Gateway to the Gods

Haridwar

One of the seven holiest cities in India and host of the Kumbh Mela — a holy dip and the magical evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples by ropeway.

3 Haridwar tours

Best time to visit

October to April. Kanwar Yatra (July) and Kumbh years are extremely crowded.

Ideal duration

1 day (combine with Rishikesh)

How to reach

By train: Haridwar Junction (Shatabdi / Vande Bharat from Delhi, about 4.5 hrs). By road: 5 hrs from Delhi. By air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (40 km).

Must see

Top places to visit in Haridwar

Har Ki Pauri

The most sacred ghat in Haridwar and the setting of the famous evening Ganga Aarti.

Mansa Devi Temple

Hilltop temple of the wish-fulfilling goddess, reached by ropeway.

Chandi Devi Temple

Temple on Neel Parvat, one of the Siddh Peeths, also by ropeway.

Daksh Mahadev Temple

Ancient Shiva temple at Kankhal linked to the legend of Sati.

About Haridwar

Haridwar — literally the "Gateway to Hari" — is where the Ganga enters the plains, and one of the four sites of the Kumbh Mela. Every evening, thousands gather at Har Ki Pauri for the Ganga Aarti, when hundreds of brass lamps are raised to the river and floated downstream on leaf boats.

What to do in Haridwar

Take a holy dip at Brahma Kund, Har Ki Pauri
Ride the ropeway to Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples on the Shivalik hills
Visit the ancient Daksh Mahadev Temple at Kankhal
Try the famous kachori-aloo and lassi in the Moti Bazaar lanes

Haridwar pairs naturally with Rishikesh, just 25 km upstream — most of our Uttarakhand itineraries cover both.