Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar — the main ghat on the Ganga
Har Ki Pauri is the main ghat of Haridwar, with the Brahmakund and an evening Ganga aarti at sunset. History, the Dussehra canal closure and what is claimed.
Uttarakhand⛰ 314 m2 itineraries
Haridwar
Haridwar at 314 m, where the Ganga leaves the Shivalik hills: Har Ki Pauri, the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi hill temples, Maya Devi and Kankhal, with times.
Itineraries you can copy
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Day plan · First visitTemples & heritage
One day in Haridwar — the hill temples and the evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri
A one-day Haridwar plan: the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi hill temples by day, then the evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri. Free, copyable plan.
Best Feb–Mar · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
1 night · 2 days · First visitTemples & heritage
Two days in Haridwar — the ghat, Maya Devi, the hill temples and Kankhal
A two-day Haridwar plan: Har Ki Pauri, the Maya Devi and Mansa Devi temples on day one, then Kankhal and the Chandi Devi Temple on day two. Free, copyable plan.
Best Feb–Mar · Oct–Nov
See the plan →Haridwar is a pilgrim city on the right bank of the Ganga, at the foot of the Shivalik hills, where the river leaves the mountains and enters the plains. Its name means the gateway to Hari or Vishnu, and also, in another spelling, the gateway to Hara or Shiva, because pilgrims start from here for Badrinath and Kedarnath. It is at 314 m, and Wikipedia gives the Kumbh Mela, held here every 12 years, as its most significant event.
From Delhi it is about 217 km by road. Free-flow routing says 3 hours, and traffic usually adds more. The railway station is 4 minutes from the ghats on our routing, and Jolly Grant airport near Dehradun is 49 minutes away.
Har Ki Pauri is the main ghat, with the Brahmakund and an evening Ganga aarti. The Maya Devi Temple, dated to the 11th century, is 3 minutes away. The hill temples of Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi, two of the five pilgrim sites of Haridwar, are 11 and 5 minutes away by road, and each has a ropeway. At Kankhal, 9 minutes south, the Daksheswara Mahadev Temple is tied to the legend of Sati. Wikipedia says alcohol and non-vegetarian food are not permitted in Haridwar, so check local rules.
A day covers the ghats and the two hill temples; two days add Maya Devi and Kankhal. See the one-day plan, the two-day plan, things to do in Haridwar, when to visit and how to reach Haridwar.
Photos: Kiran arya (CC BY-SA 4.0) · DeeKayGangwar (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Dan Searle (CC BY-SA 2.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Places worth the drive
Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar — the old shrine of the city's goddess
The Maya Devi Temple is an old shrine to Haridwar's patron goddess, dated to the 11th century and counted among the Siddha pithas, 3 minutes from Har Ki Pauri.
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar — the hilltop shrine and its ropeway
The Mansa Devi Temple crowns the Bilwa Parvat above Haridwar, one of the city's five pilgrim sites, reached on foot or by a 540 m ropeway. 11 minutes by road.
Daksheswara Mahadev Temple, Kankhal — where the legend of Sati is placed
The Daksheswara Mahadev Temple at Kankhal, 9 minutes south of Haridwar, is tied to the legend of Daksha's sacrifice and Sati. Built 1810, rebuilt 1962.
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar — the temple on the Neel Parvat
The Chandi Devi Temple stands on the Neel Parvat above Haridwar, one of the city's five pilgrim sites, reached by a 3 km walk or a ropeway. 5 minutes by road.
On the map
Open the Haridwar map →The places a Haridwar day reaches, with the road time from town. Each opens on the map with its plans and pages beside it.
Before you go
All articles →Things to do in Haridwar — 5 sites, and how far each is
Five things to do in Haridwar by distance from the ghat: Har Ki Pauri, the Maya Devi Temple, Chandi Devi, Kankhal and Mansa Devi, with measured times.
How to reach Haridwar — distances and drive times
How to reach Haridwar from Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Roorkee and Rishikesh by road, with measured times, plus the railway station and the nearest airport.
Best time to visit Haridwar — seasons, rain and festivals
The best time to visit Haridwar: the cooler months, the July and August rains, the Dussehra canal closure and the Kumbh Mela, from published figures.
Questions people ask
What is Haridwar known for?
A pilgrim city where the Ganga leaves the Shivalik hills and enters the plains, at 314 m. Its Har Ki Pauri ghat, with the Brahmakund and the evening Ganga aarti, is the best-known sight, and the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi hill temples and the Maya Devi Temple are its other main shrines. It hosts the Kumbh Mela.
How many days do you need in Haridwar?
One day covers Har Ki Pauri and the two hill temples, Mansa Devi 11 minutes and Chandi Devi 5 minutes from the ghat by road. A second day adds the Maya Devi Temple, 3 minutes away, and Kankhal, 9 minutes away. From Delhi it is about 217 km, so many visitors stay a night.
What is the nearest railway station and airport?
Haridwar Junction is about 2 km and 4 minutes from Har Ki Pauri on our routing, and Jolly Grant airport near Dehradun is about 41 km and 49 minutes away. Wikipedia says the airport is 35 km away and Delhi's airport about 220 km. Agree a taxi fare first, since we have no verified fares.
Photographs by Wikimedia Commons contributors (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA), resized; each picture is credited on its own page.