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City in Uttarakhand, India
Photo: mckaysavage, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Haridwar (Hindi: हरिद्वार Haridvār), also spelt Hardwar, is a Hindu pilgrimage site at the Ganges River, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
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भारत माता मंदिर Bhārat Mātā Mandir
Dedicated to Mother India, it is half temple, half nation-building exercise, with seven floors stacked with deities, saints, and secular heroes of all Indian faiths. Some signage in English.
चण्डी देवी मंदिर Caṇḍī Devī Mandir
A temple dedicated to Chandi Devi on the Neel Parvat. It was built in 1929 by Suchat Singh, the King of Kashmir. The deity was said to have been installed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. A cable car is available for the long journey.
हर की पौड़ी Har Kī Pauṛī
To the north of the centre, this is Haridwar's focal point, where devotees gather to bathe and worship on the Ganges. According to legend, this is where a drop of nectar fell from the churning of the oceans when the world was created, and a stone wall has Vishnu's footprint. Each evening around 7PM (5:45PM in winter) thousands gather and worship the river Goddess by putting diyas (floating lamps) in the river. You may be asked to make a donation if you linger near the ghats. Beware of con artists posing as officials. If you would like to make a donation there are boxes at the centre of the ghats around the light poles.
माया देवी मंदिर Māyā Devī Mandir
Located on upper road. This temple is one of the 51 Shakti Pithas and it's the presiding deity of Haridwar. It is from this temple Haridwar derives its other name Mayapur.
मनसा देवी मंदिर Mansa Devī Mandir
At top of hill near the centre of town. Can be reached by cable car (₹48 for a return ticket) or by a road that gently winds uphill (about 2 km), starting from Railway Rd. The temple is aesthetically not particularly noteworthy, but the views are grand. Expect to queue to board the cable car and once more to enter the temple: despite some rudimentary attempts at crowd control, the crowds of jostling devotees can make this a pretty intense experience.
सुरेश्वरी देवी मंदिर Sureśvarī Devī Mandir
Located outside of Haridwar and within the Rajaji National Park, this serene and religious site is a place to see. Permission to enter this site is required from forest rangers.
Daksha Mahadev Mandir
Daksheswar Mahadev or Daksha Mahadev temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Kankhal. This temple is linked with the story of Mata Sati, Lord Shiva & Daksha Prajapati.
While walking around the park you can spot elephants, leopards and deer. The bird life is prolific here and there is a large elephant population. The 5-hour tour costs around ₹1,800 per person, which can be done mid-afternoon or early morning. It is spread over the foothills of the Himalayas and Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri.
Large institution for yoga research, ayurvedic treatments, and wellness camps, established by Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna.
Good for breakfast and lunch. Bhagwati choley wala is an old institution making a scrumptious breakfast of chole (Bengal gram) baturey, bun bread and choley, mixed minced buns in choley gravy and rice choley. They attract a large crowd and usually serve piping hot choley stew with every meal. The meal priced ₹30 each is served on a plate and leaf covering along with salad. Their buns in choley and lassi are particularly good.
Claiming to be the original, unfranchised Chotiwalas, this is the first shop right below the steps when walking south from Har Ki Pauri. The "Chotiwalas Special" (₹75) is a super-filling concoction of paneer and veggies in a creamy tomato base, topped with cheese and yogurt.
The closest Haridwar gets to McDonald's (not very), serves up a wide menu of South and North Indian favourites, with some Indian-Chinese thrown in. Most meals around ₹60.
This is a tasty Bengali eatery, serving lunch and dinner. Dehradun rice with ghee, fries, 2 curries, chutney, dal, etc. are ₹45 per head including multiple servings.
(Behala)
Didir Hotel is a convenient location located at Vishnughat and famous for its multiple serving Thalis. It consists of hot rice with ghee, fritters, 1 dry and 1 curries, along with Daal (which is typically sweet sour) and a sweet chutney at the end. Known for its Dhokaar Dalna, and it serves multiple rotis along with curries at ₹40.
A chain that offers 104 varieties of dosas, along with Indian and Chinese food.
Hoshiyar Puri
This shop is old and claims to have started in year 1935. It has a wide variety of North Indian delicacies. The thali used to cost ₹80, but they have reportedly stopped serving it. They also have a house special dessert: Khaao India Khaao.
