Kanwar yatra from Sultanganj to Deoghar: the route and how to plan it

Every Shravan, devotees of Shiva set out from Sultanganj, a town on the Ganga in Bihar's Bhagalpur district, to carry Ganga jal on foot to Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand. At Sultanganj the Ganga turns and flows north, which is considered especially sacred, and the water filled there is what kanwariyas offer to the Jyotirlinga.

The water is carried in two pots hung from a decorated bamboo pole, the kanwar, balanced on the shoulder. Pilgrims wear saffron, walk barefoot, and greet one another with "Bol Bam". The whole walk is treated as a vow: from the moment the jal is filled until it is offered at Deoghar, the kanwariya keeps to the rules of the yatra.

This walk is at the heart of the Shravani Mela, the month-long festival at Baidyanath Dham. Many devotees also walk at other times of year, especially in the month of Bhadrapad after Shravan, but the road is busiest by far in Shravan.

The kanwariya path is roughly 105 km from Sultanganj to the temple in Deoghar. In Shravan, the administration usually prepares a dedicated path for walkers, with rest camps, water, medical posts and lighting along the way.

The walk broadly runs in four stretches:

1. Sultanganj. Pilgrims bathe in the Ganga, fill their pots, have the kanwar blessed, and offer prayers at the Ajgaibinath temple before setting off.
2. Through Bhagalpur, Munger and Banka districts of Bihar. The first and longest part of the walk passes through towns and villages such as Tarapur and Kumarsar, with camps where walkers rest and eat. Parts of this stretch are hilly and stony, and there are river crossings.
3. Into Jharkhand. The path enters Jharkhand near Dumma on the state border, and the last stretch runs towards Deoghar.
4. Darshaniya and the temple. At Darshaniya, at the edge of Deoghar, pilgrims traditionally get their first sight of the temple. From there they join the queue to offer jal at the Jyotirlinga.

Most walkers cover the route in three to five days, resting at night in camps or dharamshalas. The exact camps and places differ by year, so follow the signs and the administration's route map for the season.

There are a few ways to make the yatra, and you will see them all on the road:

• Bol Bam kanwariyas walk at their own pace, resting along the way. This is the most common.
• Dak Bam kanwariyas commit to walking the full distance without stopping and to offering the jal within about a day of filling it. They are often given a separate lane and queue.
• Dandi Bam devotees cover the route by prostrating themselves along the road, which can take many days or weeks.
• Khada (standing) kanwar is carried by a group in turn, so the kanwar is never set down at all.

The common rules are simple, and kanwariyas take them seriously:

• The kanwar must not touch the ground. Stands are provided at camps for resting it.
• Walk barefoot, stay sattvik (no meat, alcohol or intoxicants), and keep your mind on prayer.
• Bathe before picking the kanwar up again after a rest, and keep it away from anything considered impure.

These customs are passed on by experienced walkers and the local pandas at Sultanganj, and they vary a little between families. Ask before you start if you are unsure.

The main yatra follows the Hindu month of Shravan, usually between July and August. In Bihar and Jharkhand the month is generally counted from the day after Ashadh Purnima to Shravan Purnima. The 2027 dates follow the Hindu calendar, and we confirm them as the year's panchang is published.

Shravan Mondays are the most crowded days at the temple, and many kanwariyas time their arrival for them. If you prefer a calmer walk and darshan, aim to arrive on a different day of the week.

Shravan is also the monsoon. Expect heat, humidity and rain on the road, and plan for wet paths and swollen streams.

A few things help first-time walkers:

• Prepare your feet and legs with long walks in the weeks before, and look after blisters early on the road.
• Carry a small kit: a government photo ID, a charged phone and power bank, basic medicines, a light raincoat, and a towel and change of clothes.
• Walk in the cooler hours. Many kanwariyas walk through the night and early morning and rest in the heat of the day.
• Tell your family your plan, and agree where you will meet them in Deoghar.

MandirMay does not organise the walk from Sultanganj. What we can do is make the end of your yatra, and the trip home, easier:

• A hotel near the temple for after your jal offering, in AC rooms a few minutes' walk from the temple. In Shravan these fill early. See hotels near Baidyanath temple.
• Rooms for your family, if some of you are travelling by road or train to meet the walkers in Deoghar.
• Puja after darshan: Rudrabhishek, Sankalp Puja or Gathbandhan Puja with experienced pandits and all samagri. During the Shravan season, as per administrative rules, special pujas like Rudrabhishek are performed in outer halls or shared spaces rather than the main garbhagriha.
• Basukinath: many kanwariyas go on to offer jal at Basukinath. Our day cab covers Basukinath, Tapovan and Trikut Pahar. See the Basukinath temple guide.
• Going home: a drop to Deoghar Junction or Deoghar Airport, for up to 4 or 6 people.

Book any of these on the Baidyanath Dham page. You pay an advance through Razorpay and the rest before your visit. For your family's trains, flights and roads into Deoghar, see how to reach Deoghar.