The Uttar Pradesh government has announced high-tech sleeping pods at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in an effort to make it a memorable experience for devotees. These modern facilities, designed to offer a comfortable and pleasant stay during one of the world's largest religious gatherings, mark a significant upgrade in accommodation options. Alongside a vast tent city, the administration aims to revolutionize the way pilgrims experience the Maha Kumbh.

 

What are the new sleeping pods?

 

These capsule-style pods, equipped with amenities like phone charging, Wi-Fi, locker rooms, and luxurious toilets, will be introduced for the first time during the 2025 Maha Kumbh. Inspired by the popularity of sleeping pods at Prayagraj Junction Railway Station, this modern accommodation option will be available for hire, making the pilgrimage experience more comfortable for visitors.

Aparajita Singh, regional tourism officer, Prayagraj said that the state is constructing two luxury tent cities, one at Arail and the other at Jhunsi. Two thousand tented accommodations will be ready at Arail and as many sleeping pods will be ready at Jhunsi.

As of now, 1,600 have been already booked in Arail, while the tender is going on with all importance being given to the standards for safety before commencement of construction.

 

Roadmap for convenience

 

A long list of amenities has been designed by the state Tourism Department for the program. Just a few months after introducing sleeping pods to Prayagraj last July, the third pod facility is all set to be rolled out in Prayagraj during the 45-day festival. According to Rita Bahuguna Joshi of the BJP, only two other places in India have seen such an installation in Mumbai.

Kumbh Mela is expected to accommodate around 40 crore visitors which are supposed to begin from 14th Jan, 2025 coinciding with Makar Sankranti, and end on 26th Feb, 2025 coinciding with Maha Shivratri. The guests will also be provided with more than 700 electric shuttle buses that will reduce the distances people would have to walk through attending the festival, in addition to a tent city spread over 4,000 hectares.

These pods will not be restricted to the Kumbh. The government plans to introduce this facility at airports and railway stations, too. The convenience of short stay will be provided to pilgrims by modifying these modern pods. This has been a part of a larger plan for the infrastructure development along with the Maha Kumbh and other major routes. Subsidies are being provided to upgrade the dhabas, restaurants, and hotels to international standards.

All preparations for Maha Kumbh 2025 have been in full swing with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath scheduling all his preparations to be completed on December 15, 2024. He said that the government is using AI equipment, use of non-plastic will be encouraged, and the total area of the event will increase. Security is going to be very tight during the festival, especially on Makar Sankranti (January 14), Mauni Amavasya (January 29), and Basant Panchami (February 3). 

At the time when the countdown for the Maha Kumbh is about to start, there have been a number of promises by the UP government  would make sure that pilgrims experience this great religious affair with maximum ease and comfort.