Best places to visit in Haridwar
Best places to visit in Haridwar
The holy city of Haridwar translates to "Gateway to God," and this breathtaking destination, replete with ancient temples and sacred ghats, is a magnet for religious pilgrims from all over the globe. Religious festivals like Kumbh Mela and Kanwar Yatra hold further draw, and visitors can't help but be compelled by the city's aura of intense spirituality. Don't miss the iconic Har ki Pauri ghat and the hilltop Chandi Devi Temple.
Ganga Aarti at Haridwar
→Experience the divine Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar — one of India's most sacred and mesmerising Hindu rituals performed every evening on the banks of the holy Ganges River. Thousands of flickering oil lamps are released into the flowing waters as priests chant mantras and bells ring across the ghat. A deeply spiritual experience that draws pilgrims, yogis, and travellers from across the world. The Ganga Aarti at Haridwar is an unmissable moment of peace and devotion.
Har Ki Pauri
→Har Ki Pauri is Haridwar's holiest ghat and one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India, believed to bear the footprint of Lord Vishnu on the sacred Ganges River. A UNESCO-listed heritage site, it is the epicentre of the Kumbh Mela — the world's largest religious gathering. Pilgrims take ritual dips to wash away sins, while the nightly Ganga Aarti transforms the ghat into a spiritual spectacle of light, chanting, and devotion every evening.
Shantikunj Gayatri Pariwar
→World-renowned ashram for spiritual, social, and cultural upliftment.
Mansa Devi Temple
→Revered temple on Bilwa Parvat, reachable by trek or ropeway.
Chandi Devi Temple
→Chandi Devi Temple is a powerful Siddh Peeth in Haridwar, built in 1929 atop Neel Parvat hill and dedicated to the fierce goddess Chandi — a victorious form of Goddess Durga. Reach this sacred Haridwar temple by a thrilling cable car ropeway or via a scenic 3 km forest trek through the Shivalik hills. Part of the Panch Tirth pilgrimage circuit, it attracts lakhs of devotees annually. The hilltop location commands breathtaking views of Haridwar and the Ganges valley.
Daksh Mahadev Temple
→Daksha Mahadev Temple in Kankhal, Haridwar, is one of the oldest and most historically significant Shiva temples in Uttarakhand. Believed to be the actual site of the legendary Daksha Yagna described in Hindu mythology, where Sati sacrificed herself and Lord Shiva's cosmic grief shook the universe. This ancient Haridwar temple draws devoted Shaivite pilgrims year-round. The richly adorned sanctum and the mythological significance make it an essential stop on any spiritual tour of Haridwar.
Vaishno Devi Temple
→The Vaishno Devi Temple in Haridwar is a beautifully crafted replica of the legendary Vaishno Devi cave shrine of Katra, Jammu, offering pilgrims a spiritually immersive experience without the long journey to the original. The recreated cave passage and sacred idol make it remarkably authentic and deeply moving for devotees. Located on the popular pilgrimage trail of Haridwar, this replica temple is especially beloved by elderly visitors and families seeking blessings of Goddess Vaishno Devi in Uttarakhand.
Patanjali Yogpeeth
→Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar is one of the world's largest yoga, Ayurveda, and natural medicine institutions, founded by yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna. Spread over 100 acres on the Delhi-Haridwar highway, it draws millions of wellness seekers annually for yoga camps, Panchakarma treatments, and herbal medicine consultations. Patanjali Yogpeeth Haridwar is a landmark destination for health tourism in India, offering authentic Vedic wellness therapies, spiritual programs, and herbal product research under expert Ayurvedic practitioners.