The Mahakumbh 2025 Mela has officially begun in Prayagraj, with grand celebrations marking its start on January 13. The first ‘Amrit Snan’ (holy bathing day), held on January 14 during Makar Sankranti, drew a record-breaking crowd of over 3.5 crore devotees who gathered to take part in this sacred ritual.
This year’s Mahakumbh holds exceptional significance as it aligns with a rare astronomical phenomenon that occurs once every 144 years, following the completion of 12 Purna Kumbhs (held every 12 years). If you’re planning to attend the Mahakumbh, there’s no need to fret. The state government has made extensive arrangements for swift travel options from across the country.
These include a range of special flights, thousands of dedicated trains, and bus services that are now operational. The Uttar Pradesh government has also released a detailed ‘How to Reach’ advisory on their official Mahakumbh Portal.
To help you navigate these travel options, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to all the new travel arrangements-
Over 13,000 trains to operate across India during Mahakumbh period
To ensure seamless travel for devotees attending Mahakumbh 2025, Indian Railways has introduced over 13,000 trains, including 3,000 special trains and 10,000 regular services. These trains will operate over a span of 50 days, enhancing connectivity to Prayagraj from across the country.
In addition to the main routes, 560 trains will ply on ring rail routes, connecting the important cities within the state such as Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Lucknow, Kanpur and Chitrakoot.
In response to the anticipated surge in passenger numbers, eight railway stations around Prayagraj will remain operational throughout the festival. These include Prayagraj Junction (PYJ), Prayagraj Chheoki, Prayagraj Rambagh, Phaphamau Junction, Prayagraj Sangam, Jhunsi, Prayagraj Junction (PRG), Subedarganj, and Naini Junction.
Here are some prominent trains connecting Prayagraj with major metropolitan areas:
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Delhi: Rajdhani Express, Vande Bharat Express, Rajgir Special
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Mumbai: Mahanagri SF Express, Saket SF Express, Kashi Express
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Kolkata: Howrah-Prayagraj Express, Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani
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Chennai: Sanghamitra Express
If you are planning a rail journey for Mahakumbh 2025, tickets can be conveniently booked using the Railways mobile app or through the IRCTC website.
New flights to provide connectivity from metropolitan cities
Prayagraj Airport, located in Bamrauli, just 13 km from the city, is set to become a key air travel hub for pilgrims attending Mahakumbh 2025. As part of its expansion, the airport is introducing direct flight services from several major cities across India. Currently, flight schedules for 55 aircraft have been released, with more expected in the coming days.
Major airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Alliance Air and Akasa Air, have confirmed their participation, ensuring a smooth travel experience for pilgrims. Cities such as Jaipur, Indore, Delhi, Bilaspur, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Mumbai, Raipur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and more will be directly connected to Prayagraj. These flights will commence operations on January 10, 2025, accommodating the expected influx of devotees during the 45-day event.
For travelers unable to secure direct flights to Prayagraj, nearby cities like Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, and Ayodhya offer alternative options for air travel. From there, convenient rail and road transportation will ensure a smooth journey to Prayagraj.
7,000 special buses for in-state travel; more buses for interstate connectivity
To enhance intrastate connectivity during the Mahakumbh period, UPSRTC will operate a total of 7,000 buses connecting Prayagraj. These will include special buses, shuttle buses, and e-buses from various cities in Uttar Pradesh such as Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Moradabad, Aligarh, Meerut and Agra, while also covering rural areas in between.
In addition, state transport authorities from other regions are launching special buses to connect to Prayagraj:
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Delhi: 150 special buses
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Bihar: Buses from Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, and other cities
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Jharkhand: Buses from Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, and other cities
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Madhya Pradesh: Buses from Jabalpur, Sagar, Gwalior, and other cities
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Rajasthan: Buses from Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, and other cities
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Haryana: Buses from Dehradun, Haridwar, and other cities
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Odisha: Buses from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Berhampur
Additionally, Uttar Pradesh CM flagged off 100 new buses in Prayagraj on Friday, January 10, which will be incorporated into UPSRTC’s fleet.
Prayagraj has two main bus stands: the Prayagraj Bus Stand and the Kachari Bus Stand. To accommodate the increased bus movement during the Mahakumbh period, the government has set up six temporary bus stands at Jhusi, Nehru Park, Saraswati Dwar, Saraswati Hi-Tech City, Beli/Bela Kachchar, and near the Leprosy Hospital in Naini. Visitors will have convenient public transport options to reach Triveni Sangam from these locations.
