Kumbh Mela 2013 in Allahabad discussion thread

Hi All,

I was planning to visit Varanasi-Allahabad in the Mar, 2013 time-frame and was unaware of the Kumbh Mela. After coming to know from this thread, I am now planning to visit Allahabad during Kumbh time. I will not spend much time there, may be 1 day in the Kumbh Mela. So, I want to know will it be possible to stay in hotel in Allahabad and visit the mela and take bath in one of the auspicious day at Sangam ? Will I have to walk a long way as I guess traffic will be totally disrupted ? Or should I stay in the tent near ghats ?

Thanks
Biswajit

In 2007 we stayed in Allahabad at the Kanha Shyam (I think that's right). On the big bathing day (10th feb this year) we could only get to within a couple off miles of sangam. Had to walk over the big road bridge and back across the river to it. Took forever. The next day we could get nearer but still a hike. The Kumbh is worth more than a day of your trip. We are going to varanasi, the kumbh and then to nagaur for the cattle fest via bikaner. Doesn't sound like much but we have just managed to crowbar it into 2 weeks.
Phil

You may prefer to stay near the Shahi Snan Ghat (Royal Bathing Ghat).
Staying in proper Allahabad and visiting the Kumbha mela bathing ghat may not be a great option.
I suggest, you get in touch with UP Tourism department. They have accommodation available both in city as well as near Bathing ghats.
I think they will be able to answer all your queries.
http://www.up-tourism.com/mahakumbh.htm

Please do update us once you speak to them.
Thanks...

I was looking at the up-tourism website and have sound that they have two hotels both are at around 4 kms distance from the ghat. They have tent options too but only dormitory and swiss cottages. I don't want to stay at dormitory and the tariff for swiss cottages are quite high (Rs. 6000 per night). Let's wait some more time if they announce any other type of accommodation.

I doubt that UP Tourism Dept. will have something else coming up. But, there could be Akharas where you can stay at a very very reasonable rate.
Additionally, you may get in touch with :
ISKCON Allahabad - http://www.iskconallahabad.com/index.php
Parmarth Ashram - http://www.parmarth.com/contact_niketan.html

Last time when I contacted, ISKCON noted down my details and suggested that they will get in touch with me; Parmarth Ashram advised me to contact them during Fall (I think September).
But you may please get in touch with them and update the forum.

Where are you planning to stay at Varanasi?

Hi Mainak,
Thanks for the inputs. I haven't decided the place to stay at Varanasi, I will have to work on the detail itinerary. Actually I have a plan to cover Gaya-Varanasi-Prayag-Ayodhya-Chitrakut and I will include Kumbh Mela (@Prayag) into it.

Thanks
Biswajit

The Mela Administration are also be coming up with accommodation options very soon. I am banking upon there announcement.

They are coming up with 2573 nos of Swiss cottages (comprising of hall with three rooms); at least 539 Family tents; 6939 nos of EP Tents (of 18' x18' size), etc.

You may keep visiting their official website: http://www.tirthrajprayagkumbh.in/.

It's nice to see progress in this thread regarding the accomodation options.

Has anyone quoted ISKCON for the fare they charge for their camp? Anyone else thought about staying at them?

I am looking for the most cheapest accomodation possible, but still near the Sangam. UP-Tourism has listed a "dormitory cottage" which has beds for 500 Rs per night. I sent them email asking about how far away their camp is from the Sangam.

From now on, I will post here everything I learn about ISKCON and UP-Tourism.

It is nice to see progress here. I haven't seen anything from the ISKCON folks, but I heard they would be coming out in the fall.

no more ferenghis smoking chillums with the babas.....

Interesting use if the term mutts to refer to the brotherhood. I wonder if I'm correct in thinking, it's a reference to Bhairavnath whose vehicle is the dog and is Kali's helper in the great demon clean up.

Mutt is one of several Romanized spellings for a Hindu monastic-like institution. (Math would be another.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matha. (I'll admit it would be handy if English-language Indian media realized that is neither clear as well as looks funny to an international audience.)

That India and/or some of those mutts themselves would be seeking to take some measures to not get y'r average starry-eyed Westerners getting themselves $#%'ed up amidst a bunch of hardcore sadhus btw doesn't at all surprise me. Tends to make for bad publicity, and then you'll get your threads here about disappearances and abuse and whatnot.

Ok, rereading it with that meaning does make more sense, thanks.

Haha! That was a good read. The stuff about sadhus being tempted by western women and liquour cracked me up. Instead of just blaming the Westerners, they kind of blame themselves as well. Guess that's honesty. Too bad when people make a policy of "no" though.

I met the head of the Juna Akara, Swami Avdheshanand Giri, when I was at the Mela in Haridwar in 2010 (too long of a story how that happened!) and spent time at his ashram. I must say he is one righteous and powerful dude ..... and that they also blame themselves and not just the evil westerners (being facetious!) does not surprise me at all.