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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

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.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Uttarakhand

All 29 destinations in Uttarakhand