Places to visit in Haridwar & near Haridwar

Haridwar, the holy city of Uttarakhand & is one of the seven Kumbh Mela destination in India.

If you are planning a trip here then we have prepared a detailed list of Places to visit in Haridwar and near Haridwar for you.

After going through this list, you will have a good idea of all the popular temples in Haridwar & also temples in Rishikesh; and a national park.

Plus if you need any assistance regarding your Haridwar trip from Delhi, Jaipur, feel free to call me (Mr Singh) at +91 9928399846.

The five must see temples & ghats in Haridwar

As per our local Haridwar Guides, there are around 14 temples, ghats in Haridwar and out of these 14, the five must see temples & ghats are:

1. Har Ki Pauri Ghat
2. Ganga Aarti at Haridwar
3. Mansa Devi Temple
4. Chandi Devi Temple
5. Maya Devi Temple

Below you will find more details of our 14 major sites (temples, ashrams, ghats) in Haridwar.

1. Har Ki Pauri Ghat

The first site which all our guests visit in Haridwar or you can say that from where you should start your tour of Haridwar is Har Ki Pauri Ghat.

Har ki Pauri is a place, where at all times, you will see devotees bathing in the flowing river of the Ganga to wash away their sins and to purify their bodies.

Har ki Pauri is more than twenty centuries old. There are temples, shops, all along Har ki Pauri. Ganga Aarti is held every evening here where many priests light up large lamps to offer prayers to River Ganga.

They chant Sanskrit hymns in unison and musicians play gongs in rhythm to these chants. Thousands of devotees join in these prayers, and in the fading evening light, the entire place looks divine and oozing with spiritual energy.

After the prayers, devotees float small diyas in the flowing river Ganga, and the flickering glow of these small lamps light up the atmosphere.

2. Ganga Aarti

Ganga Aarti is one of the must-have experiences in Haridwar. In the evenings, priests hold huge lamps and chant prayers and Sanskrit hymns to Ganga River, and are joined by thousands who attend the event.

The chanting of hymns fills the entire atmosphere with a devotional aura, and the scene at the ghat is one not to be missed at all in Haridwar. Thousands who watch the event leave mesmerized by the spiritual energy of the place.

3. Mansa Devi Temple

Mansa Devi Temple is built on a hill and there’s a ropeway to reach the temple. It’s another popular temple in Haridwar, and is one of the great temples, which is devoted to the Goddess Mansa, a divine form of Goddess Parvati.

Its very name means wish, and here thousands of devotees visit to have their wishes fulfilled. Both Mansa Devi Temple and Chandi Devi Temple are close to each other, and you can visit them both when you’re touring Haridwar.

4. Chandi Devi Temple

According to ancient scriptures, it’s at this place that Goddess Chandi slayed the demons Chanda and Munda. Chandi Devi Temple is hugely popular in Haridwar as it’s believed to grant the wishes of devotees.

You will have to hike up a small hill to reach Chandi Devi Temple, or take a ropeway which is a more thrilling way to reach the temple. From the temple, you will see an unending panorama of Haridwar and the flowing Ganga River.

5. Maya Devi Temple

This temple is one of the most visited temples in Haridwar, and is considered to grant wishes of its devotees. Goddess Maya is a divine form of Shakti and this temple is devoted to her.

This temple is also important as Haridwar was once called Mayapuri and Goddess Maya is the Mother Goddess of Haridwar.

Other popular temples to visit in Haridwar

6. Daksh Prajapati Temple

It’s also called Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple, and this is one of the famous Haridwar temples where Shivratri celebrations are a sight to behold. The temple is named after Daksh Prajapati, father to Goddess Sati.

The walls of this temple have stories etched from the great Hindu mythology, and are very interesting to watch. There are idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati, who are the chief deities of this temple.

There is a temple of Goddess Sati and a large space called Yagna Kund, and a thousand year old Banyan Tree. On your tour of Haridwar, you must visit the Daksh Mahadev Temple.

7. Vaishno Devi Temple

This temple was built to look like a replica of the famous Vaishno Devi Temple of Kashmir. The temple of Goddess Vaishno Devi is one of the most religious places in Haridwar, and also one of the most exciting to visit.

