Haridwar, a word composed of two words Hari and Dwar which means Gateway to God. Devotees believe that they can go to heaven after taking a dip in the holy Ganges in Haridwar. Haridwar is one of the four places; Where Ardh Kumbh occurs after every six years and Kumbh Mela after every twelve years. The other three places where Kumbh organizes are Ujjain, Nasik, and Allahabad (Prayagraj). The next Mahakumbh Mela is in Haridwar in the year 2022.

For a tourist seeking Peace and spirituality, Haridwar is the right destination. The temples, holy dip in the river Ganga and enjoying Ganga Aarti in the evening can bring cheer to any heart.  

 Places to see in Haridwar:

1. Ganga Aarti: A daily ritual that enchants every visitor of Haridwar. Ganga Aarti performed on the banks of river Ganga on the Har ki Pauri Ghat in Haridwar. This is the most sacred Ghat in Haridwar. The evening view of Aarti of sacred Ganga is a lifetime experience. The lights, mantras, prayers, and floating diyas on the river make the view splendid and majestic.

2. Chandi Devi Temple: Chandi Devi temple is one of the most visited temples in Haridwar. Chandi Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandi and located at the top of Neel Parvat.  According to mythology, this is the place where goddess Chandi killed the demons Chanda- Munda.

3. Mansa Devi temple:  The Mansa Devi temple is on the top of Bilwa Parvat, which is an ancient temple of Haridwar dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi. Mansa Devi means the Goddess who fulfills desires. Mansa Devi is considered as one of the Siddha peeth located in Haridwar, the other two are Chandi Devi and Maya Devi Temple. Going through temple Mansa Devi provides views of the Ganges River and the Haridwar plains. One has to follow the trekking route up to the temple or take the rope-way service.

4. Maya Devi Temple: Haridwar was earlier known as Mayapuri because of Goddess Maya Devi. It is one of the Siddha Peeth and believed to be the place where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati had fallen.

There are some other temples and places that must be visited by tourists while traveling to Haridwar are Kankhal, Bhimgoda Tank, Sureshvari Devi Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, Sapta Sarovar, Shri Chintamani Parshwnath Jain Shwetambar Mandir, and many more.

Places to see near Haridwar include Rishikesh,  Dehradun and Rajaji National Park. On the outskirts of Haridwar, for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, a famous National park called Rajaji National Park is there for travelers. Rajaji National park that encompasses the Shivalik mountain ranges is a niche for tigers and elephants. Recently, it has been given the status of the Tiger Reserve.

Temperature and Best Time to Visit: Haridwar has a pleasant climate throughout the year but it is mostly visited during the month of Sawan or monsoon by pilgrims because of Kanwar Mela. Devotees carry Ganga Jal from Sacred Ganga to their places during the month. The best time to visit Haridwar is from October to February. Haridwar is one of the famous destinations of summer vacations for people of North India as it is easily accessible through road from Delhi, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Chandigarh. The nearest airport to Haridwar is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is just 35 km apart from Haridwar.