Advice for 2010 Kumbh mela

Khak · Oct 23rd, 2009, 13:24

do you skip Mardi Gras as well

........its overwhelming by US standards

Quote:

Originally Posted by noladoxiegal

........ I don't want to be overwhelmed by 10 million people!
Anyone have any ideas?

aserbaidschan · Oct 23rd, 2009, 15:24

does anyone have an idea on where to stay in haridwar during maha kumbh?

i only found accomodation in tents from uttaranchal tourism. 4500 rs per person/night for a double tent during the main bathing dates....

any advice?

machadinha · Oct 23rd, 2009, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by aserbaidschan

any advice?

Get a hold of a/some travel guidebook(s) and start making some calls? That is what, if I go, I'm gonna do.

noladoxiegal · Oct 23rd, 2009, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khak

do you skip Mardi Gras as well

........its overwhelming by US standards

Actually most of the time I DO skip Mardi Gras even though it takes place on my street!! I just wanted to know if the area is going to be very crowded on January 4-7th a week before Kumbh mela begins.

em2 · Oct 26th, 2009, 15:08

I would like to go to Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela. I have travelled to India several times and the idea of experiencing a spiritual event that draws so many people has always intrigued. The reality may be a different matter!! I have quite a flexible schedule and at this point I have not decided when best to go... perhaps in Jan. for the bathing dates on the 14th and 15th and then again in April? I am not usually someone who plans a lot in advance and the thought of setting dates and booking accommodation this far in advance feels beyond me. As a solo older woman travelling on a budget would it be crazy to just make some choices closer to the time? what would it be like to go on my own? I find travel in India is always much easier when I am there and taking it day by day. The logistics from home in Canada always feel boggling. I am not really interested in a package and it looks like many of the non budget places are already booked. I have sent e-mails to some ashrams in Haridwar and it sounds like other ashrams (and hotels) set up camps... Any more advice from someone who has been there? I think the whole experience is beyond my comprehension at this point...

gypsie,lotus · Oct 26th, 2009, 16:47

I don't want to be overwhelmed by 10 million people!
Anyone have any ideas?

[/quote]

Now you know what Mardi Gras is, it's the same only 10 times larger. Anyone from the 'City that care forgot', can surely make a go of it. Good Luck, you will enjoy. And let the good times roll.

Sincerely, Gypsie

Nitinthegreat · Oct 26th, 2009, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by sham_s

Hi,

My husband and I will be visiting India for 3 months. We'll be passing through Haridwar for the Kumbh mela on Jan.31-Feb.2.

We are both Americans (though I am of Indian descent) and were wondering if we'd be accepted in any of the ashrams in Haridwar.

Is there an ashram that is friendly to Westerners. We're not interested in hard-core yoga or anything like that, but would love to learn some breathing/meditation techniques and participate in all of the festivities in a welcoming setting.

Am happy to get any feedback on good ashrams/hotels in the area. Also, must these be booked far in advance?

thanks!

Yes sure you can easily get plenty of ashrams in Haridwar/Rishikesh and they do not differentiate among human being so it won’t make any difference that you are not from India. You can Google and find address/phone numbers of the ashrams in Haridwar/Rishikesh. No need of advance booking.
Enjoy your trip.

GP&D · Nov 6th, 2009, 17:04

Has anyone been to a Kumbh Mela. We're in India for 6 months starting Jan, the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is on Jan 14 - Apr 28, is it a must for a Mum, Dad and 9 year-old-daughter?

Any Kumgh Mela advice, recollections, dos and don'ts all gratefully received.

delhiwala · Nov 6th, 2009, 23:16

It's the biggest congregation of humans on earth......

If you wish to see the spectacle, book accommodation and plan your travel at the earliest...

n kumar · Nov 6th, 2009, 23:22

Hi,
I was their in varanasi on dev deepavali day and the crowd was too much and on jan 14 it will be 10 times more in haridwar. If you like the crowd, the people it is a place never to be missed.

delhiwala · Nov 6th, 2009, 23:36

May be 100 times or more......

Quote:

Originally Posted by n kumar

....I was their in varanasi on dev deepavali day and the crowd was too much and on jan 14 it will be 10 times more in haridwar. ....

Sama · Nov 6th, 2009, 23:38

you can look through this thread -- Advice for 2010 Kumbh mela -- for advice

Mod Note:
I have just merged this thread to that one.

Nick-H · Nov 7th, 2009, 02:37

The stampede scene in A Suitable Boy (Vikram Seth) was enough to put me off such events. It is a wonderful book, anyway, but that section is a real eye-opener about what can go wrong in massive crowds.

(I read the book in India... given its considerable length, it is quite capable of covering two long flights with quite a lot of bed-time reading in between)

But check out the thread Sama recommends. She's going!

fsg · Nov 7th, 2009, 19:27

Was there in '98, and if you are in the area certainly a must, no problem with kids.

There is another thread Kumb Mela where I have posted so please look at that.