All through the temple, you will have to climb stairs, crawl through tunnels, and pass caves. All these are man-made to give you an idea of the rocky terrain of Kashmir where the original temple of Vaishno Devi is located.

There are many idols here like that of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva & others. The entire temple is a delight to visit and you should not miss Vaishno Devi Temple of Haridwar on your next visit to this ancient city.

8. Bharat Mata Temple

There are many things that make Bharat Mata Mandir stand out as a most unique place to visit in Haridwar. This temple does not have a typical temple structure found in most Hindu temples.

It’s eight storey high, and on every floor, you will find a different theme of India shown through statues, idols, paintings and sculptures. Here, India is worshipped as the Mother Goddess, and on the ground floor, there is a huge model of the India map.

You can see magnificent landscape of Haridwar from the temple, and it’s a tourist experience that you must have when you tour Haridwar.

9. Pawan Dham Haridwar

Exquisite mirror work and glasswork is what will amaze you in Pawan Dham. This temple is also a must visit in Haridwar, and here you will see idols of gods, goddesses, saints encased in a glass box with colored mirrors adding to the décor of the place.

Paintings are also made of colored glass, and it’s one of the most attractive temples you can visit in Haridwar. The sparkling glow of glass and mirrors will charm you in this temple.

10. Shanti Kunj

Another place in Haridwar where you will see how ancient Hindu culture and traditions are practiced daily is Shanti Kunj. This is a place where training is given to students who wish to attain spiritual knowledge, and understand centuries old Indian culture.

There are various places within Shanti Kunj like Gayatri Mata Temple, Akhand Deep, Yoga Shala where you can feel the divine powers and peace.

Ghats of Haridwar

Haridwar is a place of temples and ghats, and you will find many ghats here where devotees bathe in the holy waters of the Ganga, and wash away their sins. Some of the must-visit ghats in Haridwar are:

11.1 Gau Ghat

Gau means a cow, and is considered immensely

sacred animal and killing it is considered as a great sin. In Gau Ghat, people come to bathe in the holy waters to free themselves of the sin of killing a cow.

Gau Ghat is also where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were immersed in the waters of the holy Ganga.

11.2 Vishnu Ghat

Vishnu Ghat is close to Har ki Pauri and is less crowded than other ghats. Vishnu Ghat is also the cleanest ghats in Haridwar, and many devotees who worship the divine forms of Lord Vishnu come here to bathe in the waters and free themselves of their sins.

11.3 Birla Ghat

Just next to Vishnu Ghat is Birla Ghat, one of the oldest ghats in Haridwar. Like in other ghats too, there are stairs leading to the river flowing below, and you can have a dip in its waters.

There are plenty of eateries around the ghat, and security barricades to prevent people from drowning accidentally.

12. Swami Vivekanand Park

Nature lovers will love going to Swami Vivekananda Park in Haridwar. You can sit in the midst of lush greenery and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the park. The park is great for picnics too.

There are many flowers to attract you, and can run on jogging tracks inside the park. There is a huge statue of Swami Vivekananda and Lord Shiva in the park.

13. Kankhal

Kankhal is just 3 km from Haridwar, and one of the holiest places to visit in Haridwar. It’s famous for its temples, havelis, and ashrams. Don’t forget to visit these places in Kankhal:

– Daksheswara Mahadev Temple

It’s also called Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple, and this is one of the famous Haridwar temples where Shivratri celebrations are a sight to behold. The temple is named after Daksh Prajapati, father to Goddess Sati.

The walls of this temple have stories etched from the great Hindu mythology, and are very interesting to watch. There are idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati, who are the chief deities of this temple.

There is a temple of Goddess Sati and a large space called Yagna Kund, and a thousand year old Banyan Tree. On your tour of Haridwar, you must visit the Daksh Mahadev Temple.

– Harihar Ashram Haridwar

Harihar Ashram in Kankhal is situated on the banks of the Ganga. This is one of the oldest ashrams in Haridwar.

