbh: shorter distances, and Mumbai three to four hours away. See also [Kumbh Mela](/en/festivals/maha-kumbh-mela/).

❓ FAQ

When is the Nashik Kumbh Mela 2027?

The Simhastha period opens on 31 October 2026, and the three Amrit Snan days are 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027 (12 September in Trimbakeshwar). 31 August is the main bath.

Where is the Kumbh Mela in 2027?

In Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra, on the Godavari. The next Kumbh after it is the Ujjain Simhastha in spring 2028.

What does Simhastha mean?

“Jupiter in Leo”: the Nashik and Ujjain melas are timed to Jupiter’s transit of Leo, Simha in Sanskrit, which is why both carry the name.

How far is Nashik from Mumbai?

About 170 km by road, or three to four hours by train from CSMT or Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Nashik Road. On Amrit Snan days private cars stop at the outer parking ring.

Can anyone bathe at the Nashik Kumbh?

Yes. The ghats open to everyone once the akharas have bathed. The Trimbakeshwar temple itself is different: a notice at its entrance says non-Hindus may not enter.

Sources (11)

Festival calendar in the app Open