Short answer: Haridwar's Ardh Kumbh Mela 2027 runs for 97 days, from Thursday 14 January 2027 (Makar Sankranti) to Tuesday 20 April 2027 (Chaitra Purnima). The Uttarakhand government has announced eight main snan dates, and — for the first time at a Haridwar Kumbh — four Amrit Snans: 6 March, 8 March, 14 April and 20 April 2027.
I'm writing this from Haridwar, where our family runs Vrindavan Aushadhiya Misthan. Every big snan, our counters fill with pilgrims asking the same three things: which day is the main snan, how do I reach the ghat, and what should I take home? This guide answers all three.
Ardh Kumbh 2027 Snan Dates (Haridwar)
The dates below were announced on 28 November 2025 by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after a meeting with representatives of all 13 akharas.
| Date | Day | Occasion | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 January 2027 | Thursday | Makar Sankranti | Snan (opening) |
| 6 February 2027 | Saturday | Mauni Amavasya | Snan |
| 11 February 2027 | Thursday | Basant Panchami | Snan |
| 20 February 2027 | Saturday | Magh Purnima | Snan |
| 6 March 2027 | Saturday | Mahashivratri | Amrit Snan |
| 8 March 2027 | Monday | Somvati / Phalgun Amavasya | Amrit Snan |
| 14 April 2027 | Wednesday | Mesh Sankranti / Baisakhi | Amrit Snan |
| 20 April 2027 | Tuesday | Chaitra Purnima | Amrit Snan (closing) |
The old name Shahi Snan is now officially called Amrit Snan. On Amrit Snan days the akharas process to Har Ki Pauri in a fixed order, and the main ghat is reserved for them for much of the day — ordinary pilgrims bathe at the other ghats along the Ganga.
Always re-check the final schedule and traffic advisories from the Mela administration and Haridwar Police a few days before you travel.
What Is Ardh Kumbh — and Why 2027 Matters
Haridwar hosts the Purna Kumbh every 12 years and the Ardh (half) Kumbh six years after it. The last Haridwar Kumbh was in 2021, cut short by the pandemic, so for many families 2027 is the first chance in over a decade to bathe in the Ganga during a Kumbh in Haridwar. Expect crores of visitors across the season and very heavy crowds on the Amrit Snan days.
Which Day Should You Go?
- For the most spiritually significant bath: the Amrit Snan days — especially Mahashivratri (6 March) and the Somvati Amavasya Amrit Snan (8 March). They are also the most crowded.
- For a calmer visit: the February snans (Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Magh Purnima) or any non-snan weekday in between. The Ganga, the aarti and the akhara camps are there all season.
- With elders or small children: pick a non-snan weekday, arrive early in the morning and bathe at a quieter ghat.
How to Reach Haridwar During Ardh Kumbh
- Train: Haridwar Junction is on direct routes from Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata and more. Extra Kumbh special trains are usually announced closer to the mela — book as soon as reservations open.
- Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, about an hour by road.
- Road: Delhi to Haridwar is roughly a five-to-six-hour drive. On snan days private vehicles are stopped at outer parking lots and you continue by shuttle or on foot, so plan for extra walking.
Where to Stay
Hotels near Har Ki Pauri fill months ahead for the Amrit Snan dates. Good alternatives are Jwalapur, Shivalik Nagar (BHEL), Ranipur and the Haridwar–Rishikesh road near Shantikunj, which also has ashram stays and dharamshalas. Staying a little outside the centre means easier mornings and an auto ride to the ghat.
Crowd Tips from a Haridwar Local
- Reach the day before a snan date. Traffic diversions usually start the previous evening.
- Pick a meeting point with your family near a numbered ghat or a landmark — mobile networks slow down in big crowds.
- Carry a small bag only: a towel, a change of clothes, ID, some cash and a refillable water bottle.
- Keep children's names and your phone number written on a card in their pocket.
- Eat light before the snan and keep something sweet and dry for after — a piece of amla candy or a fruit barfi travels better than milk sweets.
Prasad & Sweets to Take Home from Ardh Kumbh
Every pilgrim goes home with something from Haridwar — Ganga jal, rudraksha, and a box of prasad for the family who couldn't come. If you want sweets that survive the train journey and are genuinely from Haridwar, these are what visitors pick at our counters:
- Amla Barfi — our best-seller; firm, tangy-sweet squares of real amla. Ideal as prasad.
- Guava (Amrood) Barfi and Bael Barfi — fruit sweets you won't find in most cities. See all Haridwar famous sweets.
- Gud Amla Murabba — for elders who take one murabba every morning. More in our murabba range.
- Amla Chatpati Candy — light, dry and perfect for the journey home.
- Homemade achar and sirka — mango pickle, mixed pickle, ganne ka sirka and jamun sirka.
These are fruit-based sweets made with ghee and jaggery or sugar — lighter than khoya mithai, but not sugar-free.
Our New Store Near Shantikunj — Opening Soon
Ahead of Ardh Kumbh 2027, we're opening a new Vrindavan Aushadhiya Misthan store near Gayatri Teerth Shantikunj on the Haridwar–Rishikesh road, so pilgrims staying on that side of the city don't have to cross town for prasad. We'll share the exact address and opening date on this page and on Instagram @vam.haridwar.
Until then, visit our stores in Shivalik Nagar (BHEL), Jwalapur and Navoday Nagar (open 8 AM to 9 PM daily), or pre-order on WhatsApp at +91-7705072989 — tell us your snan date and where you're staying, and we'll have your boxes packed and ready.
Ardh Kumbh 2027 FAQs
When is Ardh Kumbh 2027 in Haridwar? From 14 January 2027 (Makar Sankranti) to 20 April 2027 (Chaitra Purnima), a 97-day mela.
What are the Amrit Snan dates of Ardh Kumbh 2027? 6 March (Mahashivratri), 8 March (Somvati/Phalgun Amavasya), 14 April (Mesh Sankranti/Baisakhi) and 20 April 2027 (Chaitra Purnima).
Is Ardh Kumbh 2027 the same as the Nashik Kumbh? No. Haridwar's Ardh Kumbh runs January to April 2027. The Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh is a separate mela in Maharashtra later in 2027.
Which ghat is best for snan during Ardh Kumbh? Har Ki Pauri is the main ghat but is reserved for the akharas for much of each Amrit Snan day. Other ghats along the Ganga are open to pilgrims; follow police directions on the day.
What should I buy in Haridwar as prasad? Ganga jal, rudraksha and a box of local sweets. Amla barfi and guava barfi travel well; amla murabba and amla candy are popular for elders and the journey home.
Where is the new Vrindavan Mishthan store? Near Gayatri Teerth Shantikunj, Haridwar — opening soon, ahead of Ardh Kumbh 2027. Our three existing stores are in Shivalik Nagar (BHEL), Jwalapur and Navoday Nagar.
