Kanwar Yatra is the annual pilgrimage on foot made by devotees of Lord Shiva (kanwariyas), who fill Gangajal from sacred rivers, carry it on their shoulders in a kanwar, and perform jalabhishek on a Shivling. It’s one of those events where the entire stretch of western UP and Haryana transforms for a few weeks every monsoon. If you’ve driven through Meerut or Muzaffarnagar during Sawan, you know what I’m talking about: roads packed with orange-clad pilgrims, loudspeakers blaring bhajans, and makeshift camps every few hundred meters.

2026 dates

Kanwar Yatra 2026 begins on July 30 and peaks on August 11, Sawan Shivratri, when most kanwariyas perform jalabhishek. Most people start a few days before Shivratri to time their arrival at the local Shiv Mandir on the 11th itself. First-timers often underestimate the distance. The Haridwar round trip from Delhi-NCR alone is around 400-450 km, and you’re doing it on foot in peak monsoon.

Main routes

  • Haridwar: the most popular source for kanwariyas from North India, especially Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. The Ganga ghat at Har Ki Pauri is where the vast majority fill their kanwars.
  • Gangotri and Gaumukh: for devotees seeking a longer, more difficult journey. This is not a casual walk. The altitude, weather, and terrain make it genuinely challenging, and most people who attempt it have done the Haridwar route several times before.
  • Sultanganj to Deoghar (Baba Dham): the most famous route in Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, roughly 105 kilometers long. Families from Patna, Ranchi, and Kolkata often organize group yatras along this stretch.

Types of the journey

Kanwariyas choose based on their own capacity and the vow they’ve taken:

  • Normal kanwar: stopping along the way at camps, resting at night, completing the journey over several days. Most families and older devotees follow this pace.
  • Dak kanwar: non-stop, at a fast pace, with no overnight halt. Younger devotees often take this up in groups, rotating who carries the kanwar so nobody stops. A dak kanwar from Haridwar to a temple in Meerut or Ghaziabad can be completed in under 24 hours.
  • Khadi kanwar: the kanwar is never set down on the ground, not even for a moment. This requires relay teams, because one person physically can’t sustain it for the full journey.

Things to keep in mind

  • The kanwar is traditionally never placed on the ground, so plan resting stands along the route in advance. Metal Y-stands (kanwar stands) are sold at the starting ghats and at camps along the way.
  • Routes see heavy crowds and traffic diversions, so check local administration advisories ahead of time. In recent years, dedicated kanwar lanes have been set up on major highways in UP and Haryana.
  • Take care of your health before a long walking journey, especially in hot, humid weather. Dehydration and blisters are the two most common problems. Carry ORS packets, wear broken-in shoes, and don’t skip the camps that offer free food and water (bhandaras).
  • If you’re planning a dak kanwar, make sure at least two or three people in your group can share the carrying load. Going solo on a non-stop journey is risky in monsoon conditions.

Find the right time for Sawan Shivratri

The correct puja time for your city can be found on the panchang page.