Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar — the old shrine of the city's goddess
temple · 2.5 km away
temple5 min from Haridwar
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.
What it is
The Chandi Devi Temple crowns the Neel Parvat, the eastern summit of the Shivalik hills above Haridwar, on the opposite side of the valley from Mansa Devi. It is dedicated to the goddess Chandi, who in the Skanda Purana legend killed the demon chiefs Chanda and Munda here, and it is one of Haridwar's five pilgrim sites. The present building dates from 1929, but tradition credits Adi Shankaracharya with setting up the main image in the 8th century.
Photos: World8115 (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Getting there
About 4 km and 5 minutes by road from Har Ki Pauri to the foot of the hill, by our routing. From Chandighat a trek of 3 km with many steps leads up, or the ropeway runs from a lower station near the Gauri Shankar Temple on Najibabad Road, which Wikipedia says is 740 m long and climbs 208 m to the temple at 884 m. We have not measured the climb ourselves, and we have no verified fares or ropeway timings, so ask at the station.
What you see
The temple sits on a rocky ridge, and the ropeway gives a long view of the Ganga braided around its wooded islands. On the far side of the hill there is dense forest, Wikipedia says. Near the temple is a shrine to Anjana, mother of Hanuman, and devotees often visit both. Wikipedia names Chandi Chaudas, Navratri and the Kumbh Mela as the festivals that draw the largest numbers.
Know before you go
Wikipedia gives ordinary opening hours of 6 am to 8 pm, with the morning aarti starting at 5.30 am, and says leather goods, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited inside. It adds that an old animal sacrifice on Saptami was stopped in 2015. We cannot confirm today's timings, so check locally before you set out.
Around it
Mansa Devi is the other hill temple, and the two are traditionally said to stay close together. Har Ki Pauri is below, and the two-day plan puts Chandi Devi on its second day. Things to do in Haridwar lists every stop.
Plans that include this
All 2 plans that stop here →
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 →Nearby places
Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar — the main ghat on the Ganga
monument · 2.7 km away
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar — the hilltop shrine and its ropeway
temple · 3.1 km away
Daksheswara Mahadev Temple, Kankhal — where the legend of Sati is placed
temple · 3.6 km away
Beatles Ashram, Rishikesh
temple · 23.4 km away
Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh
temple · 24.2 km away
Questions people ask
What is the Chandi Devi Temple?
A temple to the goddess Chandi on the Neel Parvat, the eastern summit of the Shivalik hills above Haridwar, one of its five pilgrim sites. Wikipedia says the present building dates from 1929, built by Suchat Singh, king of Kashmir, and that tradition credits Adi Shankaracharya with setting up the main image in the 8th century.
How do you get up to the Chandi Devi Temple?
By a 3 km trek of steps from Chandighat, or by the ropeway from a lower station near the Gauri Shankar Temple. Wikipedia gives the ropeway as 740 m long and 208 m high, rising to 884 m. By road the foot of the hill is about 4 km and 5 minutes from Har Ki Pauri on our routing.
What are the rules at the temple?
Wikipedia gives ordinary opening hours of 6 am to 8 pm, with the morning aarti starting at 5.30 am, and says leather goods, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited in the premises. It also says an old animal sacrifice on Saptami was stopped in 2015. Check opening times locally.