Claiming to be the new, clean Alpana. The "Alpana Meal" is ₹75 breakfast & ₹150 for lunch & ₹150 for dinner.
A good South Indian restaurant serving South Indian thalis and snacks. Dosas are the speciality.
Completely Bengali eatery serving basmati rice, along with dal, 2 seasonal curries, 1 fried item, chutney and ghee, unlimited servings. Breakfast of puri sabji is priced at ₹15 for 6 pooris and 1 sabzi.
Popular since 1948, it is well maintained and a multi-cuisine restaurant with very good service and air conditioned, which is unusual in the town.
Serve Punjabi, South Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines.
Famous puri-sabzi and halwa shop at Har Ki Pauri that is popular and budget-friendly, though often crowded during festivals.
Popular street-side stall serving hot chole kulche.
(A Unit of Mashir Hotel)
Bengali cuisine, such as Basmati ride, Dal, 2 seasonal curries, 1 fried item, chutney and ghee.
The Pao Bhaji is delicious speciality. But the other notable products include Rajma chawal, veggie burger, chats of all kind, and ice creams..The staff are helpful and polite.
AC/Non-AC rooms available.
On the banks of the Ganges. All room facing Gangaji with private ghat!
Modern, clean and peaceful hotel located 3 minutes' walk from the Haridwar railway and bus station. Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms available, all with private bathrooms. Singles, doubles, triples and four bed rooms available with 24-hour reception. Contact Mohit Manchanda via email or mobile for reservation.
Small, not entirely clean rooms. Hot water available from 6-8AM only, but the shower may be broken. The hotel restaurant (Big Ben) is well liked, but somewhat below-priced.
Air-con & non-air-con rooms.
A budget hotel.
Air-con & non-air-con rooms with hot/cold water. Has a cyber cafe.
Government Tourist Lodge.
Very budget friendly and very premium dharamsala in haridwar.
Charming hut-style accommodation, with a common lawn area over-looking the river. (Air-con in some rooms).
Air-con & non-air-com rooms available at ₹700/₹3490. All rooms are spacious and front sided. Parking facilities are available.
Is situated at Har-Ki- Pauri Haridwar in close proximity to Banks, Shopping Complexes and local market. Air-con & non-air-con rooms available at ₹950/₹1250/₹1550. All rooms are spacious and front sided. Parking facilities are available.
Prime location provides easy access to Har Ki Pauri in the heart of the haridwar, Daksh Mahadev Temple in the Khankhal city, and the commercial market area on the Main Jwalapur Haridwar Road. Rooms have air-con.
Subhash Ghat, Har Ki Pauri. Riverside accommodation right next to Har Ki Pauri, the main selling point is the great river views from the balconies. Rooms have air-con, and are spacious & clean.
Chitra cinema Street, Haridwar. It is a 3-min walk from the railway station and 10 mins walk from Har Ki Pauri. Air-con & non-air-con room at ₹1050/₹550. All rooms are spacious and front sided. Parking facilities are available.
Located in Motichur along the Rishikesh-Haridwar highway, approximately 6 km north of the city centre.
Close to Har Ki Pauri, rooms open to a central corridor facing the river. Part of the same management running Haveli Hari Hanga
Clean, minimalistic hotel operated by the Ginger chain.
A comfortably appointed hotel/spa with a private ghat and balconies (few rooms) overlooking the river.
Can also be stated as pride of Haridwar in terms of redefining hospitality, quality of Rooms, Service and Restaurant Temptation and Banquet Celebration
A big hotel with more than 30 air-con & non-air-con clean rooms with attached bathroom. Hot water available 6-9AM only. The hotel restaurant serves good food.
Sells rudraksh mala, sphatic mala, chandan mala and other chandan articles.
By plane
Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is nearest airport to Haridwar. It is domestic airport 20 km away from the city centre. Taxis from the airport to Haridwar cost ₹400.
By train
Here are some useful trains to reach Haridwar:
By bus
Haridwar's bus station, close to the train station, is chaotic and has no signage whatsoever in English.
Central Haridwar can be comfortably covered on foot. However, taxis and auto-rickshaws can be available at train and bus stations.
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