Parshuram Kund is a holy pool on the Lohit river in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh, in the lower Lohit valley near Wakro and Tezu. For Hindu pilgrims it is one of the most important bathing sites in the Northeast, and it draws its largest crowds each January for a holy dip at Makar Sankranti. This guide covers the kund, the Parashurama legend, the mela, how to reach it, permits and honest river-safety advice.
Parshuram Kund is a riverside bathing pool and pilgrimage site on the Lohit river in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh, about 20–50 km from the district headquarters at Tezu (sources differ). Tens of thousands of pilgrims gather for a holy dip at the mid-January Makar Sankranti mela.
Key takeaways
- Parshuram Kund sits on the Lohit river in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh, near Wakro, with Tezu as the nearest town and district headquarters.
- The main pilgrimage is the Makar Sankranti mela in mid-January; in January 2026 it was inaugurated on 13 January, according to The Arunachal Times.
- Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Arunachal Pradesh; foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP), as of October 2026 — reconfirm with the official state portal.
- The Lohit here runs swift and cold; a railway officer was swept away and went missing while bathing in November 2024, per ETV Bharat, so bathe only at designated spots and follow officials.
- The best window is October to April; the nearest major railhead and airport are Tinsukia and Dibrugarh in Assam, then a long road drive.
- Entry to the kund is free (indicative); a central PRASHAD-scheme upgrade of roughly ₹37.87 crore is adding pilgrim facilities, per The Arunachal Times.
About Parshuram Kund and quick facts
Parshuram Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage site built around a pool in the Lohit riverbed, in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, in the lower Lohit (Brahmaputra) valley. The Lohit district administration describes it as a shrine of all-India importance in the lower reaches of the Lohit river, where thousands bathe each winter.
The site sits near the small town of Wakro, with Tezu the nearest town and the district headquarters. According to the official Arunachal Tourism site, an earthquake around 1950 disturbed the original kund, and boulders later shaped a new circular pool in the riverbed. Sanyasis (renunciant monks) live at the site and maintain a temple to Parashurama.
| Location | Lohit river, near Wakro, Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh |
|---|---|
| Nearest town / HQ | Tezu (district headquarters) |
| What it is | Hindu bathing pool and pilgrimage site; temple to Parashurama |
| Main event | Makar Sankranti mela, mid-January |
| Permit | Inner Line Permit (Indians); Protected Area Permit (foreigners) |
| Entry fee | No entry fee reported (indicative — reconfirm) |
| Nearest major railhead / airport | Tinsukia / Dibrugarh (Mohanbari), both in Assam |
The Parashurama legend
According to Hindu belief, Parshuram Kund is where the sage Parashurama washed away the sin of killing his mother and freed the axe stuck to his hand. The Lohit district administration and the government MyGov blog both relate the same story: Parashurama, counted as the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, beheaded his mother Renuka on the order of his father, the sage Jamadagni.
By the telling, the axe stayed fixed to his hand as a mark of the sin. On the advice of rishis (sages) he came to the banks of the Lohit river to wash his hands, and the axe came loose when he dipped them in the water. The spot became a place of worship known to sadhus as Parashuram Kund.
The story is faith, not documented history, and the Lohit district administration says so plainly: it notes the account is not widely attested and does not appear in scriptures such as the Vishnu Purana, and that similar Parashurama stories exist across India. We present it here as belief, which is how pilgrims hold it.
The Makar Sankranti mela and the holy dip
The Makar Sankranti mela in mid-January is the main pilgrimage event at Parshuram Kund, when pilgrims take a holy dip believed to cleanse sin. For January 2026, The Arunachal Times reported that the mela was inaugurated on 13 January 2026 by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and senior Army officers, who also unveiled a monumental national flag installed by the Indian Army and opened a new guest house for devotees.
Crowd figures vary by year and source and should be read as estimates. The Assam Tribune has reported holy-dip crowds in the range of about 70,000–75,000 devotees in recent years; an older figure from the Lohit Deputy Commissioner put 2021 attendance near 10,000. Some reports cite far larger seasonal totals. Treat any single number with caution and expect a dense, round-the-clock crowd on Sankranti day.
During the mela, agencies run support on the ground. Reports describe a free medical camp, volunteers to help elderly pilgrims and manage crowds, and deployment of police and paramilitary. The ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) and district administration have historically run a medical camp at the site. If you plan to bathe, go in daylight, keep your group together, and treat the river with respect.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Parshuram Kund is October to April, the dry and cooler months, with the Makar Sankranti mela in mid-January as the headline event. The monsoon swells the Lohit and makes bathing dangerous, so avoid roughly June to September. Winter mornings in the valley are cold, and the river water is colder still.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool, dry; peak pilgrimage | November–February | Clear-ish weather, cold water; the mela falls in mid-January. Busiest and best for the dip. |
| Spring, pleasant | March–April | Mild, quieter after the mela; good for a calmer visit. |
| Pre-monsoon / monsoon | May–September | Heat, heavy rain, rising river, possible road and landslide disruption. Avoid for bathing. |
| Early autumn | October | Rain easing, greenery; access improving towards the dry season. |
How to reach Parshuram Kund
You reach Parshuram Kund through Tezu in Lohit district, usually after a long road leg from Assam. There is no railway or large airport at the site itself; most travellers fly or train to Assam, cross the Brahmaputra, and drive in. If you are stringing together a wider Arunachal trip, note that this eastern corner is far from the western circuit around Tawang; see our Tawang travel guide for that side of the state.
