By the Way to India Travel Desk - verified, current local guidance.
Uttarakhand travel guide
Haridwar Travel Guide
Plan your visit to Haridwar, Uttarakhand: the best time to go, how to reach, what to see, and practical, current tips from the Way to India Travel Desk.
UTTARAKHANDHARIDWARRISHIKESHGANGA AARTI
01Season
When to visit Haridwar and Rishikesh
The comfortable months are October to March. Two things shape the rest of the year: the high summer fills with Char Dham pilgrims, and the monsoon closes the river rafting.
- October to March: cool and clearThe most pleasant time, mild by day and cold in the early mornings, with clear skies and a beautiful green-blue Ganga. Ideal for the Aarti, the temples and gentle yoga. Carry warm layers from December to February.
- April to June: hot and busyWarm to hot on the plains, and this is the peak Char Dham pilgrim season, so Haridwar and Rishikesh are at their most crowded. Fine for rafting and yoga if you do not mind the heat and the bustle.
- Monsoon, July to mid-SeptemberHeavy rain, a swollen river and landslide risk on the hill roads. River rafting is officially closed for safety in these weeks, so come for the temples and ashrams rather than adventure.
Both towns are dry and vegetarian
Haridwar and Rishikesh are holy cities where alcohol is banned and meat and eggs are essentially not sold. The vegetarian food is simple and excellent, so come prepared to enjoy it and do not carry alcohol.
02Air, rail and road
How to reach Haridwar and Rishikesh
Most people come from Delhi, an easy half-day by fast train or car, and Rishikesh is a short hop on from Haridwar.
- By train from DelhiHaridwar Junction is a major station with frequent trains from Delhi. The Vande Bharat reaches Haridwar in about 3.5 to 4.5 hours (its AC chair car is around 975 rupees), and many other trains run through the day. The train is the most relaxing way to come.
- By roadAbout 220 km and 5 to 6 hours from Delhi on NH334, often broken with a stop. We arrange a car with an experienced hill driver, which is the easiest option for a family or for going on to the Char Dham.
- By air, then a short driveThe nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun, about 35 to 40 km from Haridwar (a 1 to 1.5 hour taxi). It has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. Rishikesh is even closer to the airport.
- Between Haridwar and RishikeshRishikesh is about 20 to 25 km and 45 minutes from Haridwar by road, so the two are almost always visited together over two or three days.
From the US, UK and Europe
Fly into Delhi, then take the fast train or drive up to Haridwar in about half a day. Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport is the nearest, reached on a short domestic hop from Delhi.
From the Gulf and Southeast Asia
Fly into Delhi and continue by train or road, or take a domestic connection to Dehradun. Haridwar and Rishikesh are the gateway to the Char Dham in the mountains beyond.
Within India
Haridwar Junction is well linked by train across the north, and the road from Delhi is straightforward. Dehradun's airport adds flights from several Indian cities.
03What to see
Har Ki Pauri, the hill temples and the Ganga Aarti
Haridwar is the great riverside ghat of Har Ki Pauri and the hill shrines of Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi. The evening Aarti is the heart of it all.
- Har Ki Pauri and the Ganga AartiThe most sacred ghat in Haridwar, where the Ganga leaves the mountains for the plains. The evening Aarti here is free and unforgettable, with rows of lamps passed over the water. It follows sunset, so it is around 5:30 to 6 pm in winter and later, around 6:30 to 7:15 pm, in summer. Arrive 45 to 60 minutes early for a place near the Brahmakund.
- Mansa Devi temple, by ropewayThe hilltop shrine on Bilwa Parvat, believed to grant wishes. The Udan Khatola cable car is the comfortable way up, running roughly 7 am to 7 pm. The combined Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi ticket, including the bus between the two, is around 349 rupees; a single one-way ride is sold separately, so reconfirm the fare at the counter.
- Chandi Devi temple, the second hillOn Neel Parvat across the town, a Siddh Peeth reached by its own cable car or a longer climb. Paired with Mansa Devi, the two hill temples and Maya Devi make up the classic Haridwar pilgrim circuit.
- Maya Devi and Daksha MahadevMaya Devi is an ancient Siddh Peeth in the old town, and Daksha Mahadev at Kankhal is a revered Shiva temple, especially busy in the holy month of Saawan. Both are quiet, atmospheric and easy to add.
