When is the Ujjain Simhastha 2028?

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela runs from 27 March to 27 May 2028, roughly 60 days. Reported Shahi Snan dates centre on 9 April, with the second and third principal dates provisionally reported in the following weeks and on 8 May 2028 — final confirmation is pending from the Akhara Parishad and Madhya Pradesh government.

Where does the bathing take place in Ujjain?

Primarily at Ram Ghat on the Shipra (Kshipra) River, in the ancient city of Ujjain, historically known as Avantika.

What makes Mahakaleshwar unique among the Jyotirlingas?

Mahakaleshwar is the only Dakshinamukhi (south-facing) Jyotirlinga among the twelve, and is known for its daily pre-dawn Bhasma Aarti, where sacred ash is offered to the Swayambhu (self-manifested) lingam — a ritual performed without interruption for centuries.

Why is Ujjain's Kumbh called Simhastha?

Simhastha means Jupiter is positioned in Simha (Leo) — the same astrological trigger used for Nashik's Kumbh, though the two cities' precise Sun-Moon timing differs, which is why their exact dates fall in different months.

How do I reach Ujjain for the Simhastha?

The nearest airport is Indore, about 55 km away, with regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities. Ujjain Junction has direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. By road, Ujjain is well connected to Indore and the wider Madhya Pradesh highway network.

Ujjain Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028 | Dates, Mahakaleshwar History & Travel Guide

Name: Ujjain Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028
Start: 2028-03-27
End: 2028-05-27
Location: Ram Ghat

Next hosting

2028

Purna Kumbh (Simhastha)

Sacred river

Shipra

Madhya Pradesh

Astrological trigger

Simha (Leo) — Jupiter and Sun together, distinct from Nashik's alignment

Where the bathing happens

Ram Ghat

Ujjain's Simhastha follows a slightly different astrological trigger than Nashik's, even though both are called Simhastha Kumbh.

Last full Kumbh here: 2016 (Purna Kumbh).

Go deeper

More on Ujjain

Amrit Snan dates across the network → Book a stay near Ujjain → Geography & ghats guide on Kumbh Mela Locations →

The calendar

Ujjain Simhastha 2028 — dates reported so far

The Mela is expected to run roughly 60 days, from 27 March to 27 May 2028. Reports on the exact Shahi Snan dates vary slightly by source at this stage — the table below reflects what's most consistently reported, pending final Akhara Parishad confirmation.

Date	Snan	Status
27 Mar 2028	Commencement	Widely reported
9 Apr 2028	First Shahi Snan	Widely reported
~23 Apr 2028	Second Shahi Snan	Provisional — some sources report 27 Apr
8 May 2028	Third Shahi Snan	Widely reported
27 May 2028	Conclusion	Widely reported

We'll update this table the moment the Madhya Pradesh government and Akhara Parishad issue a jointly confirmed schedule, in line with the same process used for Haridwar 2027. Track the confirmed version on the full 2026–2050 calendar.

Why this city is sacred

Mahakaleshwar and the Amrit legend

Ujjain — ancient Avantika, one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities — carries a distinction none of the other three Kumbh sites share.

The only Jyotirlinga city

Ujjain is the only one of the four Kumbh cities that also hosts a Jyotirlinga — Mahakaleshwar, the only Dakshinamukhi (south-facing) lingam among the twelve, famed for its uninterrupted pre-dawn Bhasma Aarti.

Where Amrit fell in the Shipra

As with the other three sites, tradition holds a drop of Amrit fell into the Shipra here during the Samudra Manthan, which is why bathing in the river during Simhastha is believed to cleanse sins accumulated over many lifetimes.

Avantika, seat of ancient learning

Long before it hosted a Kumbh, Ujjain was a centre of astrology and time-reckoning in ancient India — the city from which India's traditional Prime Meridian was once calculated.

Getting there

How to reach Ujjain

By air

Indore's airport is the nearest, roughly 55 km away, with regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities.

By rail

Ujjain Junction has direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, with additional Simhastha-special services expected closer to 2028.

By road

Well connected to Indore and the wider Madhya Pradesh highway network, with dedicated shuttle services typically arranged during peak Mela dates.

Common questions

Ujjain Simhastha, answered directly

Widely reported as 27 March to 27 May 2028, roughly 60 days, with the first Shahi Snan on 9 April 2028. The second and third dates are still being finalised by the Akhara Parishad and state government.

Primarily at Ram Ghat on the Shipra (Kshipra) River, in the ancient city historically known as Avantika.

It's the only Dakshinamukhi (south-facing) Jyotirlinga of the twelve, known for its uninterrupted daily pre-dawn Bhasma Aarti to the Swayambhu lingam.

Simhastha means Jupiter is in Simha (Leo) — the same trigger as Nashik's Kumbh, though differing Sun-Moon timing means the two cities' exact dates fall in different months.

By air via Indore Airport (55 km); by rail via Ujjain Junction with direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad; or by road via the Madhya Pradesh highway network from Indore.

Terms used on this page

A quick Ujjain glossary

Bhasma Aarti: The daily pre-dawn ritual at Mahakaleshwar where sacred ash is offered to the lingam, performed without interruption for centuries.
Dakshinamukhi: "South-facing" — the orientation unique to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga among all twelve.
Avantika: Ujjain's ancient name, one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri).
Shipra / Kshipra: The river at the centre of Ujjain's Kumbh, both spellings used interchangeably in sources.

The other three

Ujjain Simhastha Kumbh Mela