Haridwar — “the gateway of God” — is where the Ganga enters the plains, one of the seven holiest cities of Hinduism and one of the four sites of the Kumbh Mela. It is also the most convenient railway station for Garhwal, with frequent trains from Delhi and direct services from many parts of India.
Most Valley of Flowers travellers see it for one evening, and that evening belongs to the river.
What to see and do at Haridwar
Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri
Every evening at dusk priests raise great tiered lamps over the water at Har Ki Pauri ghat while thousands sing along and leaf boats of flowers and flame are set adrift. Come at least 45 minutes early. A guided aarti tour takes the stress out of finding a spot.
Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi
Two hilltop goddess temples overlook the city, each reached by a cable car or a steep path. Go early in the day to avoid queues.
Wander the bazaars
The lanes behind the ghats sell brass, beads, sweets and containers for carrying Ganga water home. The street food — kachori, aloo puri, lassi — is the real attraction.
How to get to Haridwar
- By rail: Haridwar Junction has many daily trains from Delhi, taking roughly four to six hours, plus long-distance services from Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Amritsar among others.
- By air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, is about 35–40 km away.
- Onward: Rishikesh is about 25 km — under an hour — and Joshimath around 275–280 km.
Practical tips
- Book trains well ahead for July and August, which overlap with the Kanwar pilgrimage when the city is extremely crowded and road traffic may be diverted.
- Keep an eye on your belongings at the ghats and ignore unsolicited “priests” asking for donations.
- Like Rishikesh, the city is vegetarian and dry.
Best treks & tours for Haridwar
These packages are the easiest way to see Haridwar with a guide, transport and lodging sorted:
Guided evening tour from US$25 Haridwar: Ganga Aarti Ceremony Tour at Har Ki Pauri Ghat
The Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri is one of the most powerful public rituals in India, and it is far easier with someone who knows where to stand. If your train arrives in Haridwar the evening before the drive, this is the thing to do.
- The great evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri
- A guide to find you a good place in the crowd
- The ghats and bazaar around it
Guided day tour from US$35 Haridwar: Spiritual, Culture Day Tour with Ganga Aarti
A fuller Haridwar day: temples, bazaars and the riverfront with a guide, ending with the aarti at dusk. Every review so far is five stars.
- The main temples of Haridwar
- The old bazaars and ghats
- The evening Ganga Aarti
Guided tour from US$590 Haridwar: Valley of Flowers Guided 3-Day Tour
A fast guided trip from Haridwar that follows the classic road to Govindghat and on to the valley. Three days is a very tight schedule for a route that involves around ten hours of driving each way plus the trek, so check the itinerary carefully and keep a spare day in hand. No reviews yet.
- Pick-up in Haridwar, convenient for the railway station
- The road via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Joshimath to Govindghat
- A guided visit to the Valley of Flowers
