Nashik Kumbh visitors to walk up to 3km to reach ghats on Amrit Snan days

Nashik: Devotees visiting Nashik for the three major Amrit Snan days of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027 will have to walk between 2km and 3km from designated inner parking zones to reach the bathing ghats along the Godavari river.

The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) has devised a three-tier parking system across nine strategic locations to regulate vehicular movement and manage the massive influx of pilgrims. The plan covers 46 parking sites spread over nearly 888 hectares and will be crucial on peak bathing days.

Under the system, private vehicles will be restricted to outer parking zones on Amrit Snan days. Devotees will then be transported via MSRTC buses to inner parking areas, from where they will proceed on foot along dedicated routes to the ghats. Separate entry planning has been devised for eight road corridors into Nashik and a ninth for pilgrims arriving via the Nashik Road railway station.

“A pilgrim who has travelled hundreds of kilometres should not spend the final leg stuck in traffic. The entire system is designed so that once vehicles are parked, the movement towards ghats is streamlined and managed,” NTKMA officials said, adding, “The walking distance will range between 2km and 3km for most devotees.”

Officials said the distance has been deliberately capped to balance accessibility with the need to keep core areas free from vehicular congestion.

The three-tier structure comprises Outer-1 (buffer parking), Outer (primary parking for private vehicles), and Inner parking zones, which will serve as the final drop-off points accessible only via shuttle buses. From there, only pedestrian movement will be allowed towards the riverfront.

On the three peak Amrit Snan days, authorities plan to keep the inner city largely vehicle-free, permitting only essential and emergency services. This is expected to significantly ease congestion in core Kumbh areas and improve crowd safety.

Separate parking facilities are being planned for two-wheelers, four-wheelers and buses, along with basic amenities at all sites. Officials said the blueprint draws heavily from lessons learnt during the 2015 Kumbh Mela, when traffic bottlenecks and inadequate parking posed major challenges.

The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) will develop the parking infrastructure within city limits. Finalisation of locations and layouts is currently underway, with priority given to major arterial roads for better traffic dispersal.

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela preparations will formally begin with a ceremonial flag hoisting on Oct 31, while the three main Amrit Snan days are scheduled between Aug and Sept 2027, when lakhs of devotees are expected to converge in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.

Authorities said managing this surge remains a major logistical challenge, with the parking and shuttle system forming the backbone of efforts to ensure orderly and safe movement of pilgrims.