A pilgrimage to the Kumbh is physically demanding: long days on your feet, warm and humid monsoon weather, enormous crowds and the realities of eating, drinking and bathing among millions of people. The common health issues, an upset stomach, heat tiredness, sore feet, are easily prevented with sensible care and that's what this guide is about.
Before you go
A little preparation at home pays off.
- See your doctor if you have any medical condition, are pregnant, elderly or have concerns about a demanding trip in the heat. Ask about your fitness for it and any precautions specific to you.
- Check your routine vaccinations are up to date and ask your doctor whether any others are advisable for your circumstances.
- Carry all your medication in sufficient quantity for the whole trip plus a buffer, in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription and a written list of what you take.
- Pack a basic first-aid kit, plasters, antiseptic, blister care, rehydration salts and the everyday remedies you rely on.
A compact travel first-aid kit
Plasters, antiseptic, blister care and the basics in one pouch, easier than assembling it piecemeal before you leave.
See first-aid kits →Hydration and the heat
The 2027 snan dates fall in the warm, humid monsoon tail and dehydration and heat tiredness are among the commonest complaints. Drink regularly from safe water sources and carry a reusable bottle. Watch for the signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and your group, dizziness, headache, nausea, heavy sweating then clammy skin, and rest in shade and rehydrate if they appear. Don't push through the hottest hours with children or elderly relatives; build in shaded rest. Oral rehydration salts are worth carrying for the heat and for any stomach upset.
Food and water hygiene
This is the big one, an upset stomach can ruin a pilgrimage and it's largely preventable.
- Drink only safe water, sealed bottled water or properly purified water. Avoid untreated tap or hand-pump water.
- Eat hot, freshly cooked food. Food served piping hot from a busy stall is safer than anything sitting out.
- Be cautious with raw or pre-cut items, salads, cut fruit and anything that may have been washed in unsafe water or left exposed.
- Mind the ice and cold drinks, ice may be made from unsafe water.
- Wash or sanitise your hands before eating, every time.
- Carry oral rehydration salts in case of a stomach upset and the basic remedies you trust.
Hand sanitiser & rehydration salts
Pocket sanitiser and ORS sachets are the two cheapest things that prevent the most common Mela ailments.
See sanitiser & ORS →If you do get a stomach upset, rest, rehydrate well and seek the Mela medical posts if it's severe or persists. In dense crowds, simple measures help too: carry hand sanitiser and use it often, a few masks are sensible in the dustiest conditions or for anyone with a respiratory sensitivity and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, none of it needs to be obsessive, just the ordinary good habits that reduce the chance of picking something up in a crowd of millions.
Foot care
With all the walking and being barefoot at temples and ghats, your feet take a beating. Wear comfortable, broken-in footwear, never new shoes. Carry blister plasters and use them at the first hint of a hot spot. Keep your feet as clean and dry as you can, especially in the monsoon wet and check them at the end of each day. Sore, blistered feet are the single most common thing that slows pilgrims down.
The bathing-water question
A question many pilgrims ask honestly: is the Godavari water safe to bathe in? Here's the balanced answer. The Godavari is sacred and bathing in it is the purpose of the pilgrimage. At the same time, mass bathing by very large numbers affects water quality and it's sensible to take simple precautions while honouring your faith:
- Don't swallow the water, take your dip without drinking it.
- Avoid bathing with open wounds or cuts or cover them well; broken skin is the main route for any infection.
- Rinse with clean water and dry off reasonably soon after your dip.
- Take extra care with the very young, the elderly and anyone with a weak immune system or skin condition, consult your doctor if unsure.
The administration takes water-management measures during the Mela and for most healthy pilgrims a respectful dip with these basic precautions is fine. It's ultimately a personal decision balancing devotion and sensible hygiene. The ritual itself is covered in our bathing etiquette guide.
The monsoon factor
August and September bring rain and humidity. Keep a poncho or umbrella to hand and try to keep your feet dry, prolonged damp invites blisters and fungal trouble. Mosquitoes are more active in the wet; carry repellent, especially for evenings. Keep your medication and electronics dry in a waterproof pouch. Our packing checklist guide has the full monsoon kit.
Medication and chronic conditions
If you manage a condition, plan carefully. Carry more than enough of your medication, with prescriptions and a written list of your conditions and medicines, kept on you, not in checked luggage. If you use anything that needs to stay cool or has special storage needs, plan for it in the heat. Consult your doctor before the trip about managing your condition during a demanding pilgrimage and locate the Mela medical posts near your base on arrival.
Special care for the vulnerable
Some travellers need extra thought and a doctor's input. Elderly pilgrims, pregnant women, young children and anyone with a chronic condition should consult their doctor before the trip about whether and how to attend and take extra care with heat, hydration, crowds and rest. For the most vulnerable, it's worth honestly weighing whether the peak-crowd snan is wise or whether a calmer Parva Snan or off-peak day (see our best time to visit guide) would be safer and gentler. Our family travel guide covers travelling with the vulnerable in depth.
On-site medical facilities
The Kumbh runs extensive medical arrangements, medical posts and first-aid facilities through the grounds, with staff and ambulances on hand. Find the nearest one to your accommodation and to the ghats when you arrive, carry a small card noting your blood group, conditions, medications and an emergency contact and don't hesitate to seek help if you or anyone in your group is unwell.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Godavari water safe to bathe in?+
Bathing is the purpose of the pilgrimage and for most healthy pilgrims a dip with simple precautions is fine. Mass bathing does affect water quality, so don't swallow the water, avoid bathing with open wounds (or cover them), rinse with clean water and dry off afterward and take extra care with the very young, elderly or immune-compromised, consult your doctor if unsure. It's a personal decision balancing devotion and hygiene.
How do I avoid getting an upset stomach?+
Drink only sealed bottled or purified water, eat hot freshly cooked food, avoid raw or pre-cut items and ice from unsafe water and sanitise your hands before eating every time. Carry oral rehydration salts in case. Food and water hygiene prevents the great majority of stomach trouble.
What health items should I pack?+
A first-aid kit, your medication with prescriptions, blister plasters, hand sanitiser, oral rehydration salts, sun protection, mosquito repellent and a few masks. The full list is in our packing checklist guide.
Is the Kumbh suitable for elderly people or pregnant women?+
It can be, with care and a doctor's input. Anyone elderly, pregnant, very young or managing a condition should consult their doctor before the trip, take extra care with heat, crowds and rest and consider a calmer date over the peak crush.
Are there medical facilities at the Mela?+
Yes, extensive ones, medical posts and first-aid facilities throughout the grounds, with staff and ambulances. Locate the nearest to your base on arrival and carry a card with your blood group, conditions, medication and an emergency contact.