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Uttarakhand

Haridwar

Har Ki Pauri, the ghat where the Ganga leaves the hills

SpiritualHeritageCity

Best time to visit Haridwar

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: February to March and October to November
  • Shoulder: April and December to January, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May to August

Planning a specific month? FebruaryMarchOctoberNovember

Haridwar season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

December-February is 6-22C with river fog at dawn; the 6 pm aarti is packed but the ghats empty out again by nine.

Summer March to May Prime time

March is fine at 20-32C, but by May-June it is 42C on open stone and the evening aarti crush becomes genuinely unpleasant.

Monsoon June to September Mixed, read the detail

July-August the Ganga runs brown and dangerous, and the Kanwar Yatra puts millions of walking pilgrims on every road in.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October-November is the sweet spot: clean green water, 15-30C, and Rajaji's Chilla gate reopening for safaris mid-November.

What Haridwar is actually like

Pilgrim-town intensity: dharamshalas, ashrams, a few hostels, sadhus, and Rishikesh backpackers passing through

Things to do in Haridwar

The local places worth your time in and around Haridwar, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Har Ki Pauri

    Ghat · in town

    The main bathing ghat and Brahma Kund; the Ganga aarti fills it at dusk, come 45 minutes early for a step to sit on

  • Mansa Devi Temple

    Temple · 2 km out

    Hill shrine above the ghats by cable car or a 1.5 km paved climb; the queue is shortest before 8 am on weekdays

  • Chandi Devi Temple

    Temple · 4 km out

    Shrine on Neel Parvat across the river, a 3 km climb or a ropeway from Gauri Shankar; quieter than Mansa Devi

  • Daksha Mahadev Temple

    Temple · 4 km out

    Kankhal temple on the ground where Sati's father held his yagna; huge at Shivratri, a cheap autorickshaw from town

  • Moti Bazaar

    Market · in town

    Lane of brass puja pots, rudraksha and dried fruit running back from Har Ki Pauri; bargain hard, it shuts around 9 pm

  • Chilla Range, Rajaji National Park

    Wildlife · 10 km out

    Elephant forest on the far bank of the Ganga; morning jeep safaris book at the Chilla gate, shut through the monsoon

  • Hoshiyar Puri

    Food · in town

    Bara Bazaar counter serving puri with aloo and pumpkin since 1937; go before noon, they sell out and there is no menu

Getting to Haridwar

Haridwar Junction takes direct Delhi trains in 4-5 h; Jolly Grant airport 35 km; Rishikesh buses every 15 min

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
300 m
State
Uttarakhand
Coordinates
29.9457, 78.1642

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Haridwar?

February to March and October to November is peak season in Haridwar. April and December to January is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May to August. December-February is 6-22C with river fog at dawn; the 6 pm aarti is packed but the ghats empty out again by nine.

How many days do you need in Haridwar?

2 days is the usual stay. Pilgrim-town intensity: dharamshalas, ashrams, a few hostels, sadhus, and Rishikesh backpackers passing through.

How do you get to Haridwar?

Haridwar Junction takes direct Delhi trains in 4-5 h; Jolly Grant airport 35 km; Rishikesh buses every 15 min. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Haridwar expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

What are the best things to do in Haridwar?

Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple, Daksha Mahadev Temple, Moti Bazaar and Chilla Range, Rajaji National Park, and more. The main bathing ghat and Brahma Kund; the Ganga aarti fills it at dusk, come 45 minutes early for a step to sit on.

Nearby, and where to go next

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