I dont know why the info has not all been amalgamated.

You will enjoy it, it was my raisond'etre for my trip that year

Mod Note:
2 threads now merged.

ananda2193 · Nov 7th, 2009, 23:01

I was in the area of the 1998 one at Haridwar and was planning to go, but I was up in the mountains of Kumaon where it was soo peaceful and I was having a great time and the thought of going there with tons of people and probably no place to sleep and then when I wanted to leave thinking how crowded the buses must be scared me off of going. At the time I didn't regret it as I had a blissfull time enjoying the nature of Kumaon.
Today though, I kinda wish I had gone as it's a once in a lifetime spectacle. Maybe next time.

Oct 26th, 2009, 16:47	#66
gypsie,lotus "LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL" Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NEW ORLEANS, USA Posts: 155	Nola, I don't want to be overwhelmed by 10 million people! Anyone have any ideas? [/quote] Now you know what Mardi Gras is, it's the same only 10 times larger. Anyone from the 'City that care forgot', can surely make a go of it. Good Luck, you will enjoy. And let the good times roll. Sincerely, Gypsie

Nov 6th, 2009, 17:04	#68
GP&D Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 21	Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, 2010 - should we go? Has anyone been to a Kumbh Mela. We're in India for 6 months starting Jan, the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is on Jan 14 - Apr 28, is it a must for a Mum, Dad and 9 year-old-daughter? Any Kumgh Mela advice, recollections, dos and don'ts all gratefully received.

Nov 6th, 2009, 23:16	#69
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,817	It's the biggest congregation of humans on earth...... If you wish to see the spectacle, book accommodation and plan your travel at the earliest... __________________ Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

Nov 6th, 2009, 23:38	#72
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 6,432	you can look through this thread -- Advice for 2010 Kumbh mela -- for advice Mod Note: I have just merged this thread to that one. __________________ *MY INDIA, 2005-2008* "Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975) Last edited by theyyamdancer : Nov 8th, 2009 at 15:31.

Nov 7th, 2009, 19:27	#74
fsg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.K Posts: 478	Was there in '98, and if you are in the area certainly a must, no problem with kids. There is another thread Kumb Mela where I have posted so please look at that. I dont know why the info has not all been amalgamated. You will enjoy it, it was my raisond'etre for my trip that year Mod Note: 2 threads now merged. __________________ The British gave India bureaucracy..... India perfected it [Lord Desai] Last edited by theyyamdancer : Nov 8th, 2009 at 15:31.

Oct 23rd, 2009, 15:24	#62
aserbaidschan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: germany Posts: 19	does anyone have an idea on where to stay in haridwar during maha kumbh? i only found accomodation in tents from uttaranchal tourism. 4500 rs per person/night for a double tent during the main bathing dates.... any advice?

Oct 26th, 2009, 15:08	#65
em2 Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: BC Posts: 41	I would like to go to Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela. I have travelled to India several times and the idea of experiencing a spiritual event that draws so many people has always intrigued. The reality may be a different matter!! I have quite a flexible schedule and at this point I have not decided when best to go... perhaps in Jan. for the bathing dates on the 14th and 15th and then again in April? I am not usually someone who plans a lot in advance and the thought of setting dates and booking accommodation this far in advance feels beyond me. As a solo older woman travelling on a budget would it be crazy to just make some choices closer to the time? what would it be like to go on my own? I find travel in India is always much easier when I am there and taking it day by day. The logistics from home in Canada always feel boggling. I am not really interested in a package and it looks like many of the non budget places are already booked. I have sent e-mails to some ashrams in Haridwar and it sounds like other ashrams (and hotels) set up camps... Any more advice from someone who has been there? I think the whole experience is beyond my comprehension at this point...

Nov 6th, 2009, 23:22	#70
n kumar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: bangalore Posts: 975	Hi, I was their in varanasi on dev deepavali day and the crowd was too much and on jan 14 it will be 10 times more in haridwar. If you like the crowd, the people it is a place never to be missed.

Nov 7th, 2009, 02:37	#73
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	The stampede scene in A Suitable Boy (Vikram Seth) was enough to put me off such events. It is a wonderful book, anyway, but that section is a real eye-opener about what can go wrong in massive crowds. (I read the book in India... given its considerable length, it is quite capable of covering two long flights with quite a lot of bed-time reading in between) But check out the thread Sama recommends. She's going!

Nov 7th, 2009, 23:01	#75
ananda2193 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: you essay Posts: 1,904	I was in the area of the 1998 one at Haridwar and was planning to go, but I was up in the mountains of Kumaon where it was soo peaceful and I was having a great time and the thought of going there with tons of people and probably no place to sleep and then when I wanted to leave thinking how crowded the buses must be scared me off of going. At the time I didn't regret it as I had a blissfull time enjoying the nature of Kumaon. Today though, I kinda wish I had gone as it's a once in a lifetime spectacle. Maybe next time.

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