Haridwar

Tourist Attractions

Haridwar means the “gateway to gods”, and sure enough, its beauty entitles it to that name. It is famous for being an entry point to Uttarakhand and also for being one of the four places which hosts the Kumbh Mela after every twelve years and the Ardh Kumbh every six years. Besides its incredible natural beauty, Haridwar is also famous for being the place where the River Ganga emerges from the mountains to meet the plains. This holy city in Uttarakhand will host the Kumbh Mela in 2027. Apart from River Ganga, the city is also famous for those seeking adventure, wildlife and the wonderful Ganga aarti which is held in the evening by the ghats. There are other popular tourist attractions in Haridwar including Har ki Pauri, Mansa Devi and Daksha Mahadeva Temple.

Places of Tourist Interest

in Haridwar

Har ki Pauri

Har ki Pauri is one of the most famous places to visit in Haridwar. It is a ghat stretched out on the banks of River Ganga and hosts the Ganga Aarti every evening. During the aarti, the entire ghat is illuminated with diyas, accompanied with the chanting of mantras. Lord Vishnu’s foot mark is believed to exist here, and a temple is built around it.

Mansa Devi

Mansa Devi temple is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi who is believed to grant the wishes of her devotees. Romantic couples visit this popular tourist spot in Haridwar and tie sacred strings around the tree which stands inside the premises of the temple. The temple also affords wonderful views of the Haridwar town spread out below.

Daksha Mahadev Temple

Daksha Mahadev Temple is situated in a town called Kankhal built by Rani Dhankaur in 1810 AD. According to Hindu mythology, this is where Daksha (one of the sons of Lord Brahma) performed a yagna. It is considered to be one of the oldest temples in Haridwar. On the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, it is visited by thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva.

Chandi Devi

One of the famous places to see in Haridwar is Chandi Devi, situated atop Neel Parvat. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandi and is a major pilgrimage destination. Such is its importance that it’s considered to be a Shakti Peeth in North India. Devotees believe that visiting the temple brings about the fulfilment of any wishes.

Bhimgoda Tank

During your Haridwar trip, you should definitely check out the Bhimgoda Tank. Named after Bhima in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, it draws tourists with its ancient aura. The tank is surrounded by massive rocks along with a shivlinga inside the temple which stands beside it. It is great for spending some time alone and enjoying the serene scenery.

Maya Devi

Among the many tourist places to visit in Haridwar, one is Maya Devi Temple. It is built in honour of Goddess Maya Devi and is regarded as one of the shakti peethas in India. According to Hindu mythology, this is where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati fell down while Lord Shiva was carrying her dead body.

Sapt Rishi

Sapt Rishi is one of the tourism places in Haridwar and traces its origins to ancient times. Hindu mythology states that this is where Holy Ganga divided herself in seven streams to spare any discomfort to the seven rishis (Kashyapa, Vashist, Atri, Vishwamitra, Jamadagi, Bharadwaja and Gautam). It is surrounded by hundreds of mango trees which enhance the beauty of the entire place.