10 Best Places to Visit in Haridwar: Add a New Dimension to Your Spiritual Journey and See What Else the River City Offers Apart from the Temples!

Haridwar – a holy city that resonates with religious sentiments with any devout Hindu has a wide spectrum of places to visit other than its sacred temples. It is a holy town that has a great deal of significance for Hindu culture. It is considered as one of the holiest cities and among the most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus. This serene and tranquil holy city is nestled at the foothills of the Himalayas in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand. While visiting Haridwar, you will be welcomed with a divine aura and raw natural beauty, which also happen to make this place, one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.

So whether you are visiting this city for religious purposes or for quenching your travel thirst, there is plenty to keep you intrigued here. A visit to Haridwar is incomplete without bathing on the banks of the Ganges. The melodious fusion of chants and prayer bells in the mornings and evenings and the magnificent sight of the Ganga Aarti are enough to hold you spellbound and transfixed. The majestic Shivalik Range seen from the Ganges is a sight to behold. A journey to this wonderful land will definitely satiate your soul and enlighten you. Do not forget to visit the sacred Har ki Pauri ghat, while planning your itinerary.

But if you are thinking that Haridwar only has religion and culture to offer you, then read on further to know everything this lovely place has for tourists. Apart from ghats and temples, there are some other fun-loving venues here too, making this a complete paradise for tourists.

Let's start off with a list of the 10 best places to visit in this sacred destination that you should not miss in your travelogue.

A religious prayer held at the bank of the sacred Ganga river at the Har Ki Pauri Ghat is known as the Ganga Aarti. It is a breathtaking ritual of sound and light where hundreds of priests chant the prayers with lit diyas and temple bells. Visitors float their diyas and flowers on the flowing water. The entire scene is very captivating and surreal. Haridwar literally translates to ‘Gateway of the Gods’ which means a passage for pilgrims to reach God. So be sure to grab your spot one evening to experience this breathtaking event.

This ghat is one of the most sacred spots in the town. Located on the banks of the River Ganga, this ghat is visited by tourists from across the country, to take a dip in the holy river. One should visit this ghat during sunset as you get to watch the famous Ganga Aarti. Har Ki Pauri is counted as one of the major places for pilgrimage in India. It is open 24 hours and there are no fees for visiting this religious place.

One of the most revered spots in the town, this famous Temple pulls thousands of tourists and devotees from different parts of the world. Among the hundreds of temples present in Haridwar, the significance of this temple is quite unique. It is located on the top of Bilwa Parvat. It is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi and devotees believe that the Goddess fulfills all the wishes of sincere devotees. It is an interesting journey to reach the temple - you need to either go trekking or take a ropeway ride as it is perched on a hilltop. It is open from 5 am to 9 pm every day.

One of the most popular spiritual places in Haridwar, this temple has a special significance because of its interesting display of Hindu culture. Since its inception in 1929 by Suchat Singh, this temple has been a place of interest for foreign tourists and hindu pilgrims. It is perched on the Neel Parvat in the scenic Shivalik Range of Himalayas. It offers stunning views of the greenery and forests spreads all over. One can enjoy a trek of 3 km or use a cable car ride to reach the temple. It is open from 7 am to 7 pm.

Built by Queen Dhankaur in 1820, this temple is an ideal place for all Shiva devotees. It underwent a renovation in 1962. It is a famous pilgrimage site and there is no fee for tourists. This temple’s location is currently under dispute, claiming to be the place where Goddess Sati’s father Daksha Prajapati held a holy yagna. Maha Shivaratri, every year is conducted with great pomp and show here. Thousands of devotees throng the temple during the festival to take the blessings of Lord Shiva.

This temple is the exact replica of Vaishno Devi Temple located in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple complex also bears the same architecture and design as that of the ancient temple with a path leading to the worship spot which is reached through tunnels and caves. A holy pilgrimage site, this one is worth visiting in Haridwar. There is no entry free and it is open on all days.

This beautiful temple is the perfect amalgamation of nature and spirituality. For those who seek peace, this destination is a must visit. This ‘Doodhadhari Barfani Temple is located in the ashram ‘Doodhadhari Barfani Baba’. It is an elegant temple in Haridwar in which one can find temples of Rama-Sita and Hanuman crafted in white marble stone.

Triveni Ghat is near Haridwar and Rishikesh. It is the confluence of the three rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Pilgrims visit to take a holy dip in this ghat before visiting the temples here. A stunning ceremony takes place every evening here with the melodious arti accompanied by drums, lights, chanting and glowing lamps. This ghat is located at a distance of 24 km from Haridwar.