The Aarti is free
There is no ticket for the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri; just arrive early, keep your shoes and valuables safe, and be wary of anyone pressing you to pay for a ritual. The hill-temple ropeway fares above are the main paid items, and are best reconfirmed at the counter.
04Yoga, river and the crossings
Rishikesh: yoga, rafting and the river bridges
Just up the road, Rishikesh is the Yoga Capital of the World and the home of river rafting in India. A couple of current facts save a wasted trip.
- Yoga, ashrams and the Triveni Ghat AartiRishikesh draws yoga seekers from around the world to ashrams like Parmarth Niketan, which holds its own riverside Ganga Aarti each evening, and the city's free Aarti at Triveni Ghat. The International Yoga Festival is held here every March.
- River rafting, in season onlyThe Ganga rapids are India's classic white-water run. The season is roughly mid-September to the end of June; rafting is officially closed and not allowed during the monsoon (July to mid-September) for safety. Wear proper footwear and use a licensed, registered operator, which we arrange.
- The bridges: Ram Jhula open, Lakshman Jhula closedThe historic Lakshman Jhula footbridge has been shut since 2019 on safety grounds. Its replacement, the new Bajrang Setu glass-decked bridge, is built but its opening has been delayed by repairs to cracked glass panels, so access is still partial and on-and-off. The nearby Ram Jhula remains open, so cross there and treat Bajrang Setu as a bonus only once it is fully open.
- Beatles Ashram and Neelkanth MahadevThe old Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968, now a ticketed forest-department site of murals and ruins, generally open about 10 am to 4 pm. The hill temple of Neelkanth Mahadev, about 30 km away and free to enter, is a beautiful half-day side trip.
05What to actually do
Signature experiences in Haridwar and Rishikesh
Beyond ticking off temples, these are the things people remember, and how to do them well.
- Do the Ganga Aarti properlyReach Har Ki Pauri (or Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh) about an hour before sunset, sit on the steps near the water, and let the chanting build. Floating a small leaf-boat of flowers and a lamp on the river at dusk is the moment most people carry home.
- A yoga or meditation morningEven a single drop-in class or a riverside meditation in Rishikesh is worth it. For a deeper stay, an ashram course or a few days at a yoga retreat is the reason many travellers, and many NRIs, come back.
- A half-day on the rapids (in season)A guided rafting stretch on the Ganga, in the open season, is exhilarating and safe with a good operator. There are gentler stretches for families and bigger rapids for the brave.
- Start the Char Dham hereHaridwar and Rishikesh are the gateway to the Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath). The online registration is compulsory, and a helicopter circuit from Dehradun makes the whole pilgrimage manageable for seniors. See the next section and the overseas section for how.
- An evening river walkStroll the ghats and lanes at dusk, watch the lamps on the water, browse the rudraksha and brassware stalls, and stop for chai or the local petha sweets. Old Haridwar near Har Ki Pauri is best on foot.
06Common mistakes
Mistakes to avoid in Haridwar and Rishikesh
Both towns are welcoming, but a little awareness keeps the trip smooth and respectful.
- Do not assume rafting runs all yearIt is closed through the monsoon (July to mid-September) for safety. If rafting matters to you, travel in the open season and book a licensed operator rather than a riverside tout.
- Do not bring alcohol or expect meatBoth are holy, dry, vegetarian cities. Carrying alcohol is disrespectful and against the rules, and you will not find meat or eggs easily. Enjoy the excellent vegetarian food instead.
- Do not be pressured into paid ritualsAt the ghats, some priests or touts press visitors to pay large sums for a puja or for ancestral rites. A small genuine offering is fine; politely decline anyone demanding a fixed large amount.
- Mind the steps and the riverThe ghat steps get wet and slippery and the Ganga current is strong and very cold. Hold the chains where provided, do not wade out, and keep a close eye on children and older relatives.
- Do not plan around the old Lakshman JhulaIt has been closed since 2019. Use the Ram Jhula crossing, and treat the new Bajrang Setu glass bridge as a bonus only once it is fully open, as its opening has been held up by repairs.
