Kumbh Mela is one of the most sacred of all pilgrimages in the Hindu calendar, and it occurs just four times every twelve years. After a wait of three years visitors are expected to flock to the 2010 Kumbh Mela in their millions. Monks, tourists, holy pilgrims and ash-covered sadhus will congregate along the Ganga river in the heart of Haridwar for the first day of the festival in January. They can then take part in ritual bathing, devotional singing and religious discussions, or just enjoy the incredible atmosphere.

Haridwar itself is set in a lovely location at the foothill of the Himalayas, and is always an interesting place to visit, no matter what the time of year is. The city comes alive though when it comes around to its turn to host the Kumbh Mela festival. In an extraordinary feat of organisational skill thousands of people are fed and countless more get an insight into the culture and religion of India. The festival may not be for the faint hearted with its cacophony of bells, devotional songs, and trumpeting of elephants. The 2001 Maha Kumbh Mela attracted around 60 million people to Allahabad so it can undoubtedly become crowded. However, visitors who include it in a trip to India are sure to have an unforgettable experience.