About the Simhastha Camp Experience
Most visitors see the Kumbh for a morning. This package lets you live in it. For four days you stay in an air-conditioned luxury tent inside the Simhastha mela area, wake to the sound of bhajans, attend satsangs and visit the akhara camps, and bathe in the Shipra at Ram Ghat on a snan day of your choice.
The Simhastha is far more than its bathing days. It is a temporary city of faith: kathas and pravachans in great pandals, langar kitchens, sadhus from every sampradaya and pilgrims from every corner of India. Staying inside it is the best way to understand what the Kumbh really is.
Who this package suits
- Pilgrims who want to experience the mela atmosphere, not just the snan.
- Spiritual seekers interested in satsang, katha and the akhara traditions.
- Photographers and writers who want time in the mela at dawn and dusk.
- Families with older children, for an experience they will remember.
If you prefer a hotel-style trip with more sightseeing, choose Ujjain Simhastha & Mahakal Darshan.
When to go
The Ujjain Simhastha is expected from 27 March to 27 May 2028, with the Shahi Snan dates still to be officially notified. You can take this package at any time in the mela. If you want to see a Shahi Snan procession, book as soon as the dates are announced, because camps fill quickly for those nights. If you prefer a calmer stay, choose dates between the Shahi Snans.
Late March and April are more comfortable than May, when temperatures are highest.
A day in the camp
Life in the camp follows the rhythm of the mela:
- Before dawn: snan at Ram Ghat on bathing days, or quiet time by the river.
- Morning: breakfast, then satsang or a katha in one of the pandals.
- Midday: rest in your air-conditioned tent through the hottest hours.
- Late afternoon: walks through the akhara camps and the mela sectors.
- Evening: bhajan sandhya in the camp and the Shipra aarti.
Your trip, in more detail
Day 1: arrive and settle in. We pick you up from Indore airport or Ujjain station and bring you to the camp. Settle in, rest, and join the evening bhajan sandhya.
Day 2: snan day. Your escort walks with you to Ram Ghat for your snan, timed to avoid the worst crowds and heat. Rest through the afternoon. In the evening, visit the akhara camps: each akhara has its own traditions, deities and rituals, and the evening is when they are most welcoming. Read our guide to Shipra snan at Ram Ghat before you go.
Day 3: Mahakal and the city. Darshan at Mahakaleshwar, followed by Harsiddhi and Kal Bhairav. Back at the camp for the evening programme.
Day 4: departure. Drop at Indore airport or Ujjain station.
Where you stay
This package uses our Luxury Camp category in Ujjain: spacious air-conditioned cottages with proper beds, an attached western bathroom with hot water, generator backup and freshly cooked sattvik meals. In the April–May heat, air-conditioning is not a luxury but a necessity. Camp sites are allotted by the mela administration, so we confirm the exact camp, photos and location in writing before you pay. Our Simhastha camps guide explains how the camps work.
What is included
- Three nights in an AC luxury tent
- All meals at the camp
- A snan-day escort
- Transfers and sightseeing by car
Not included: air or train fare, darshan fees and personal expenses.
How the price is worked out
This package is priced on request. Your quote depends on your dates (Shahi Snan nights cost more), the number of people, and any extras such as a longer stay. Rates will firm up when the Shahi Snan dates are notified. We confirm the camp and the final price in writing before you pay.
Respecting the akhara camps
- Dress modestly and remove footwear where asked.
- Ask before photographing sadhus or rituals.
- Accept prasad with your right hand, and offer a small dakshina if you wish.
- Follow your escort's guidance on which camps are open to visitors.
Who you will meet in the mela
The Simhastha brings together almost every tradition of Hindu spiritual life:
- The akharas, the orders of sadhus, each with its own camp, deities and customs. Naga sadhus belong to some of the Shaiva akharas.
- Mahamandaleshwars and acharyas, senior spiritual leaders who hold pravachans and receive devotees.
- Kathavachaks, who narrate the Bhagavata, the Ramayana and the Puranas in great pandals.
- Pilgrims from every state, many travelling in village or community groups.
Your escort will take you to camps that welcome visitors and explain what you are seeing.
What to pack for camp life
- Light cotton clothes for the day, and a light shawl for the evening
- A hat or cotton scarf, sunglasses and sunscreen
- A refillable water bottle and ORS sachets
- Comfortable footwear that is easy to slip off at temples and camps
- A torch, a small lock and a power bank
- Any regular medicines, with prescriptions
Laundry can usually be arranged at the camp for longer stays.
Taking part in satsang and katha
You do not need to know anyone, or speak Hindi fluently, to attend a satsang. Pandals are open to all; simply remove your footwear, sit quietly at the back and stay as long as you like. Kathas usually run for several days on a single text, such as the Bhagavata or the Ramayana, with a session each morning or afternoon. Many end with aarti and prasad. Your escort can tell you which pandals have programmes in your preferred language and at what times.
Before you arrive
Share your arrival time and any dietary needs with us a few days before travel, so the camp is ready when you reach.
