Learn how India constructs and dismantles the Kumbh Mela, a temporary city for millions, in just weeks—an engineering marvel and spiritual feat.

How Does India Build and Dismantle the Kumbh Mela City?

Every 12 years, India undertakes a mind-boggling challenge—constructing a massive city from scratch to host the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering.

Held in Prayagraj, this spiritual event attracts millions of Hindu pilgrims seeking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

In just two months, officials transform a 10,000-acre floodplain into a well-organized, fully functional city—only to dismantle it entirely once the festival ends.

Building a City for Millions in Weeks

The Kumbh Mela’s temporary city is a marvel of urban planning. Roads, bridges, sanitation facilities, and residential spaces are constructed in record time.

The city is meticulously mapped into grids, featuring:

Miles of roads and pontoon bridges
30,000+ toilets for sanitation
Temporary hospitals and security posts
Tents ranging from communal shelters to luxury accommodations

For VIPs and affluent visitors, Dome City, a new high-end addition, offers bulletproof, fireproof structures with modern amenities.

Meanwhile, 10,000 sanitation workers ensure cleanliness, with strict waste management rules preventing pollution.

The Dismantling Process: A Vanishing City

Once the Kumbh Mela ends, the city vanishes as quickly as it appeared.

Authorities dismantle every structure, road, and bridge, returning the land to its natural state.

Cleanup crews work tirelessly to remove waste and offerings, leaving no trace of the millions of visitors gathered there.

This rapid construction and dismantling cycle showcases India’s engineering prowess, proving that a city of 400 million people can rise, function, and disappear—all within a few months.

The Kumbh Mela is not just a religious gathering but an extraordinary urban planning and logistical achievement.