- By air: Tezu has a small airport with limited regional flights (operators and routes have included Alliance Air and FlyBig connections such as Dibrugarh and Guwahati, per press reports — reconfirm current schedules). The nearest major airport is Dibrugarh (Mohanbari) in Assam.
- By rail: The nearest major railhead is Tinsukia in Assam, followed by a long road drive. Always verify current trains on IRCTC/NTES before booking.
- By road: From Assam the drive crosses the Brahmaputra (the Bogibeel bridge near Dibrugarh is the main road link) and continues via Namsai/Wakro towards Tezu and the kund. State transport and shared vehicles run on parts of this route.
| From | Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dibrugarh airport (Assam) | Road via Bogibeel bridge | Nearest major airport; a multi-hour drive via Wakro/Tezu. Indicative — reconfirm. |
| Tinsukia railway station (Assam) | Road | Nearest major railhead; long drive to Tezu, then on to the kund. |
| Tezu (district HQ) | Road | Published distances to the kund vary from about 21 km to 48 km across sources — reconfirm locally. |
| Wakro | Road | Nearest town; many pilgrims stay here before the final leg. |
Things to see and do
The main thing to do at Parshuram Kund is to visit the riverside kund and temple and, if you choose, take the holy dip at a designated spot. Beyond the kund, the Lohit valley setting rewards a slower visit: river walks, the small town of Tezu, and treks such as the one to Glow (Glaw) Lake near Tezu. A central PRASHAD-scheme upgrade is adding pilgrim facilities at the site.
| Place / experience | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| The kund and temple | The sacred pool in the Lohit riverbed and the Parashurama temple | Core of any visit; dress modestly, respect worship. |
| Riverfront / ghats | Bathing and viewing areas being upgraded under PRASHAD | Bathe only at designated spots; follow officials and barriers. |
| Makar Sankranti mela | Mid-January fair with stalls, cultural events and pilgrims | Busiest time; book stay well ahead. |
| Glow (Glaw) Lake | A high lake reached by trek from the Tezu area | Plan a guided day trek; weather-dependent. |
| Tezu town | District headquarters with basic amenities | Main base for food, cash and vehicles. |
If this is part of a longer Arunachal plan, pair the spiritual focus here with a slower cultural stop; our Ziro Valley travel guide covers one such option further west.
Where to stay
Most visitors stay in Tezu or Wakro, as lodging right at Parshuram Kund is basic and limited. A new guest house at the site was inaugurated in January 2026, per The Arunachal Times, but during the mela many pilgrims still camp near the temple and riverside. Book early for the January rush.
- Budget (indicative ₹800–₹2,000/night, reconfirm): simple lodges and homestays in Tezu and Wakro; Wakro homestays have grown with pilgrim demand.
- Mid-range (indicative ₹2,000–₹4,500/night, reconfirm): better-equipped hotels and guest houses in and around Tezu; the government Circuit House in Tezu where available to tourists.
- During the mela: expect basic, crowded options at Parshuram Kund itself, plus tented and temporary arrangements. Many travellers base in Tezu/Wakro and drive in for the dip.
Price bands above are planning estimates, not quoted tariffs, and should be reconfirmed close to travel. Over the mela period, availability is tight across the valley.
Budget breakdown
A simple two-day pilgrim visit, excluding long-haul travel to Assam, can be planned for roughly ₹4,000–₹9,000 per person as an indicative estimate, as of October 2026. The biggest variables are the road transfer from Assam and whether you travel during the mela, when demand pushes prices up. These are planning estimates to reconfirm, not quoted fares.
| Item | Indicative range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (1 night) | ₹800–₹4,500 | Budget lodge to mid-range hotel; higher during the mela. |
| Local transport (Tezu–kund return) | ₹1,500–₹3,500 | Shared vehicle to private taxi; varies with demand. |
| Food (2 days) | ₹600–₹1,200 | Simple local meals; free community food is common at the mela. |
| Permit (ILP) | ₹100–₹500 | Indian citizens; fee varies by type/duration — confirm on the official portal. |
| Misc / offerings | ₹300–₹800 | Entry to the kund is free (indicative). |
Assumptions: travel on your own from Assam not included; two travellers sharing can lower per-head transport costs. Reconfirm all figures before you go.