The Lakshman Jhula is an iron suspension bridge in Rishikesh. It is considered to be one of the best tourist attractions near Haridwar. Erected over the holy Ganges river, this bridge originally had only a jute rope bridge. It is 450 feet long and 70 feet above the river. This fantastic bridge offers beautiful views of the ashrams, famous temples, River Ganga and the nearby bustling marketplace. It is at a distance of 24 km from Haridwar.

A trip to this city is incomplete without visiting its famous Bada Bazaar. This market place is bustling with people and small shops selling almost everything you need. While you may not find fancy shopping malls here, a trip to this traditional market place will definitely give you a glimpse into our tradition and culture. Do buy some souvenirs, handicrafts, ornaments and Ayurvedic products from here. Located at Subhash Ghat, Bada Bazaar is open from 9am to 10pm.

If at all you manage to visit Haridwar during the onset of the Kumbh Mela, then you will be quite lucky. Kumbh Mela has gained international popularity as the ‘world’s most massive act of faith’. A visit to the Ganga during the Kumbh Mela is mind-boggling. It is a stunning spectacle of unflinching trust of millions of devotees. Not only Hindus, this mela has managed to garner curiosity of foreigners too. The pilgrims come from different parts of the world, tolerate many physical discomforts, only to take one dip in the holy river. This Kumbh Mela is a festival that extends for one and half months on the banks of river Ganga. Devotees believe that taking a dip in the holy river during the Kumbh Mela will help them attain salvation.

During the Kumbh Mela, you will get to see the ‘Peshwai Procession’, which is the royal procession of Naga Sadhus. They indulge in a breathtaking display of martial skills and acrobatics. One gets to see and interact with lots of saints and sadhus. In the evenings, as the dusk descends, the famous Ganga Aarti is performed at the Har Ki Pauri Ghat with powerful spiritual sounds and lights.

Haridwar hosted the Kumbh Mela in 2010 when millions of pilgrims attended the spiritual show. This extensive Kumbh Mela was aired live and given extensive coverage on BBC and many other American channels. Haridwar next hosted Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2016. This time, the coverage was done via airborne drones. The water was icy cold and yet nothing deterred the spirit of the pilgrims from taking a dip in the holy river.

Kumbh Mela is one of the most significant religious carnivals of Hindu pilgrims. It is celebrated in four places – Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain. According to an ancient legend, holy nectar from the heaven fell at these four places on the earth, which ultimately gained importance as holy places.

If you are thinking that Haridwar is all about temples and religion, then you can't be more wrong! There are some amazing fun-loving venues here, which will spice up your trip.

Your trip to Haridwar is incomplete without visiting Rishikesh. While some people plan a separate trip to Rishikesh and other cities alone, you should include this in your travel plan, if you want the perfect balance between religion and adventure. This town is at a distance of 26 km from Haridwar and is known as the ‘yoga capital of the world’. It is famous for various adventure trails, river rafting, yoga retreats, shopping and temple hopping. Rishikesh also has the visiting confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The meeting junction is magnificent and worth visiting. Many people take a dip on this holy ghat.

Plan a visit to this lovely wildlife sanctuary to get up close and personal with some rare animal species. A treat for all wildlife enthusiasts, this sanctuary is home to some very impressive and exotic birds and animals. You can expect to see elephants, bears, tigers, leopards and other such species here. This wildlife zone is spread over a sprawling area of 249 sq. km. It was established in 1977. It is at a distance of 6 km from Haridwar and is open from 6 am to 9 am and then again in the evening from 3pm to 6pm. There is an entry fee of Rs. 150 per person.

For yoga patrons, this is one of the best places to visit in Haridwar. It was founded by Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna in 2006. This also happens to be one of the largest yoga institutes in the country. The institution promotes yoga and its importance across the world. Various kinds of researches are made relating to yoga here. Many Ayurvedic medicines are also manufactured at the centre. This yoga centre is located in the outskirts of Haridwar and is open from 9 am to 9 pm.

If you want to take your kids for some fun and frolic, then Haridwar has a water park too. This gorgeous water park offers more than 21 thrilling water rides, aqua dancing, roller coasters and other amusements, perfect to give you an adrenaline rush.

While planning your itinerary to Haridwar, do take note of the following things:

February-March and August-October is the best time to visit Haridwar.

The town looks and radiates with a stunning magnificence and aura as the night approaches. One can sit by the ghats (which can be a little problematic, if you find night guards patrolling) to capture the illumination of the diyas left afloat in the river or just lie down and relax while listening to the innumerable prayer bells and prayer chants.

Often Indians travel to Haridwar with their grandparents and parents. They believe that a visit to this holy town will purify their souls and wash away their sins. So, next time, you plan your trip to Haridwar, do include all the above-mentioned places worth visiting here.