Haridwar

Overview

Haridwar is one of Hinduism’s principal pilgrimage cities, set where the Ganga leaves the Himalayan foothills and enters the plains. The city is not simply a collection of temples: the river, ghats, ritual calendars, ashrams, hill shrines, markets and onward Himalayan routes form one connected landscape. Har Ki Pauri and the evening Ganga Aarti are the best-known experiences, but Kankhal, Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi and the wider riverfront make a slower two-day visit worthwhile.

At a glance