Permits and rules
Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Arunachal Pradesh, and foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP), as of October 2026. The ILP is applied for online or at designated counters; fees reported across sources range from about ₹100 to ₹500 depending on type and duration, so confirm the current figure and the official portal before you pay. During the Makar Sankranti period, the Lohit Deputy Commissioner’s office has issued pilgrim permits, and entry permits have been issued at check posts such as Dirak and Sunpura.
- ILP (Indians): carry a valid photo ID and a passport-size photo; the permit is valid only for the districts and dates listed on it. Reconfirm validity on the official state ILP portal.
- PAP/RAP (foreigners): foreign nationals must arrange a Protected Area Permit in advance; rules change, so check with the state authorities and your embassy.
- Conduct: this is an active place of worship. Dress modestly, ask before photographing people or rituals, and follow the instructions of sanyasis and officials.
- Environment: carry out your waste and avoid single-use plastic; the kund sits in a sensitive river and forest setting.
Safety on the Lohit river
The Lohit at Parshuram Kund runs swift and cold, and drowning is a real risk, so bathe only at designated spots and follow officials. The official Arunachal Tourism site notes a very strong current now flows over the original kund site. In November 2024, ETV Bharat reported that a Northeast Frontier Railway chief safety officer was swept away and went missing while taking a holy dip in the Lohit, and the report stated that drowning incidents occur frequently and that the kund management has designated specific bathing spots in response.
- Bathe only where officials permit, in daylight, and never alone; keep children and elders back from the water’s edge.
- Follow rope barriers, railings and the directions of police, paramilitary and volunteers on duty.
- The water is very cold in winter; limit time in it, especially if you have heart or blood-pressure conditions.
- Avoid the monsoon months, when the river is highest and most dangerous.
- Note the location of the mela-time medical camp on arrival.
Nearby places
Nearby trips from Parshuram Kund center on Tezu, Wakro and the wider Lohit and upper-Assam region. The area links to eco-tourism around the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and treks like Glow Lake, while Dibrugarh in Assam is the main gateway city.
| Place | Direction / distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Tezu | Nearest town / district HQ | Base for stay, food, cash and transport; small airport. |
| Wakro | Nearest town to the kund | Gateway village with growing homestays; stopover before the dip. |
| Hayuliang | Upper Lohit valley, east | Remote mountain scenery further up the Lohit; check road status. |
| Kamlang Tiger Reserve / Glow Lake | Near Wakro / Tezu | Forest and lake-trek add-on for nature-minded visitors. |
| Dibrugarh (Assam) | Across the Brahmaputra | Gateway city with the nearest major airport and rail links. |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Parshuram Kund located?
Parshuram Kund is in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh, on the Lohit river in the lower Lohit (Brahmaputra) valley, near the town of Wakro. The nearest town and district headquarters is Tezu. The nearest major airport and railhead are Dibrugarh and Tinsukia in Assam, followed by a long road drive.
When is the Parshuram Kund mela held?
The Parshuram Kund mela is held at Makar Sankranti in mid-January each year, when pilgrims take a holy dip. For 2026, The Arunachal Times reported the mela was inaugurated on 13 January 2026. Dates track Makar Sankranti, so confirm the exact day and program with the Lohit district administration before you travel.
Do I need a permit to visit Parshuram Kund?
Yes. Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Arunachal Pradesh, and foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP), as of October 2026. ILP fees reported across sources range from about ₹100 to ₹500 by type and duration. Apply on the official state portal or at designated counters, and carry valid photo ID.
Is it safe to take a holy dip in the Lohit at Parshuram Kund?
Only with caution. The Lohit here runs swift and cold, and drownings have occurred, including a railway officer swept away in November 2024 per ETV Bharat. Bathe only at designated spots, in daylight, never alone, and follow rope barriers and officials. Avoid the water during the high-flow monsoon months.
What is the best time to visit Parshuram Kund?
The best time to visit Parshuram Kund is October to April, the cooler, drier months, with the Makar Sankranti mela in mid-January as the main draw. Avoid the monsoon (roughly June to September), when heavy rain, a swollen river and possible landslides make both bathing and the roads risky.
How do I reach Parshuram Kund from Assam?
Most visitors fly to Dibrugarh or train to Tinsukia in Assam, then drive across the Brahmaputra (via the Bogibeel bridge) through Namsai and Wakro towards Tezu and the kund. Tezu also has a small airport with limited regional flights. Reconfirm flights, trains and road status close to travel.
Last updated and sources
Parshuram Kund suits pilgrims and travellers drawn to river-valley landscapes and living faith, especially those comfortable with basic facilities and a long journey. Go in the October–April window, and for the full mela experience, time it to mid-January Makar Sankranti.
Last updated: 23 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Arunachal Tourism, Parasuram Kund page; Lohit district administration, lohit.nic.in; Government of India MyGov blog, on Parshuram Kund’s significance and development; The Arunachal Times, Parshuram Kund mela underway (Jan 2026); The Assam Tribune, holy-dip crowd report; ETV Bharat, railway officer swept away in the Lohit (Nov 2024). Accessed September 2026.
