30–31 October in Nashik: Parking Grounds Named, Liquor Shops Shut Within 2 km of Ramkund, City Buses and Six Ambulances for the Flag Hoisting

A week before the flag hoisting, the first practical details for visitors are coming out: where to park, where liquor shops will be shut, and how city buses and medical teams will work on 31 October. All of this is reported. The Nashik police have still not published their public traffic and parking notice for 30–31 October.

This follows our report on the 30 October Gram Pradakshina route and the NMC encroachment drive (23 October).

Parking grounds set aside for 30–31 October

Sakal reported on 23 October that Madhav Reddy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (traffic), has written to the NMC Commissioner. The letter asks the NMC not to allow firecracker stalls or any other stalls at the places kept for parking during the procession and the flag hoisting. According to the letter, these places are reserved for vehicle parking:

• B.D. Bhalekar ground (Shalimar)
• Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Garden
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex (CBS)
• Rungtha High School
• Government Girls' School (CBS)
• Malegaon Stand to Makhmalabad Naka
• Holkar bridge
• Indrakund

The police also do not want stalls at Ravivar Karanja, Dhumal Point and Main Road, where Diwali stalls usually come up. They fear that stalls on these spots would leave no room for the procession and the ceremony and would jam the city's traffic. The letter does not say which ground is for which day or which kind of vehicle. That should come in the police notice.

Liquor shops: shut within 2 km of Ramtirth on 30 and 31 October

According to Sakal (22 October):

• Collector Ayush Prasad had first ordered all liquor shops in NMC limits, along the Nashik–Trimbakeshwar road and in Trimbakeshwar municipal limits to stay shut on 30 and 31 October.
• On Thursday 22 October he issued a revised order. Now all liquor shops within a 2 km radius of Ramtirth (Ramkund) and all shops within Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council limits will stay shut on those two days.
• Licence holders who break the order face action under sections 54 and 56 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.

We have not seen the order itself, so we mark this as reported.

Separately: longer liquor curbs during the Kumbh are being considered

The Times of India and Pudhari reported on 23 October that the state excise department has asked the NMC to recommend how large an area and for how long liquor sales should be restricted around Ramkund, Godaghat and Panchavati during the 2026–27 Simhastha. Kushavarta in Trimbak is also part of the proposal.

• A review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Sahyadri Guest House, about two to three months ago, discussed a 2–3 km radius.
• A proposal under Section 139 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949 has gone to the state government, with a list of the licences that could be affected (TOI).
• A state letter dated 13 October asked for clarity on the exact area and the period before a final decision.

No decision or notification has been issued yet. This is different from the two-day closure on 30–31 October.

On 31 October: city buses, doctors and six ambulances

The Times of India (23 October) quotes NMC officials:

• Special city buses will run from different parts of Nashik to Ramkund on 31 October, for the flag hoisting and the evening aarti. Routes and timings have not been published.
• Doctors and health staff will be at the venue with six ambulances. The civic-run Indira Gandhi Hospital and Zakir Hussain Hospital will be on alert, and beds are being kept at two private hospitals.
• Most works at the venue are done. The rest were expected to be finished by Saturday 24 October.
• The NMC has asked the Kumbh Mela Authority to approve the facilities it has proposed for sadhus and pilgrims.

Saamana (23 October) adds that three stages are being built: two at Ramkund (for the flag hoisting and the Godavari aarti) and one at Yashwant Maharaj Patangan. A helipad, parking, lighting and security work are under way.

Gram Pradakshina: a second version of the route

Saamana (23 October), quoting Satish Shukla, head of the Purohit Sangh's Simhastha committee, describes the 30 October procession differently from the reports we used earlier:

• Route: from Tapovan via Panchmukhi Hanuman temple, Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk, Nehru Chowk, Dhumal Point, Main Road, Ravivar Karanja and Malegaon Stand. Saamana says the route from Tapovan to Ramkund is about 4.25 km.
• Who takes part: Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Narendracharya Maharaj, the heads of all akharas, 21 tableaux of religious institutions, 15 shaurya (martial) troupes, and art, conch and dhol troupes.
• The end: the procession ends at Ramkund with a Godavari maha aarti at 7 PM, when devotees will light one lakh diyas.

Sources differ

• Tableaux: Sakal (21 October) said 10. Saamana says 21.
• Route: the NMC route in the Times of India goes via the flower market, Delhi Darwaza and Ahilyabai Holkar Bridge. Saamana's goes via Panchmukhi Hanuman temple, Gadge Maharaj Chowk, Dhumal Point and Malegaon Stand. Both include Nehru Chowk, Main Road and Ravivar Karanja.
• Arrival time: Sakal said about 6:30 PM at Ramtirth. Saamana gives 7 PM for the aarti.
• Name: Navbharat wrote Jagadguru Ramanujacharya Narendracharya Maharaj; Saamana writes Ramanandacharya.

The police traffic notice should settle the route.

Police rehearsals

Saamana reports that Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik went over the Tapovan–Ramkund route on Wednesday 21 October, looking at crowd points, traffic changes and bandobast. On Thursday 22 October police reviewed Ramkund in the morning for the flag hoisting, and in the evening Ramkund, the Bhaji Bazaar ground and the Godaghat for the aarti. Saamana says more than 600 officers and staff took part, and a route march was held. The Free Press Journal had given 300–400 personnel for the 22 October rehearsal. The two reports may be counting differently.

What this means for you

• If you drive in on 30 or 31 October, expect to park at one of the grounds above and walk. Wait for the police notice before you set out.
• Hotels, bars and restaurants within 2 km of Ramkund, and all of Trimbakeshwar town, should expect liquor sales to be shut on 30 and 31 October.
• On 31 October, use the special city buses once routes are announced. Do not drive into Panchavati.
• Medical teams and six ambulances will be at Ramkund. Save the emergency numbers before you go.
• For the full programme and live updates, see our Dhwajarohan 2026 hub.