Places to Visit in Haridwar: Temples, Ghats, Ashrams and Day Trips

Haridwar is where the Ganga leaves the hills for the plains, and almost everything worth seeing in the town is arranged along that river: bathing ghats, temples on the two hills that frame it, the old priestly quarter of Kankhal and a long line of ashrams running north towards Rishikesh. Most visitors give it one evening for the aarti and move on. A full day, or two, shows you much more of it, and the town is compact enough to cover without a car.

Places to visit in Haridwar, at a glance

The river: Har Ki Pauri and the quieter ghats

Har Ki Pauri is the heart of the town and the place for the evening aarti; our Ganga Aarti guide covers when to arrive and where to stand. For a calmer bath in the morning, walk south to Vishnu Ghat or Kushavarta Ghat, or take an early dip at Har Ki Pauri itself before the day's crowds. Hold the chains along the steps: the current is strong even where the water looks still.

The hill temples: Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi

Two goddess temples sit on the ridges on either side of the Ganga. Mansa Devi, on the Bilwa Parvat, is reached by a ropeway from near the main bazaar or a climb of about 30 to 40 minutes on a stepped path. Chandi Devi, on the Neel Parvat, is a few kilometres across the river, with its own ropeway and a longer path. Doing both on the same morning is common; combined ropeway tickets are usually sold. Go at opening time on weekends and festival days, when the ropeway queues grow long, and carry little: the paths are steep and the monkeys are bold.

Maya Devi and Kankhal

Maya Devi, the town's presiding goddess, is one of the oldest temples in Haridwar and counted among the Shakti Peethas; it is a short walk from Har Ki Pauri and easy to add on the way to the bazaar. A few kilometres south, Kankhal is the old town of the pandas who keep the family registers of pilgrims. Its Daksha Mahadev temple marks the site of King Daksha's yagna, where Sati gave up her life, and the lanes around it are full of old havelis and ashrams. If your family keeps a register with a Haridwar panda, this is where you will find it.

On the Rishikesh road: Bharat Mata Mandir and the ashrams

North of the centre, the road towards Rishikesh is lined with ashrams. Bharat Mata Mandir is the landmark: eight floors, each given to saints, heroes, goddesses and the regions of India, with a view from the top over the river channels. Close by are the Saptarishi Ashram, where the Ganga is said to have split into seven streams so as not to disturb seven meditating sages, and Pawan Dham, known for its glass and mirror work. Shantikunj, the large campus of the Gayatri Pariwar, welcomes visitors and runs short courses.

On the Delhi road: Patanjali Yogpeeth

South-west of the town, Patanjali Yogpeeth is a large campus of yoga halls, an Ayurveda hospital and shops. It is worth a stop if you are driving between Delhi and Haridwar, rather than a trip of its own.

A day in Haridwar

Take a bath or simply sit at the ghats early, then ride up to Mansa Devi before the crowds and cross to Chandi Devi. After lunch in the bazaar, spend the afternoon in Kankhal or along the Rishikesh road at Bharat Mata Mandir and the ashrams. Be back at Har Ki Pauri an hour before sunset for the aarti. With a second day, add Rishikesh, about 25 km upstream, or a morning safari in the Chilla zone of Rajaji National Park across the river; see our Rajaji safari guide.

When to visit

October to March is the most comfortable: clear days and cool, sometimes foggy, mornings. April to June is hot in the afternoons, so keep the hill temples for early morning. During the monsoon the river runs high and fast, and some ghats close to bathers. Big festival days, such as Kartik Purnima, the Kanwar season in July and the Kumbh, bring very large crowds; plan rooms well ahead for them.

Where to stay for sightseeing

For the aarti and the morning bath, stay within walking distance of Har Ki Pauri; vehicles are stopped some distance away on busy days. For a car and easy parking, the Rishikesh road and the Ranipur side are simpler. Our hotels in Haridwar page compares the areas, and our guide to staying near Har Ki Pauri goes street by street.