40,000 Outside Police to Be Housed in 127 Wedding Halls and 67 Lodges

Nashik police plan to use 127 wedding halls and lawns and 67 lodges to house police coming from outside for the Simhastha Kumbh. This is a media report by the Free Press Journal on 6 October. It has not yet been officially confirmed.

According to the report, the Simhastha Cell of Nashik police plans to requisition these venues. They will be used for 60 days between July and September 2027. About 40,000 police from across Maharashtra will stay there.

How the plan will work

• The wedding halls and lawns will house the police personnel.
• The 67 lodges are meant for senior officers.
• Owners will be paid at government rates.
• The venues will also cook meals for the personnel.
• A meeting of the owners with Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik is due next week.

How many police in all?

The 40,000 figure is only the force coming from outside. It is not the full police strength for the Kumbh. Different figures have been given, and each one covers something different:

• About 40,000: police from across Maharashtra, to be housed in these venues (Free Press Journal, 6 October).
• About 25,000: police in the city, as said by CP Sandeep Karnik (Times of India, 11 August).
• More than 50,000: the total police force, as per the NTKMA Kumbh Mela plan.

What this means for pilgrims

• These halls, lawns and lodges will be used by the police for 60 days between July and September 2027. The Amrit Snans also fall in these months: 2 August, 31 August, 11 September (Nashik) and 12 September (Trimbakeshwar) 2027.
• If you plan to book a hall or a lodge in Nashik for those months, ask the owner first whether it is on the police list.

For places to stay, see our accommodation guide. For all key dates, see the Kumbh dates page.

We will update this post when an official order is issued.