Shrawani Mela 2026

The world-famous Shrawani Mela is one of the great religious fairs of Hindu tradition, centred on Baba Ajgaibinath and Baba Baidyanath (Deoghar). It is held every year in the holy month of Shravan. During the mela, devotees walk the pilgrim route of roughly 105 kilometres from Sultanganj — on the banks of the sacred Ganga — to Baba Baidyanath Dham, carrying holy Ganga water in a kanwar (yoke) to perform jalabhishek (ritual water offering) at the shrine. Lakhs of devotees from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and other states, as well as from Nepal, take part every year, making it one of the largest religious gatherings of its kind.

To facilitate the Kanwariyas (pilgrims) undertaking this journey, the Bihar Tourism Department has arranged extensive facilities along the roughly 105-km stretch from Sultanganj to the Bihar–Jharkhand border — including drinking water, rest shelters, medical aid, sanitation, electricity/lighting and tented accommodation at various points — so as to preserve the world-renowned religious and cultural heritage of the mela.

TOURISM DEPARTMENT

New Facilities Created by the Government of Bihar at Various Places

• Sultanganj – Tourist Information Centre and Accommodation Facility; drinking water, toilet, bathing facilities, and resting arrangements for pilgrims.
  
  
• Bateshwar Sthan – Toilet, drinking water facilities, and women's toilet available.
  
  
• Asarganj – Drinking water, toilet, resting place, and women's toilet.
  
  
• Madhya Siddhi Ghat – Bathing ghat, toilet, changing room, drinking water, seating area, security arrangements, women's toilet, and other public facilities.
  
  
• Ajgaibinath Temple – Drinking water, toilet, waiting hall, security arrangements, and women's toilet.
  
  
• Kachahari Chowk – Drinking water, toilet, changing room, resting place, and other public facilities.
  
  
• Namami Gange, Sultanganj – Bathing ghat, changing room, drinking water, toilet, waiting hall, security arrangements, and women's toilet (near the main bathing ghat).
  
  
• Kumarganj, Asarganj – Drinking water, toilet, resting place, waiting hall, security arrangements, and women's toilet.
  
  
• Madhya Ghat – Tourist Information Centre, toilet, and women's toilet.
  
  
• Nala Ghat, Kamarganj, Antichak – Drinking water, toilet, and women's toilet.
  
  
• Kachahari, Shivganga, Bagh Berati – Drinking water, toilet, changing room, resting place, waiting hall, security arrangements, and women's toilet.
  
  
• Block Campus – Tourist Information Centre.
  
  
• Kumarganj, Bagh Berati – Drinking water, toilet, changing room, waiting hall, security arrangements, tourist information centre, and women's toilet.
  
  
• Bariya – Toilet and women's toilet.
  
  
• Roadside Wayside Amenity (NH-336) – From Sultanganj to the Jharkhand border.
  
  
• R.T.P.S. Wayside Amenity (NH-107) – From Sultanganj to the Jharkhand border. 

Accommodation & Stay Arrangements for Pilgrims: Sultanganj

•  Temporary structures and rest sheds at New Sidhi Ghat, Sultanganj
•  Temporary rest structures near the entry point, Sultanganj
•  Temporary structures at Harijanpur, Sultanganj
•  Temporary structures at Sohanipur, Sultanganj
•  Temporary sheds with women's toilets at all main sites
•  Temporary rest house structure near the local nullah/canal crossing
•  Navodaya Vidyalaya campus used as a rest structure

Tent City

The Tourism Department has set up fully-equipped tent cities for pilgrims:

• 25 air-conditioned Rajasthani-style tents constructed and operated at Sultanganj.
•  A 500-bed capacity tent city constructed at Sultanganj.
•  A 200-bed capacity tent city constructed at Dhori/Dauri.
•  A 200-bed capacity tent city constructed at Vir.
•  A 250-bed capacity tent city constructed near the Moriadih road.
•  A 200-bed capacity tent city constructed at Dhauri.
•  QR-code based facility/verification system in place.

Permanent Facilities Along the Route

Bihar Tourism has developed permanent facilities — hotels, dharamshalas, vehicle stands, food courts/canteens, ATMs and (women's) toilets — at key halting points along the Kanwariya path, including:

•  Sultanganj: hotels, dharamshalas (pilgrim rest houses), vehicle stand, food court/canteen, ATM, and women's toilets are available.
•  Katoria: hotels, dharamshalas, vehicle stand / food court, ATM, women's toilets.
• Godhiyari: hotels, dharamshalas, vehicle stand / food court, ATM, women's toilets.
•  Barsaliya: hotels, dharamshalas, vehicle stand / food court, ATM, women's toilets.
• Dharhara: hotels, dharamshalas, vehicle stand / food court, ATM, women's toilets.
•  Additional permanent rest-stops with lighting, drinking water and toilet (including women's toilet) facilities are provided at further points along the route toward Deoghar.

Essential Guidelines for Pilgrims / Kanwariyas

•  Do not consume alcohol, tobacco or any intoxicant during the   pilgrimage.
•  Do not get friendly with, or trust, strangers along the route.
•  Keep a close watch on your pockets and belongings, especially in crowded areas.
•  Do not hand over your mobile phone to any unknown person.
•  Note down your vehicle's registration number and keep it recorded before you set out.
•  Park vehicles only at the designated/proper places at night.
•  In case of any problem, contact the nearest control room or help desk immediately.
•  Seek assistance from police or tent-city staff wherever needed.
•  A QR-code based security/identification system is in place at facilities along the route.
•  Security guard service is available at every tent city.
•  Information kiosks, sanitation staff, tourist information centres and police outposts are stationed all along the route, district-wise.

Map Legend (icons used on the route map)

•  Tourist Information Centre
•  Dharamshala / Rest House
•  Medical Aid Centre
•  Tent City
•  Police Assistance Booth
•  Public Toilet