07Who it suits
Haridwar and Rishikesh for every kind of traveller
The same two towns suit a quiet pilgrim, an adventurous twenty-something and an older couple very differently. Here is the one tip that matters for each.
- Families with childrenGentle and rewarding: the Aarti, the ropeway up Mansa Devi, a beginner rafting stretch and the temple stories keep children engaged. Keep little ones firmly in hand on the ghat steps and near the water.
- Senior travellers and pilgrimsVery doable with planning. Use the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi ropeways rather than the climbs, watch the slippery steps at Har Ki Pauri, choose a quieter evening for the Aarti, and for the Char Dham take the helicopter circuit from Dehradun to skip the long roads and the Kedarnath trek.
- CouplesRishikesh is romantic in a calm way: a riverside cafe, an evening Aarti, a sunrise yoga class and a walk across Ram Jhula. Stay on the quieter Tapovan or Swarg Ashram side for the views.
- Solo travellers and yoga seekersRishikesh is one of the safest, friendliest places in India to travel alone, with ashram stays, drop-in yoga and a easy community of fellow travellers. Book a reputable ashram or school in advance.
- Backpackers and adventure groupsRafting, cliff jumping, waterfall hikes and cheap riverside guesthouses in Tapovan. Remember the dry-city rule and the monsoon rafting closure, and carry good footwear.
- PhotographersThe Aarti lamps on the dark river, the hill temples at first light, the bridges and the sadhus of Rishikesh. Evenings at the ghats and early mornings give the best light; ask before photographing people at prayer.
08NRI and foreign travellers
Planning Haridwar, Rishikesh and the Char Dham from abroad
This is the spiritual heart of north India and the start of the Char Dham, the trip many NRIs return for. A little planning makes it smooth and comfortable.
- Register for the Char DhamIf you are continuing to the Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath), a free online registration is now compulsory. Do it in advance at the Uttarakhand portal, registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, or by sending the word YATRA on WhatsApp to +91-8394833833. We can complete it for you.
- Consider the helicopter circuitFor older parents or a short trip, the Char Dham helicopter circuit from Dehradun covers all four shrines in a few days and removes the long mountain roads and the Kedarnath trek. It books out early, so plan ahead.
- Come for the yogaRishikesh is the yoga capital of the world, with ashram stays, teacher-training courses and the International Yoga Festival each March. For many in the diaspora, a yoga or meditation retreat here is the trip itself.
- Know the dry-city rule and pack rightBoth towns are dry and vegetarian, so do not carry alcohol, and dress modestly at the temples and ghats (shoulders and knees covered). Mornings can be cold from December to February, so bring a warm layer.
Plan your trip
Tour packages that visit Haridwar
Every journey below is private, hand-crafted and fully customizable. Tell us your dates and we tailor the itinerary, the pace and the priests or guides around you.
18D / 17N5.012 Jyotirlinga Tour Package
- Darshan of Somnath Jyotirlinga
- Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga with Bhramaramba Shaktipeeth
from
₹90,000 onwards
11D / 10N5.0Chardham Yatra Tour Package 2026
- Visit Yamunotri
- Visit Gangotri
from
₹70,000 onwards
4D / 3NKedarnath Jyotirlinga Tour Package
- Visit Mansa Devi Temple
- Visit Chandi Devi Temple
Request best price
8D / 7NBadrinath Kedarnath Yatra
- Visit Special Pooja at Shri Kedarnath Temple
- Visit Devprayag
Request best price
6D / 5NBadrinath Yatra
- Visit Har ki pauri for Famous Aarti of Holy Ganges
- Visit Mana Village,
Request best price
6D / 5NHaridwar Rishikesh Varanasi Tour Package from Delhi
- Haridwar
- Rishikesh
Request best price
7D / 6NNau Devi Yatra
- Visit Rishikesh Sightseeing
- Visit Har-ki-Pauri
Request best price
7D / 6NSatopanth Trek
- Satopanth Lake Trek
- Satopanth Glacier
Request best price
4D / 3NDelhi To Haridwar Rishikesh Tour Package
- Visit Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Akshardham Temple, India Gate
- Visit Daksha Mahadev Temple, Mansa Devi, Har ki Pauri
Request best price
Private & fully customizable|Curated by the Way to India Travel Desk|No-obligation, best-price enquiry