Once every twelve years, the Godavari river does something that no amount of engineering or tourism marketing can manufacture — it draws millions of people to its banks at the exact same time, for the exact same reason. That’s the Pushkaralu, and in 2027 it’s Godavari’s turn again.
If you’ve never heard of it before, here’s the short version: it’s one of the largest river-bathing festivals in India, on par with the Kumbh Mela in scale and devotion, and it happens on the Godavari only once every dozen years. The last one was in 2015. The next one is set for 2027, and the Andhra Pradesh government is already gearing up to host it on a scale comparable to the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj — new ghats, better roads, expanded sanitation, the works.
Here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning to be there.
When Is Godavari Pushkaralu 2027?
The Andhra Pradesh government officially confirmed the dates of the festival from from June 26 to July 7, 2027.
The dates weren’t picked arbitrarily. They were calculated by the Asthana Siddhanti of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams based on traditional astronomical methods, tied to the movement of Jupiter (Brihaspati) into the zodiac sign Simha, or Leo. That planetary shift is what triggers the Pushkaralu on the Godavari specifically — each of the twelve major rivers in Hindu tradition is associated with a different zodiac sign, and the river “comes alive” spiritually when Jupiter enters its corresponding sign.
The most auspicious window within those 12 days is the very start — Brahma Muhurtam on the pre-dawn morning of June 26 — along with the final hours on July 7. If you’re planning around the holiest moment for your first dip, that’s the stretch to build your itinerary around. That said, some early planning portals had floated different date ranges before the official notification came through, so it’s worth double-checking closer to the date, since local scheduling and ghat-wise rotations can still be fine-tuned by the district administration.
Why Godavari Pushkaralu Matters
The Godavari is often called Dakshina Ganga — the Ganges of the South — and Pushkaralu is the moment that title gets taken most literally. For the 12 days of the festival, the river is believed to carry the divine presence of Pushkara, and a dip taken during this window is said to cleanse sins accumulated over generations, not just a single lifetime.
It’s not only about the ceremonial bath, though that’s the centerpiece. Pilgrims also perform Pitru Tarpanam (rites for ancestors) and Pinda Pradanam along the ghats, and there’s a genuine folk belief that observing the full Pushkaralu carries the same spiritual merit as bathing in twelve different sacred rivers across twelve years.
What makes the Godavari edition distinct from, say, the Kumbh Mela is the setting. This isn’t a temporary tent city on a floodplain — it’s a live, working river town. Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry), the historic heart of Telugu culture and language, becomes the epicenter, with more than a hundred ghats stretching along both the East and West Godavari banks, from Rajahmundry across to Kovvur.
Places to Visit During Godavari Pushkaralu 2027
Most visitors come for the ritual bath and end up staying for everything around it. Rajahmundry and its surrounding belt have enough packed into a fairly small radius that a few extra days turns a pilgrimage into a proper trip.
Pushkar Ghat, Rajahmundry — the main bathing ghat and the natural center of gravity during the festival, sitting right beside the iconic Godavari arch bridge. Expect this to be the busiest spot on the busiest days, especially around the opening and closing muhurtams.
Godavari Rail Bridge and Arch Bridge — two of the most photographed structures in Andhra Pradesh, spanning the river between Rajahmundry and Kovvur. Sunrise and sunset here are worth planning around even outside the festival dates.
Gautami Ghat — a quieter riverside stretch that also houses the ISKCON temple, a small water park, and the Ayyappa temple. Good for an evening that isn’t shoulder-to-shoulder with festival crowds.
Draksharamam — about 40 km from Rajahmundry, home to the Bhimeswara Swamy temple, one of the Pancharama Kshetras and also counted among the Shakti Peethas. The temple’s 9th-century Chalukyan architecture and inscribed stone walls make it worth the detour even for non-pilgrims.
Papikondalu (Papi Hills) — roughly 100 km out, and best experienced on a boat cruise along the Godavari through the Eastern Ghats. Dense forest, small waterfalls, and tribal settlements along the banks make this the go-to nature break after days of temple and ghat visits.
Maredumilli — a forest eco-tourism belt further into the Eastern Ghats, popular for waterfalls, trekking trails, and a slower pace than the river towns.
Antarvedi — sometimes called the “second Varanasi,” at the point where the Vasishta Godavari meets the Bay of Bengal. The Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple here draws its own steady stream of pilgrims, festival or not.
If your schedule is tight, Rajahmundry city itself — Pushkar Ghat, the bridges, Gautami Ghat, and the old town’s bookshops and markets tied to Telugu literary history — can fill a satisfying two days on its own.
Travel Guide: Getting There and Getting Around
By air: Rajahmundry Airport has regular domestic connections to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Vizag. Given the scale expected in 2027, book flights well in advance — fares and availability tend to tighten fast as the dates approach.
By rail: Rajahmundry is a major junction on the Howrah–Chennai main line, so it’s well connected to most large Indian cities. During Pushkaralu, expect special trains and additional stops, but also expect them to fill quickly.
By road: Regular bus services run from Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam. If you want the flexibility to detour to Papi Hills or Maredumilli without depending on public transport timings, a self-drive or hired taxi is the more comfortable option.
Where to stay: Hotel inventory in Rajahmundry and Kovvur will be under real pressure during the 12-day window, given the crowds this event traditionally pulls in. Booking accommodation months ahead — rather than weeks — is the safer approach, and it’s worth looking slightly outside the immediate ghat area for better rates and availability.
Best time to visit beyond the festival: October to February is generally the more comfortable season for Rajahmundry sightseeing, with pleasant weather for river cruises and temple visits. The Pushkaralu itself falls in the monsoon window (late June into July), so pack for humidity, occasional heavy rain, and a fast-moving, higher river.
A few practical notes for pilgrims: crowd density at the main ghats will be extremely high, particularly around the opening days — plan bathing times outside peak hours where possible, keep valuables minimal, and stay alert near the riverbank given the monsoon-season current. Local authorities typically set up help desks, medical camps, and designated ghats for different rituals, so it’s worth checking the official district notifications closer to the date for ghat-wise allocations.
Planning Ahead
Twelve years is a long gap, and it shows in how much preparation goes into these few weeks — new ghats, upgraded roads, and infrastructure meant to handle a crowd the state is openly comparing to the Maha Kumbh Mela. Whether you’re going purely for the Pushkara Snanam or building it into a longer Andhra Pradesh itinerary that takes in Papi Hills, Draksharamam, and the Eastern Ghats, the window to plan well is now rather than later. Accommodation, transport, and even local guides tend to book out fast once the festival dates draw closer.