Parad Shivling, the mercury shivling is a unique thing to see in this ashram. It’s one of a kind in the whole world, and made of pure mercury.

A Rudraksha Tree is also in this temple, and people collect Rudraksha from the tree to get rid of problems.

– Anandamayi Ashram

If you want to meditate and have interest in spiritual matters, than Ma Anandmayi Ashram in Haridwar is a place to go. This place has a Samadhi or final resting place of Ma Anandmayi, a prominent Bengali mystic saint.

There are many buildings in this ashram and you can see places where yagnas are performed and do many activities to understand spiritual aspects of life.

14. Doodhadhari Barfani Temple

If you want to see temples of magnificent architecture in Haridwar, then you must visit Doodhadhari Barfani Temple. This temple has some amazing marble architecture and the interiors and exteriors of this temple are fabulous.

There are idols of Shri Ram, Sita, and Hanuman inside the temple, and there are lush gardens surrounding this temple. You can see wonderful stonework on marble stone, and the intricately sculpted temple architecture is a marvel to watch.

Nearby Places to visit from Haridwar

After you’ve visited the best places in Haridwar, you can go on to tour some places that are located close to Haridwar and visit these places too. Let’s see which the best places you can visit from Haridwar are:

1. Rishikesh

Just close to an hour’s drive from Haridwar will take you to Rishikesh. This ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ is also a mesmerizing tourist destination of Uttarakhand.

You will see the beauty of Himalayan landscapes, go to attend the famous Maha Aarti in Triveni Ghat, see the spiritual vibes of Beatles Ashram and do a lot more activities.

Temples here are situated in scenic surroundings like Kunjapuri Temple and there are more mystical places like Vashisht Gufa.

You can do adventurous activities like river rafting, bungee jumping, and others. If you like trekking in the mountains, there are many trekking trails to go.

– Lakshman Jhula

Laxman Jhula is not just a swinging bridge in Rishikesh, but an iconic place to visit in Rishikesh.

The story goes that Laxman, brother of Shri Ram, used two jute ropes to cross the river. Laxman Jhula was build to mark the mythological significance of this place.

To walk on this bridge is a thrilling experience you must have when visiting Rishikesh.

– Triveni Ghat

Like all ghats on the Ganges, Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh is a popular tourist places you must go. Triveni Ghat is famous for its Maha Aarti.

Daily, in the evenings, temple priests perform the Maha Aarti on Triveni Ghat, and the whole atmosphere is filled with the chanting of Sanskrit hymns, and the rhythmic sound of bells and gongs.

Devotees and tourists all gather around in their thousands to see this unique event at Triveni Ghat.

2. Patanjali Yogpeeth trust

Those interested in Yoga and Ayurveda must visit Patanjali Yog Peeth. It’s named after Patanjali, a great Indian scholar saint who wrote ancient manuscripts on Yoga and Ayurveda. Patanjali Yog Peeth is also a very famous medical and research institution of Swami Ramdev.

People come here for medications and treatment from various ailments and diseases. There are laboratories, clinics, residential accommodation for students. The architecture and design of the institute is wonderful to watch and there is a huge place with green gardens and soothing in atmosphere.

3. Rajaji National Park

You can just imagine how large this park is by the fact that three large national parks and sanctuaries were combined to form Rajaji National Park. It’s one of the best places to visit in Haridwar.

Rajaji National Park consists of large spaces of dense Himalayan forests, open grasslands, mountainous terrain and river valleys.

You can go deep into the jungles in jeep and elephant safaris and watch out for animals like Tigers, Bears, Gharials, Leopards, Deer, Birds and other wild creatures.

4. Crystal World

If you want to have some fun in Haridwar after your visit to temples, then head to Crystal World, a unique entertainment park in Haridwar.

Children will have a blast here, as they can go in as many as 18 rides and adults too can join in the fun with their kids.

There are wave pools, water slides, aqua dancing, roller coaster, DJ and many other attractions. Small infants too can have their own joy time in seperate pools made for them.

Guests can refresh themselves after the rides, and can have delicious mouth-watering foods in the Food Court inside Crystal World.