Ujjain Simhastha 2028is the Kumbh of the Kshipra, and it is unlike the other three. It is the only Kumbh held in a city with a Jyotirlinga at its centre, the only one held in high summer, and it lasts about two months — from 27 March to 27 May 2028. Pilgrims come to bathe at Ram Ghat, to take darshan of Shri Mahakaleshwar, and to see the akharas' Shahi Snan processions wind through the old city to the river.
This guide covers the dates, what makes Ujjain's Simhastha special, how to get there, where to stay, what to see, and how to cope with the heat. Our team ran Yoga Kumbh at the last Ujjain Simhastha in 2016, and much of what follows comes from that season.
Ujjain Simhastha 2028 Dates
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 27 March 2028 | Simhastha begins | Kshipra ghats, Ujjain |
| April – May 2028 | Shahi Snans (dates to be announced by the Simhastha Mela authority) | Ram Ghat and the Kshipra ghats |
| 27 May 2028 | Simhastha closes | Ujjain |
The Simhastha runs for about 62 days. The Shahi Snan dates — the days the akharas bathe in procession — are fixed by the Simhastha Mela authority from the panchang and are usually announced well in advance; we will add them here as soon as they are official. In 2016 the Simhastha ran from 22 April to 21 May. Between the Shahi Snans there are many ordinary bathing days, and those are the ones to choose if you are travelling with elders.
Why Is It Called Simhastha?
Ujjain holds the Kumbh when Jupiter (Guru) is in Simha rashi — Leo — and the Sun is in Mesh (Aries). That alignment comes round every twelve years, and it gives the Ujjain and Nashik Kumbhs their name. Tradition says a drop of amrit from the Samudra Manthan fell into the Kshipra here, which is why bathing in the river during the Simhastha is believed to wash away sins and bring the pilgrim closer to moksha.
Ujjain itself is one of India's seven sacred cities — ancient Avantika, the capital of Vikramaditya, the city where Krishna is said to have studied at Sandipani's ashram, and for centuries the zero meridian of Indian astronomy. During the Simhastha the whole city becomes a mela: akhara camps along the river, pravachans and bhajans day and night, and langars feeding thousands.
Where Is the Simhastha Held?
Ram Ghat and the Kshipra ghats
Ram Ghat is Ujjain's oldest and most important bathing ghat and the end point of the Shahi Snan processions. For the Simhastha the ghats along the Kshipra are extended for kilometres on both banks — Datta Akhara ghat, Narsingh ghat and new ones built for the mela — so that crowds can bathe in many places at once.
Shri Mahakaleshwar
A short walk from Ram Ghat. Mahakaleshwar is the only south-facing (dakshinamukhi) Jyotirlinga, and its pre-dawn Bhasma Aarti is one of the most sought-after darshans in India. Book Bhasma Aarti passes only through the temple's official channels, and expect the darshan system to change during the Simhastha. The Mahakal Lok corridor around the temple now handles far larger crowds than in 2016.
The Mela area
The tent city spreads across the open land along the river, divided into zones for the akharas, institutions and pilgrims. Our Simhastha camp is in the Mela area near Ram Ghat.
How to Reach Ujjain for Simhastha 2028
By Air
The nearest airport is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar airport in Indore, about 55 km away — roughly an hour and a quarter by road. It has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities.
By Train
Ujjain Junction is on the main lines and has direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhopal (about three hours), Varanasi and many more. Railways run Simhastha specials and use smaller stations around the city to spread the crowd, so check which station your train actually stops at.
By Road
Indore is about 55 km, Bhopal about 190 km and Omkareshwar — the other Jyotirlinga of Madhya Pradesh, which many pilgrims combine with Ujjain — about 140 km. During the Simhastha, outside vehicles are parked at satellite parking on the city's approach roads and shuttle buses carry people towards the Mela area.
Getting around
Autos and e-rickshaws are everywhere on normal days. On Shahi Snan days the old city and the ghat approaches close to vehicles, and everyone walks — in the heat. Keep your stay within walking distance of the river if you can, and plan the walk for the cool hours.
Where to Stay During Ujjain Simhastha 2028
| Area | Good for | Distance to Ram Ghat |
|---|---|---|
| Mahakal / Ram Ghat / old city | Walking to the ghat and the temple | 0–1.5 km |
| Simhastha Mela area (tent city) | Camps along the Kshipra, akhara life | 0.5–4 km |
| Freeganj / near Ujjain Junction | Train arrivals, budget and mid-range hotels | 3–4 km |
| Dewas Road / Nanakheda | Newer hotels, easier parking | 5–8 km |
| Indore | Large hotels, the airport, day trips in | about 55 km |
For a Shahi Snan, stay in the old city near Mahakal and Ram Ghat or in the Mela area itself — the walk is short and you can rest through the hottest hours. Freeganj, near the station, has the most hotels at every budget. Many families stay in Indore for the bigger hotels and come in by road for darshan, but on Shahi Snan days that journey can take hours.
Dharamshalas and ashrams near the temple are simple, cheap and fill early. Tent cities run by the mela administration and private camps add thousands of beds during the Simhastha. Our camp has Deluxe, Luxury and Royal tents with attached bathrooms and coolers, sattvic meals, morning yoga and evening satsang — the same spirit as our Yoga Kumbh in 2016. Book two to three months ahead for any Shahi Snan.
Places to Visit in Ujjain
- Shri Mahakaleshwar and Mahakal Lok — the Jyotirlinga and the corridor of murals and statues around it.
- Harsiddhi Mata — a Shaktipeeth near Ram Ghat, famous for its two tall lamp towers lit in the evening.
- Kal Bhairav — the guardian deity of Ujjain, a short drive from the old city.
- Mangalnath — on the Kshipra, believed to be the birthplace of Mars, where many come for Mangal dosh puja.
- Sandipani Ashram — where Krishna, Balarama and Sudama are said to have studied.
- Chintaman Ganesh, Gadkalika and Bhartrihari Caves — older shrines on the city's edge.
- Ved Shala — the observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh II, a reminder of Ujjain's place in Indian astronomy.
Ujjain Simhastha Travel Tips
Beat the heat
Afternoons in April and May are often above 40°C. Bathe and take darshan at dawn, rest from noon to four, and go out again in the evening. Wear loose cotton, a cap or a gamchha, and sunglasses. Drink water constantly and carry ORS — heat exhaustion is the most common problem at a summer Kumbh.
Plan darshan
Mahakaleshwar queues can run for hours on Shahi Snan days. Use the temple's official booking for special darshan and Bhasma Aarti, check the dress code, and leave bags at your stay — phones and bags are often not allowed inside.
Stay safe in the crowd
Fix a meeting point, put a card with your stay and two phone numbers in every pocket, and keep children and elders close. Follow the police routes to the ghats even when they look longer. Carry some cash, since networks slow down on the big days.
Book early
Rooms near Mahakal and in the Mela area go first, and rates rise as the Shahi Snan dates are announced. Book as soon as your dates are fixed. For more, read our Ujjain Simhastha 2028 dates and camps guide and the Kumbh packing checklist.
Plan Your Ujjain Simhastha With Us
Send the Pulp Hotels Kumbh desk your dates and who is travelling. We quote our camp or a stay near Mahakal for your dates and you pay at the property. Earlier Kumbhs in our calendar: the Ardh Kumbh 2027 Haridwar and the Nashik Kumbh Mela 2027.
