Travel to India

Haridwar Travel Guide

Haridwar is located in the state of Uttrakhand and is an important pilgrimage city for Hindus. The River Ganges (Ganga) flowing 253 km from its source in Gaumukh enters the Indo Gangetic plains for the first time in Haridwar, due to which this city was initially called Gangadwara. Regarded as one of Hinduism's most sacred cities, thousands of pilgrim's flock here year after year to bathe in the holy Ganges that at this point is crystal clear and very clean. Every evening at dusk the river comes alive with the flickering of lamps as floating offerings that are released into the River Ganges. Every 12 years, Haridwar is the venue of the popular Kumbh Mela, which is believed to be the largest religious gathering in the world and attracts millions of people. The Kumbh takes place every three years consecutively at Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar.

Haridwar Weather: Haridwar's weather is affected by its close proximity to the Himalayan Range and the city experiences an extreme climate, being too hot in the summers and too cold in the winters. The summer season in Haridwar, that lasts from April to July can be rather uncomfortable, though summer nights can be quite pleasant. Winter months in Haridwar last from October to Feburary and can be very cold. The best time to visit Haridwar is from September to June as the summer months are uncomfortably hot and the monsoons can make commuting difficult.



Celsius/Fahrenheit:
City Month Avg. High Avg. Low Mean
Haridwar Jan 11 C/ 52 F 1 C/ 34 F 6 C/ 44 F
Haridwar Feb 12 C/ 54 F 1 C/ 35 F 7 C/ 45 F
Haridwar Mar 16 C/ 61 F 5 C/ 41 F 11 C/ 52 F
Haridwar Apr 21 C/ 70 F 8 C/ 48 F 15 C/ 60 F
Haridwar May 23 C/ 74 F 11 C/ 53 F 17 C/ 64 F
Haridwar Jun 23 C/ 74 F 12 C/ 55 F 18 C/ 65 F
Haridwar July 21 C/ 70 F 13 C/ 56 F 17 C/ 63 F
Haridwar Aug 20 C/ 68 F 12 C/ 55 F 16 C/ 62 F
Haridwar Sep 20 C/ 68 F 11 C/ 52 F 16 C/ 61 F
Haridwar Oct 19 C/ 67 F 8 C/ 47 F 14 C/ 58 F
Haridwar Nov 16 C/ 62 F 5 C/ 41 F 11 C/ 52 F
Haridwar Dec 13 C/ 57 F 2 C/ 37 F 8 C/ 47 F


Tourist Attractions in Haridwar:

  • Har Ki Pauri: Literally translated means "The Footstep of God" is supposed to be the precise spot where the Ganges leaves the mountains and enters the plains. Hindu's believe that the River Ganges has the power to wash away their sins and this fact is enforced by a footstep Vishnu left in stone here. This Ghat sits on the west bank of the Ganges Canal and every evening at sunset priests perform the Ganga Aarti (The river worship ceremony) here, where floating lamps are set out on the water to drift downstream.

  • Chandi Devi Temple: This temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi is situated on the eastern banks of the river Ganges and was built in 1929 by Suchat Singh, the king of Kashmir.

  • Mansa Devi Temple: Situated atop Bilwa Parwat, the temple of Goddess Mansa Devi (the goddess who fulfils desires) is a popular tourist destination, because of the cable cars that offer a beautiful view of the valley.

  • Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar: This bird sanctuary is situated on the main River Ganges at the Bhimgoda barrage and is a paradise for bird watchers and home to many migratory birds during the winters.

  • Pawan Dham: A modern temple made entirely out of glass, this is a major tourist attraction in Haridwar.

The Not to be Missed Places in Haridwar: When in Haridwar there are the places that you should not miss:
  • Har Ki Pauri
  • Chandi Devi Temple
  • Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar
Local Markets and Shopping in Haridwar: Shop in Haridwar to get a feel of local handicrafts. The important markets in Haridwar are:

  • Kankhal
  • Upper Road
  • Moti Bazaar
  • Jwalapur
  • UP Handloom Emporium
The Bharat Mata Mandir is a good place to shop. From here you can buy items like vermillion, Rudraksh, brass and copper ute

Last Updated on 6/21/2011

Haridwar Demographics:
  • Time Zone: GMT+5:30
  • State: Uttrakhand
  • District: Haridwar Distict
  • Area: 12.3 square Km
  • Main Language: Hindi
  • Telephone Code: 01334
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