Daily Hindu Panchang
The gateway where the Ganga leaves the mountains
Haridwar is one of the seven sacred cities and hosts the Kumbh Mela every twelve years. Har Ki Pauri and the evening Ganga Aarti are the centre of any visit.
| Place | Haridwar, Uttarakhand |
|---|---|
| Known as | Sapta Puri · Kumbh city |
| Best time | October to March is the most comfortable. Avoid very crowded dates such as Somvati Amavasya and Kanwar Yatra unless planned. |
| Time needed | 1 to 2 days |
| Nearest railway | Haridwar Junction |
| Nearest airport | Jolly Grant, Dehradun |
Haridwar means the door of Hari, the gateway where the Ganga leaves the Himalaya and enters the plains. It is a place for bathing, remembering ancestors and starting the Char Dham journey. The Kumbh Mela is held here every twelve years, and every evening the Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri draws thousands.
Haridwar is compact and easy for families. A day gives you the main ghat and the hilltop temples. Two days adds the quieter temples and a visit to Rishikesh, which is only 25 km away.
This guide is for travellers who want to do Haridwar properly and not just stop for the aarti.
The main sights run along the river: Har Ki Pauri in the centre, the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi hills on either side, and the temples of Kankhal to the south. The main bazaar is close to Har Ki Pauri, and the old town is walkable.
Vehicles are restricted near Har Ki Pauri in the evening, so plan to walk the last stretch.
How many days do you have? Pick one and the plan changes.
For a quick yatra from Delhi, Dehradun or Rishikesh.
The best plan for a family. It adds Chandi Devi, Kankhal and Rishikesh.
A relaxed pace that includes both cities.
For a gentler yatra with nature and an extra temple.
Haridwar as the start of the Char Dham trip.
Har Ki Pauri is the most sacred ghat in Haridwar and is believed to be the place where drops of nectar fell during the churning of the ocean. A dip here is considered especially auspicious.
The ghat is the place for the Ganga snan in the morning, and the Ganga aarti at dusk, when the whole riverfront is lit with lamps and floats of flowers go down the river.
Local tip: Keep valuables in a locker or at your stay. Bathing places are crowded and the current is strong. Use the chains.
The aarti starts at sunset and lasts for around half an hour. Priests stand on the ghat with large brass lamps, and the crowd sings along. The best views are from the steps near the main aarti platform, or from the bridge for a wider view.
Arrive early. By aarti time, the ghat is full and it is hard to move.
Local tip: For a calmer experience, try the quieter aarti at Maya Devi or watch from the other bank.
Mansa Devi sits on the Bilwa Parvat hill above the town. Devotees tie a thread on a tree and return to untie it when their wish is fulfilled. You can reach it by a ropeway or on foot.
The ropeway gives a lovely view of the Ganga and the town.
Local tip: Go early in the morning. The ropeway queue gets long later in the day.
Chandi Devi stands on the Neel Parvat across the river and is another ropeway or trek destination. It is a quieter temple with a good view of the town and the river.
It is part of the Siddhpeeth trio with Mansa Devi and Maya Devi.
Local tip: Combine with Mansa Devi in the same morning.
The Maya Devi temple is one of the oldest in Haridwar and is considered a Shakti Peeth. Haridwar itself is called Mayapuri, one of the seven sacred cities, after the goddess.
It is a modest, calm temple compared to the hill temples.
Local tip: Pair it with the Narayani Shila or a walk through the old market.
Kankhal, the southern suburb, is where Daksha Prajapati is said to have performed the yagna in the story of Sati. The Daksha Mahadev temple here is an important Shiva temple.
It is also home to old ashrams, including the one of Anandamayi Ma.
Local tip: Visit on a quieter day to see the ashrams and the Ganga banks away from the crowd.
Rishikesh is about 25 km away and gives a very different atmosphere: ashrams, the Triveni Ghat aarti, Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula, and a number of yoga centres.
It combines well with Haridwar in one trip.
Local tip: Go in the late morning and stay for the Triveni Ghat evening aarti.
| October to March | The best weather. Winter mornings can be cold at the ghat. |
|---|---|
| Kartik Purnima and Ganga Dussehra | Large bathing festivals. Very crowded. |
| Kanwar Yatra (Shravan) | Lakhs of Kanwariyas arrive, roads are closed and hotels fill. Avoid unless planned. |
| Kumbh years | The biggest gathering. Book months ahead. |
Near Har Ki Pauri: convenient for the aarti but noisy. Along the Delhi road or Jwalapur: quieter and easier for cars. Ashrams and dharamshalas are the most traditional option.
Book early for Kumbh years, Kartik Purnima and the Kanwar season.
Haridwar is vegetarian and serves puri, kachori, aloo sabzi, lassi, rabdi and the famous Mohan Puri Wale and Chotiwala-style meals. Many ashrams offer simple, clean meals.
Avoid street water and cut fruit in the monsoon.
Check the dates for this year on our festival calendar, and choose a shubh time using the muhurat pages.
Darshan timings, booking rules and road conditions change, so confirm them with the temple trust or local authority before you travel.
One day covers Har Ki Pauri, the hill temples and the aarti. Two days lets you add Kankhal and Rishikesh.
It starts around sunset. Reach an hour early for a good place.
Yes, with care. The current is strong, so use the chains, bathe where others bathe, and keep children close.
Yes. The flat ghats and the ropeways make it easier than most pilgrim towns. Avoid festival days.
Yes, but it is a full day. Two days is more comfortable.
Haridwar hosts the Kumbh Mela every twelve years. Check the Kumbh Mela authority's official calendar for exact dates.
October to March is the most comfortable. Avoid very crowded dates such as Somvati Amavasya and Kanwar Yatra unless planned.
Plan 1 to 2 days.
The nearest railway station is Haridwar Junction. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun. Check current road and train timings before you travel.
Kumbh Mela (every 12 years); Ganga Dussehra; Kanwar Yatra in Shravan; Kartik Purnima snan.
On 13 November 2026, the tithi is Shukla Chaturthi and Rahu Kaal is 10:41 AM to 12:01 PM, worked out for Haridwar's own sunrise.
Evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri: NID chick, CC BY 2.0, source; Har Ki Pauri on the Ganga at Haridwar: Livefree2013, CC BY-SA 3.0, source; Temple at Har Ki Pauri: Rishabh Mathur, CC BY 2.0, source.
