Maha Kumbh 2025 In Pictures: Here's Your Route To The Sangam Ghat And Everything Along The Way

Considered the largest spiritual gathering on Earth, the Maha Kumbh 2025 began on 13 January in the city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

This once-in-144-year event, steeped in centuries-old traditions, will continue until 26 February, drawing nearly 40 crore devotees and pilgrims from around the world.

The second day, the occasion of Makar Sankranti (14 January), marked the first Shahi Snan of the festival.

According to mela authorities, the first two days alone were expected to witness over two crore pilgrims, with numbers only set to rise during the subsequent Shahi Snan.

For this maha congregation, a temporary city has been built across 4,000 hectares. Divided into 25 sectors, with the Ganga and Yamuna rivers flowing between them, the city has been in the making over the past two months, following nearly two years of planning and preparations.

To help visualise its scale, the makeshift city is approximately 1.5 times the size of historically planned Lutyens’ Delhi, or a third of Chandigarh city, or nearly double the size of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

With a history marked by tales of devotees getting lost in the vast crowds, crowd management and smooth circulation remain central to the success of this festival.

This time again, a network of ghats has been developed along the Ganga and Yamuna rivers for the sacred bathing ritual. Multiple entrances and connecting pathways are planned for easy circulation to various ghats.

The 2025 Mahakumbh Journey

Here, we aim to capture the essence and scale of the Mahakumbh Mela — by following one of the key pilgrim routes leading to the Sangam ghat, to present the journey from the entrance to the holy Snan.

Access by vehicle and other modes of transport remains restricted, particularly on the Shahi Snan days. Pilgrims are required to travel mostly on foot, covering distances of 6 to 7 kilometres (km) on their way to the ghats.

Starting from there on foot at 9:30 am, the route, known as Kali Road, led me and other pilgrims to enter the mela through sectors 1 and 2.

According to the mela authorities, minimal activities have been planned along this pathway to prevent blockages and ensure smooth movement for the pilgrims.

The primary focus is to provide an uninterrupted journey, allowing the pilgrims to proceed without delays.

However, most pilgrims continue their journey on foot, as the road begins to slope upwards.

For those arriving by vehicle, the walk from the parking area to the Nagvasuki ghat is approximately 1 km.

Various activities, like camel rides and performances by ropewalkers, entertain the pilgrims along the way.

Sangam Ghat and the Holy Snan

After the Snan

Akharas are monastic institutions or sects that bring together sadhus (ascetics) who follow specific spiritual traditions and practices.

In each sector, signboards provide the the names of different margas (paths) and sectors along with the directions.

Inside the Akharas

In these spaces, most saints remain deeply engaged in their daily rituals — reading of sacred texts, preparing the fire pits for yajna, and attending to devotees who visit them.