Things to do in Haridwar — 5 sites, and how far each is
How this list is built
Sorted by distance from Har Ki Pauri, because the ghat is the centre of the city and most visits are planned from it. The minutes are our own road routing, and we quote no entry prices we cannot source. Each entry links to its own page, and every stop sits inside one of our copyable itineraries.
Photos: DeeKayGangwar (CC BY-SA 4.0) · World8115 (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
At the ghat
1. Har Ki Pauri
The main ghat, on the Ganga where it leaves the hills, with the Brahmakund and an evening Ganga aarti held at sunset. Har Ki Pauri.
2. Maya Devi Temple
About 3 minutes away: the old temple of the city's patron goddess, dated to the 11th century and counted among the three Siddha pithas of Haridwar. Maya Devi Temple.
The hill temples and Kankhal
3. Chandi Devi Temple
About 5 minutes to the foot of the Neel Parvat, then a 3 km walk of steps or a ropeway to the temple at 884 m. Chandi Devi Temple.
4. Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
About 9 minutes south at Kankhal: the Shiva temple tied to the legend of Daksha's sacrifice and Sati, built in 1810 and rebuilt in 1962. Daksheswara Mahadev Temple.
5. Mansa Devi Temple
About 11 minutes to the foot of the Bilwa Parvat, then the hill on foot or a 540 m ropeway. Mansa Devi Temple.
Rishikesh next door
Rishikesh is 22 km and about 26 minutes north by road, and our Rishikesh guide covers its ghats and ashrams. It makes a separate day rather than an add-on to the five sites here.
What it adds up to
One day takes the ghat and the two hill temples, with Har Ki Pauri at sunset. A second day adds Maya Devi and Kankhal. See the Haridwar guide for the one-day and two-day plans, when to visit and how to reach Haridwar.
Plans that include this
All Haridwar itineraries →
Questions people ask
What are the top things to do in Haridwar?
Har Ki Pauri and its evening Ganga aarti, the old Maya Devi Temple, and the two hill temples of Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi, which have ropeways. Kankhal's Daksheswara Mahadev Temple, tied to the legend of Sati, adds a fifth site. Many visitors pair the city with Rishikesh, 26 minutes north.
What can you do in Haridwar for free?
Sit on the steps of Har Ki Pauri and watch the evening aarti, and walk the ghats. We found no published entry fee for any of the temples, so we give none, and we have no verified ropeway fares; ask at the lower stations. The costs we can name are transport to the hill temples.
How many days do you need in Haridwar?
One day covers the ghat and the two hill temples. A second day adds the Maya Devi Temple and Kankhal at an easier pace. Haridwar is about 217 km from Delhi, so most visitors stay a night, and many add Rishikesh as a separate day trip.