Haridwar
Haridwar Travel Guide
Har Ki Pauri, the Ganga Aarti, temples and the practical basics of visiting one of India's oldest pilgrim towns.
- From Rishikesh
- ~25 km, 40-45 min
- Main sight
- Har Ki Pauri
- Best at
- Sunset (Ganga Aarti)
- Ideal duration
- Half day to 1 day
Haridwar is one of Hinduism’s seven holiest cities and the point where the Ganga leaves the Himalayas and reaches the plains. It sits just 25 km from Rishikesh, and the two are very commonly paired on the same trip — either as a day trip from one to the other, or as a single combined stay.
Har Ki Pauri and the Ganga Aarti
Har Ki Pauri is Haridwar’s most sacred ghat, believed to mark the spot where drops of celestial nectar fell. Every evening at sunset, a large, highly-attended Ganga Aarti takes place here — bigger in scale and crowd than Rishikesh’s own Aarti, with rows of floating lamps set adrift on the river. Arrive well before sunset to find space along the ghat.
Other sights worth your time
- Mansa Devi Temple — a hilltop temple reachable by cable car, with views over the town and the Ganga
- Chandi Devi Temple — another hilltop shrine on the opposite bank, also reached by cable car
- Maya Devi Temple — one of the oldest temples in Haridwar, considered a Siddhpeeth
Getting there
Haridwar has its own well-connected railway station with direct trains from Delhi and other major cities, and is about 220 km (roughly 5-6 hours) from Delhi by road. From Rishikesh, it’s a straightforward 25 km, 40-45 minute taxi ride.
How much time to allow
A half-day covers Har Ki Pauri and the Aarti; a full day allows time for one or two of the hilltop temples as well. See our Rishikesh vs Haridwar guide if you’re deciding which town to base yourself in for a longer stay.
