Did a trip to the Mahakumbh 2025: My experience in detail & learnings

Please carry first aid kit with basic medicines as due to climate difference and food you might face some difficulties

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Returned yesterday from Prayagraj, sorry could not update daily as we were travelling non stop. Here are the details of the trip:

• Started from Pune on 10th Feb evening and drove till Jabalpur non stop. We were 4 friends travelling together so took turn while driving. Start Time - approx. 4PM Arrival Time Jabalpur - 6AM
• Stopped at a road side Hotel post Jabalpur bypass for quick nap. Room Charge - 1500, basic road side so no luxurious amenities.
• Had a quick lunch, food was good and started for Varanasi. We took Rewa - Mirzapur Bypass - Chunar route which was a good decision as no traffic till Tengra More (GT road crossing). There was heavy rush around Ramnagar area and we were directed by traffic police to Lanka area of Varanasi.
• We stayed at Samne Ghat area, rooms are exorbitantly priced due to rush. We stayed in a lodge which costed 2800 per room and owner admitted in normal days the rates are 1200. Very basic oyo rooms with no toiletries provided, pure rip off but we were mentally prepared for same. Saving grace was food they provided which was really good.
• Next day went for Baba Vishwanath temple and due to heavy rush had to wait around 5-6 hrs in queue. My sincere advise is to avoid Kashi Vishwanath Temple for now if you are not physically fit. Post darshan (hardly could see pind as police pushed everyone out) went back to room and rested for day as were tired and mood was also somber.
• Next day went to Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple and post darshan plan was to do some shopping and visit ghats. As post pournima rush moved to Varanasi, the rode to Vishwanath temple was closed 2Km before main gate (previous day it was around 1km). Walked through narrow lanes to beat rush which was very different experience.
• Post shopping went to Dashwamedh ghat and walked till Darbhanga ghat from where we took boat ride (Rs 200 per person) where they go till Harischandra ghat and then turn to Manikarnika Ghat and drop back at same ghat from where you took boat. This should not be missed.
• Then we went back and completed check out formalities and had early dinner. Post that we started for Prayagraj at around 8 PM. We took Chunar - Mirzapur - Naini route and planned to stay near Arail ghat. To our surprise we faced minimal traffic and reached arail ghat by 10.30PM (in between also had famous lassi of Ramnagar).
• We went directly till Sangam ghat, no barricading any where and were able park right in front of river. It was surreal moment as we never thought we will be just 100m from Sangam, seemed like Bhole Baba was really happy with us We avoided bath in night and took bed in one of the tents nearby. It was a dormitory type run by some ashram and charged Rs500 per bed.
• But it was really cold and even with 2 layers of warm clothing and thick blanket we were feeling cold. But any how had few hrs of sleep and luckily the bathroom area was clean. Location: Somewhere around this place .
• Morning we went for snan, but boating was not allowed by admin due to some issue so had snan in designated area itself. In few hours atleast lakh people had reached ghat for snan. But there was no pushing around and everyone patiently enjoyed snan. We also took opportunity to help few elderlies to have snan.
• We started back around 11 AM and took us approx 3 hrs just to cover 10kms due to gridlock around Arail and Naini. Post that it was very smooth sailing till Jabalpur where we took rest around Bhedaghat. Next day visited Bhedaghat and then started back for Pune. No hiccups faced for Jabalpur Pune drive.

Learnings:

• Every day (infact hour) will be different at Prayagraj. Keep check on traffic as situation changes from green to Red in matter of few minutes due to heavy inflow.
• If travelling in group please bookmark in google map place of your stay, car park, planned meeting point in case you get separated as internet does not works due to heavy rush.
• Please carry first aid kit with basic medicines as due to climate difference and food you might face some difficulties (we were also down with fever & cold and upset tummy by end of trip).

Sorry for long post. As for today my parents are on way to Prayagraj, but are stuck around Phulpur area for past few hours due to heavy rush.

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