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Haridwar

Haridwar

pilgrimage site · Uttarakhand

An ancient holy city where the Ganges emerges into the Indo-Gangetic plains, world-known for its evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri.

State
Uttarakhand
Type
Pilgrimage Site
Best season
Winter
Things to do
4+

An ancient holy city where the Ganges emerges into the Indo-Gangetic plains, world-known for its evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri. Haridwar, meaning the 'Gateway to Lord Vishnu', is one of the seven holiest places in Hinduism. Located where the Ganges River exits the Himalayan foothills, the city acts as the launching pad for the entire Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.

A short history

Named for the point where the Ganga leaves the Himalayan foothills for the plains (Hari-dwar, "gateway to God"), the town has been a pilgrimage site since antiquity. It hosts the Kumbh Mela roughly every 12 years, drawing tens of millions — among the largest peaceful gatherings of people on Earth.

Why Haridwar matters

Gateway to the Char Dham and site of the Kumbh Mela, where the Ganga exits the Himalayas onto the plains.

Why visit

Har Ki Pauri at sunset is the reason, and arrive half an hour early because the steps fill. Worth knowing that the water there is a canal cut — the main Ganga runs alongside it. The town is dry and vegetarian.

How to reach

Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun (38 km). National Highway 58 runs to the town, with deluxe buses from Delhi at regular intervals daily.

Haridwar in 2 days

See the full itinerary

2 days in Haridwar

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Morning dip at Har Ki Pauri

Morning dip at Har Ki Pauri

Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar

Day 1

Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar

A hilltop shrine above Haridwar, on the Bilwa Parvat spur of the Sivalik Hills, and one of the five Panch Tirth a pilgrim in the city is meant to cover. The tree inside is what people remember: you tie a thread to a branch when you ask the goddess for something, and come back to untie it once the wish is granted, so the branches carry both halves of other people's bargains. Mansa means wish. Coconuts, fruit, garlands and incense go to the shrine. Go early if you want to hear yourself think.

Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar

Day 1

Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar

Chandi Devi stands on Neel Parvat, the eastern summit of the Sivalik hills at the southern edge of the Himalaya, above Haridwar. The building dates to 1929, put up by Suchat Singh during his reign as king of Kashmir, but the murti inside is held to be far older: installed in the eighth century by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple, also called Neel Parvat Teerth, is one of Haridwar's Panch Tirth and one of its three Siddh Peethas, with Mansa Devi and Maya Devi. Taking all three makes more sense than singling out one.

Day 1

Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri (evening)

Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri (evening)

Daksha Mahadev TempleDay 2

Day 2

Daksha Mahadev Temple

At Kankhal, five kilometres south, and the site the whole Sati story turns on — this is where her father held the sacrifice she died at. Quieter than Har Ki Pauri and more interesting for it.

Day 2

Bara Bazaar shopping

Bara Bazaar shopping

Rishikesh

Day 2

Rishikesh

Famed globally as the 'Yoga Capital of the World', this crowded, restless city on the Ganges blends ancient spirituality with high-adrenaline adventure sports. Rishikesh is located in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas where the sacred Ganges leaves the mountains to enter the plains. It is a world-renowned destination for spiritual seekers, yoga enthusiasts, and extreme adventure travellers.

Food & cuisine

Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Haridwar.

2 dishes

Haridwar Aloo Puri

Haridwar Aloo Puri

The classic pilgrim breakfast along the ghats — deep-fried puris with spiced potato curry, served on leaf plates.

Kachori-Sabzi

Kachori-Sabzi

Stuffed lentil kachoris with a tangy pumpkin-tomato gravy, a breakfast staple across Haridwar's ghat-side stalls.

Suggested Itinerary

Day-by-day plans other travellers have published for Haridwar

Ganga & Yoga: Haridwar, Rishikesh & Mussoorie

Ganga & Yoga: Haridwar, Rishikesh & Mussoorie

5 days 13 stopsCityDekho Editorial

Haridwar guide & itineraries

Haridwar is perfect for

spiritualfamilyheritage

What & where to eat

Chaat

Bara Bazaar

Chaat

Street snacks near Har Ki Pauri

Golgappe

Bara Bazaar

Golgappe

Street snacks near Har Ki Pauri

Jalebi

Moti Bazaar

Jalebi

Sweet-shop favourites

Lassi

Moti Bazaar

Lassi

Sweet-shop favourites

Kachori

Kachori

Classic pilgrim-town breakfast (Haridwar is vegetarian)

Aloo Puri

Aloo Puri

Classic pilgrim-town breakfast (Haridwar is vegetarian)

Sattvic thali

Sattvic thali

Pure-veg meals

Rabri

Rabri

Rich milk sweets

Kesar milk

Kesar milk

Rich milk sweets

Things to do

How to spend your time in Haridwar.

Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri

Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri

The grand evening river worship

Har Ki Pauri holy dip

Har Ki Pauri holy dip

Sacred bathing ghat on the Ganga

Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi temples

Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi temples

Hilltop temples reached by ropeway

Udan Khatola ropeway

Udan Khatola ropeway

Cable car up to the hill temples

Hidden gems

Ganga ghats & evening bazaars

Ganga ghats & evening bazaars

Riverfront lanes and markets

Popular attractions

The places in Haridwar most people come for.

Mansa Devi Temple

Mansa Devi Temple

Attraction

Daksha Mahadev Temple

Daksha Mahadev Temple

Attraction

Patanjali Yogpeeth

Patanjali Yogpeeth

Attraction

See all attractions

Frequently asked questions

What time is the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri?

Every evening around sunset; arrive early for a good spot.

How far is Haridwar from Rishikesh?

About 20 km, roughly 45 minutes; the two are usually visited together.

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