Haridwar is considered as one of the holiest cities in India for Hindus and when literally translated Haridwar means -Gateway to the Gods (Hari-God, Dwar-gate). The city is the point where the Ganges reach the plains from the Himalayas. The Kumbh Mela is celebrated here once in 12 years & millions of pilgrims visit Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela. The city is full of temples, dharamshalas, ashrams & yoga centers and the tourists are greeted with a heady mix Indian culture, religion & spirituality. Haridwar finds a mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures and has been a well-known center for learning & spirituality since centuries. Tourists visit the city in large numbers all year round & the main attractions of the city is Har-ki-Pauri, the numerous temples, the Ganga & the bathing ghats. The city is also famous for its Aurvedic & herbal medicines.
The best time to visit Haridwar is during the months of March to April or October to November. The climate during these months is pleasant. The winter is cold with temperature dropping to around 5°C. Night temperature is lower and it is advisable to carry warm clothes during winter. Summer temperature is high (sometimes touching 42°C).
Money exchanging facility is limited in Haridwar. Canara Bank (Railway Road) offers facilities like exchanging foreign currency & travelers’ cheques. LPK Forex also changes money for a commission of 1%. Credit/debit cards are accepted at most of the big hotels & establishments. There are a few ATMs in Haridwar. The State Bank of India ATM at Railway Rd being one of them.
No permit is required to travel to Haridwar other than a visa for India. The consumption of alcohol & non-vegetarian food is prohibited in Haridwar.
Haridwar is well connected to the rest of the country. There are frequent buses & trains from other cities to Haridwar
By Air: The nearest airport is Jollygrant airport in Dehradun (about 40 kms). Domestic airlines operate flights between Delhi & Dehradun. The nearest international airport is Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi. (About 220 kms)
By Rail: Haridwar is very well connected to other important cities by rail. The Mussoorie Express & Shatabdi Express run between Delhi & Haridwar. Doon Express connects Kolkata, Varanasi & Lucknow with Haridwar. Jan Shatabdi & Amristar passenger trains connect Haridwar & cities in Punjab. Dehradun Express connects Haridwar to Mumbai, Surat, Delhi etc.
By Road: Haridwar lies on the NH-45 & has a good road network with the other major cities in the state. Visitors can hire a taxi or take a bus to travel from Delhi to Haridwar in about 5-6 hours. There are regular state run buses as well as private luxury coaches from Agra, Dehradun (2 hrs), Nainital (7 hrs), Almora(10 hrs) and Shimla(14 hrs), Rishikesh (1/2 hr)
Local Transport: Cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws & taxis can be used for local travel.
Har-ki-Pauri: This is the most important ghat of the city & thousands of visitors come here to take a holy dip. Har-ki-Pauri is also known as Brahmakund. According to a legend this is the place where Lord Vishnu left behind a footprint. The Gangadwara temple, an important Hindu temple is close to Har-ki-Pauri. The evening prayer (Ganga Aarti) at 7:00 pm should not be missed as it is a spectacular sight with hundreds of diyas (lamps) floating in the Ganga. These lamps are made as offerings to the river along with flowers immediately after the Aarti.
Chandi Devi Temple & Mansa devi temple: The Chandi Devi temple is located on the Neel Parbat & was built in 1929 by Raja Suchet Singh. The temple can be reached through a cable car or by foot. The Mansa Devi temple is situated atop the Bilwa Parbat & is popular because of the cable car rides to the temple which offer a scenic view.
Pavan Dham: A modern & interesting temple whose interiors are done up mostly with glass.
Bhara Mata Mandir: An eight-storied temple dedicated to Mother India, where different parts of the temple depict different eras in Indian history.
Anandamayi Maa Ashram, Shanti Kunj Ashram & the Jairam Ashram are a few ashrams worth a visit.
Neel Dhara Bird Sanctuary is situated at the Bhimgoda barrage and is a bird watchers’ delight. Numerous migratory birds can be spotted here in winter.
Maya Devi Temple, Daksha Mahadev temple, Sati Kund, Sapt Rishi Ashram & Sapt Sarovar are the other places of interest in Haridwar.
More information can be found at the Tourist Information Counter & the GVMN office at Railway Road.
Where To Eat:
Haridwar is a purely vegetarian town. Most of the food served here is North Indian/Punjabi although South Indian, Chinese & Continental food is also available in a few restaurants. Few of the well-known restaurants in Haridwar are Chotiwala (Upper Road & Subhash Road), Hoshiyar Puri (Known for its North indian cuisine), 7 Days Restuaurant & Big Ben Restaurant serves Continental & Chinese food.
Where To Stay: Accommodation of all budgets can be found in Haridwar. Tourists have a choice of staying in hotels, lodges or ashrams. GMVN, (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam), the tourism development authority runs a hotel in Haridwar. More information can be obtained from the GMVN office. The Haveli Hari Ganga is one of the finest hotels. Hotel Ganga Azure, Bhaj-Govindam , Classic Residency, Sagar Ganga Resort, Country Inn & Suites, Ginger Hotel & Park View Hotel are other options.
Mayapuri, Kankhal, Rishikesh, Devprayag, Mussoorie, Dehradun are the nearby tourist destinations.
The Bara Bazaar, Moti Bazaar and Jwalapur are market places where tourist can shop for Rudrakshas, herbal & ayurvedic medicines, Ganga water cans, cane & bamboo products, and astrological gems among other things.
