Prayagraj · Holy places
Nag Vasuki Temple, Prayagraj
The Nag Vasuki temple is a temple of Vasuki, king of the serpents, on the bank of the Ganga in the northern corner of Daraganj, north of the Sangam. Its main festival is Nag Panchami, when a big fair is held, the district says.
In the story of the churning of the ocean, the story behind the Kumbh's pot of nectar, Vasuki is the serpent used as the churning rope. Many pilgrims hold that a visit to Prayagraj is not complete without darshan here after the bath, ETV Bharat reported in 2025.
Nag Vasuki temple at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | North of the Sangam, in the northern corner of Daraganj, on the bank of the Ganga (district) |
| Deity | Nag Vasuki, the serpent king, with images of Nag Raj, Ganesh and Parvati and a reclining image of Bhishma Pitamah. A Shiva temple stands in the premises. |
| Busiest times | Nag Panchami, in Shravan (July to August), when a big fair is held (district, ETV Bharat) |
| Recent work | Renovated ahead of the 2025 Maha Kumbh (mela authority, PIB) |
| Timings | No official timings published. Check locally. |
| Magh Mela 2027 | Expected from 15 January to 6 March 2027, with six main bathing days. Not a Kumbh year. |
| 2027 arrangements | Not announced |
Vasuki and the churning of the ocean
In the story of the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean, the devas and the asuras bound Vasuki around Mount Mandara and used him as the churning rope to bring out amrita, the nectar of immortality. In Kumbh tradition, the pot (kumbha) of that nectar is linked with the four Kumbh cities. Read the story on our Kumbh mythology page.
Vasuki is also closely linked with Shiva, who wears him around his neck, ETV Bharat notes. The Ministry of Culture describes the temple as honouring the serpent deity.
A visit after the bath. According to a belief ETV Bharat reported during the 2025 Maha Kumbh, many pilgrims hold that the pilgrimage is incomplete without a visit to the Nag Vasuki temple after the holy dip. A retired Allahabad University historian told the channel he knew little of that belief, but that people who come to Prayagraj for a short time also try to visit the temple.
What you see at the temple
The district lists images of Nag Raj, Ganesh and Parvati, and a reclining image of Bhishma Pitamah, with a Shiva temple in the premises.
Pilgrims climb steep steps to reach the temple, ETV Bharat reported.
On its history, the same report quotes the historian B. P. Dubey: the shrine is about 450 years old and was once small, and the present building, about 150 years old, was built by a Tandon family who had come to Allahabad from Agra. We found no official source for these dates.
Renovation for the 2025 Maha Kumbh
- November 2024. IANS reported that the Prayagraj Development Authority’s renovation of the Nagvasuki temple was due to be finished by 30 November 2024.
- 12 and 13 December 2024. A Ministry of Culture note said the Nagvasuki temple was being restored for the Maha Kumbh, and on 13 December the Prime Minister named it among the temples being renovated.
- 29 December 2024. A Ministry of Culture note listed the renovation among the Maha Kumbh works, and placed the Uttar Pradesh pavilion of the mela, on 5 acres, near the Nagavasuki temple.
- The mela authority’s website, last updated on 27 January 2025, describes a major refurbishment that combines traditional architecture with modern design.
Getting there from the Sangam
The temple is north of the Sangam, on the Ganga at the northern end of Daraganj, some kilometres from the bathing area. The Bade Hanuman temple is also in Daraganj, close to the Sangam.
During a mela, vehicles are stopped well before the river around the main bathing days and the last stretch is on foot. In 2025 those rules ran from the day before to the day after each main bathing day. The plan for 2027 has not been published. See how to reach Prayagraj and our Sangam guide.
Nag Vasuki and the Magh Mela 2027
The next big mela at the Sangam is the Magh Mela 2027, expected from Friday 15 January to Saturday 6 March 2027, with six main bathing days. The mela authority has not yet published its list; see the bathing days page. Nag Panchami, in Shravan, falls outside the mela season.
Temple arrangements for the mela have not been announced. Main bathing days usually draw the most pilgrims; follow police and mela instructions on the day.
2027 is not a Kumbh year at Prayagraj. The next Ardh Kumbh is expected in 2031. See all holy places of Prayagraj.
Where it is
- 1Triveni SangamGhat
- 2Akshayavat and Bade Hanuman, by the FortTemple
- 3Nag Vasuki TempleTemple · This page
- 4Prayagraj JunctionRailway
- 5Prayag JunctionRailway
- 6Prayagraj Sangam stationRailway
- 7Civil Lines bus stationBus
- 8Zero Road bus standBus
A guide to where places are, not a route plan. During the mela, roads and ghats open and close by the official plan; follow police and mela directions.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Some temple locations from Wikidata (CC0). openstreetmap.org/copyright
Also in this area
Questions people ask
Why do pilgrims visit the Nag Vasuki temple after the Sangam bath?
Many pilgrims hold that the pilgrimage is incomplete without darshan of Nag Vasuki after the holy dip, ETV Bharat reported in 2025. Vasuki is the serpent of the churning of the ocean, the story behind the Kumbh.
When is the main festival at the Nag Vasuki temple?
Nag Panchami, in the month of Shravan (July to August), when a big fair is held, according to the district.
Where is the Nag Vasuki temple?
On the bank of the Ganga in the northern corner of Daraganj, north of the Sangam, in Prayagraj.