The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh begins with flag hoisting on Saturday 31 October 2026 and runs until 24 July 2028. The announced Amrit Snan days in 2027 are Monday 2 August, Tuesday 31 August, and 11 and 12 September. The nearest airport is Nashik (Ozar, ISK); Mumbai and Pune are the larger alternatives.
Updated October 2026 ยท HappyFares
The Simhastha Kumbh is held in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar roughly once every twelve years, and the 2027 edition is already on the Maharashtra government’s calendar. Here is what has been officially announced, what has not, and how to plan your flights.
When does the Nashik Simhastha Kumbh 2027 start and end?
The Maharashtra government announced the schedule at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 1 June 2025. The festival opens with the hoisting of the flag (dhwajarohan) on Saturday 31 October 2026 at Ramkund in Panchavati, Nashik. It closes when the flag is lowered on Monday 24 July 2028.
That is a long window of nearly two years, but the heaviest pilgrim traffic is expected around the main bathing days. Reports of the announcement say devotees were advised to space out their visits instead of crowding onto the same few dates.
What are the Amrit Snan dates in 2027?
Following the naming used at the Prayagraj Kumbh, the government decided that the “Shahi Snan” will now be called “Amrit Snan”. The announced 2027 schedule is:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Thursday 29 July 2027 | Nagar Pradakshina (city procession) in Nashik |
| Monday 2 August 2027 | First Amrit Snan |
| Tuesday 31 August 2027 | Second Amrit Snan |
| Saturday 11 September 2027 | Third and last Amrit Snan in Nashik |
| Sunday 12 September 2027 | Third and last Amrit Snan at Trimbakeshwar |
Some websites list extra bathing days. We could not confirm any additional dates in the government’s announcement, so treat them as unverified until the Kumbh authority publishes them. If your plans hinge on one particular day, check the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Development Authority notices before you pay for anything that cannot be changed.
Which airport is closest to Nashik and Trimbakeshwar?
Nashik’s airport is at Ozar, code ISK, about 20 km north-east of the city centre. A small piece of aviation trivia: the airfield sits inside the complex of HAL, the aircraft maker, and is run by HAL. Trimbakeshwar lies roughly 28 to 29 km from Nashik city, so most pilgrims continue by road from the city.
Scheduled passenger service at Ozar has been limited. IndiGo is the airline most often listed there, with links to cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Goa, but route lists change often, so check live schedules rather than relying on any article, including this one.
The airport is being expanded for the Kumbh. The Kumbh Mela Development Authority approved a new terminal and related works in November 2025, with a reported cost of Rs 556 crore and a completion target of March 2027. The aim is to lift capacity from about 300 to about 1,000 passengers an hour. Maharashtra’s crowd-planning documents also mention additional airport facilities at Shirdi and Ozar. No airline has been named for extra Kumbh flights, so we are not promising any.
Should you fly to Mumbai or Pune instead?
For many travellers, yes, because both cities have far more flights and usually more choice of fares. The road distances are approximate and depend on the route and traffic:
- Mumbai to Nashik: about 170 km by road. Trimbakeshwar is roughly 190 km from Mumbai.
- Pune to Nashik: about 207 km by road. Trimbakeshwar is roughly 230 to 240 km from Pune.
Plan on several hours of road travel in either case, and add buffer time in the weeks around the Amrit Snan days when traffic is expected to be heavier. If you are coming from the north, Delhi to Nashik by air is the shortest path where a direct flight is operating; otherwise connect via Mumbai.
How should you plan flights around the bathing days?
A few practical habits help on any large pilgrimage:
- Book the flight as soon as you fix your date. Fares around major festival days tend to rise as the date nears.
- Prefer arriving a day before a snan day, not on it. Roads near the ghats are usually regulated on bathing days.
- Keep the return flexible by a day if you can, because crowd control can delay road transfers.
- Avoid tight same-day connections between a flight and a ritual.
The Chief Minister has said Nashik should be ready for a crowd several times the size of the previous Simhastha. Exact traffic diversions, ghat closures and entry rules will be announced by the authorities closer to each date, so we have not listed them here.
Common Questions
When is the first Amrit Snan at the Nashik Kumbh 2027?
The announced first Amrit Snan is on Monday 2 August 2027. The second is on Tuesday 31 August 2027, and the third is on 11 September in Nashik and 12 September at Trimbakeshwar.
Is the Kumbh only on the bathing days?
No. The Simhastha period runs from 31 October 2026 to 24 July 2028. The Amrit Snan days are the most important dates, but pilgrims visit throughout.
Is there an airport in Nashik?
Yes. Nashik (Ozar) airport, ISK, is about 20 km from the city. It is being expanded ahead of the Kumbh, and the new terminal is targeted for March 2027.
How far is Trimbakeshwar from Nashik?
Roughly 28 to 29 km by road, which is usually a drive of an hour or more depending on traffic.
How many pilgrims are expected?
Officials have spoken of crowds several times larger than the last Simhastha, but we have not found a single confirmed official figure, so we do not quote one.
Will flights to Nashik be added for the Kumbh?
The state has talked about improving air access, but we have not seen an airline announce specific new Kumbh routes. Check airline schedules directly as the dates approach.
Planning a Kumbh trip? Search and compare flights to Nashik, Mumbai and Pune on HappyFares, set a price alert for your dates, or ask Meera, our AI assistant, to find options for you. Domestic bookings carry zero convenience fee.
Schedules, closures and airline routes can change. Verify current details with the Maharashtra government, the Kumbh Mela authority, the airport and your airline before you travel.
