Tent Cities for Simhastha 2027: New Rules for Private Operators, Sites and a Booking App

If you plan to stay in a tent during the 2027 Simhastha, here is where things stand as of 6 October 2026. In short: the plan and the rules are taking shape, but you cannot book yet, and no prices have been published.

The plan: tent cities on the Prayagraj model

The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) plans to follow the tent-city model used at Prayagraj. Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh said on record that sites of about 80 acres in Nashik and more than 50 acres in Trimbak have been identified. A third site is being looked for (HT, reproduced by Lokmat Times, 1 September 2026).

The work is split in two. NTKMA will provide drainage, water and power. Private operators will provide beds, washrooms and dining. Singh said about 20 hospitality firms are in talks.

In July, the Times of India reported a different picture: tent cities at 5 to 6 locations with "nearly 25,000 tents", with sites not yet final. That is a media report, and it does not match the two sites Singh described later. Until NTKMA publishes a final list of sites, treat both as plans.

The new SOP for private tent cities

On 29 September 2026, NTKMA issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for private tent cities, as reported by the Free Press Journal. It is meant for landowners and operators, but it also tells pilgrims what a properly approved tent city should look like.

• Who can apply: a private landowner, or an operator who has a registered MoU with a landowner.
• Land: at least 2 acres in one piece, free of any legal claims, and inside Nashik district.
• Period: a tent city may run from March to December 2027. After that, everything must be taken down.
• No waste water may be let into rivers or nalas, and waste must be sorted (segregated).
• Wiring must use ELCB safety devices, and an electrical audit must be done before anyone moves in.
• Every tent city must have an emergency plan.

Applications are to open "shortly". No date has been given yet.

The booking app and portal

NTKMA has approved ₹5 crore for an Android and iOS app and an official web portal with open APIs (Times of India, 3 July 2026). The app is for booking tent cities only. It is not for hotels or homestays.

As of today, neither the app nor the portal is live, as far as we could find. Be careful with any app or website that calls itself the official Kumbh booking app before NTKMA launches one.

What this means for pilgrims

• No official tent prices exist yet. Any tent price you see today did not come from NTKMA.
• Tent cities can run only from March to December 2027. That covers the main bathing season, including the first Amrit Snan on 2 August 2027. See all key dates on our dates page.
• Demand will be highest around the Amrit Snan days, so plan early once bookings open.
• Tents are only one option. Hotels, dharamshalas and homestays are covered on our accommodation page, and our pilgrim guide has more planning tips.

We will update this post when NTKMA opens applications or launches the booking app. This site is an independent guide and is not run by NTKMA.