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Haridwar · Things to see

Things to See in Haridwar Beyond the Holy Dip

KumbhMela.info Editorial TeamChecked on Wed 21 Oct 2026

The bath is the heart of the Kumbh, but there is more to see: the Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri, the hill temples of Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi, the akhara seats of Kankhal and Rishikesh up the river.

EvergreenChecked on Wed 21 Oct 2026

Places and traditions are from official and temple sources. Distances are by road, from a source or OpenStreetMap; aarti and darshan times can change on festival days.

Each card says what the place is, from the district, the temple or the mela authority. Tap a card with an arrow for our full page on it.

Temples, ghats, camps and nearby places

Evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri, HaridwarGanga aarti, Har Ki Pauri. Photo: Swastika Thakur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsAartiGanga aarti at Har Ki PauriHeld at sunrise and at sunset, organised by Shri Ganga Sabha since 1916. Bells ring, conches sound and lamps are raised to the Ganga; people watch from both banks.1,2
The red clock tower beside Brahmakund at Har Ki Pauri, with pilgrims on the ghat steps and the Ganga flowing past.Brahmakund and the clock tower, Har Ki Pauri. Photo: mckaysavage, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsGhatHar Ki Pauri and BrahmakundBy tradition drops of amrit fell at Brahmakund, and a stone in Har Ki Pauri's upper wall bears Vishnu's footprint, the district says. The Ganga aarti centres on Brahmakund.3,4,1About 2 km from Haridwar Junction, the Ministry of Tourism says.
Mansa Devi Temple on top of Bilwa Parvat, Haridwar, with the ropeway climbing the wooded hillMansa Devi Temple, Haridwar. Photo: Ekabhishek, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsTempleMansa Devi TempleA Siddhpeeth of the goddess Mansa Devi on Bilwa Parvat. Devotees tie a thread on a tree as they make a wish, and untie it when it is fulfilled.4,5A trek of about 3 km, or the ropeway, Uttarakhand Tourism says.
Chandi Devi Temple on the rocky top of Neel Parvat above Haridwar, seen from belowChandi Devi Temple, Haridwar. Photo: Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsTempleChandi Devi TempleA goddess temple on Neel Parvat, one of Haridwar's Panch Tirth, revered by devotees as a Siddh Peeth. It is reached by a trek or by ropeway.4,54 km from Har Ki Pauri, the official Kumbh directory says.
The entrance of the Maya Devi Temple in Haridwar, with a painted panel of the goddess above the doorwayMaya Devi Temple, Haridwar. Photo: Ekabhishek, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsTempleMaya Devi TempleTemple of Haridwar's presiding goddess near Birla Ghat, by tradition a Shakti Peeth. Near it, the Narayani Shila temple is known for pind daan for ancestors.4
The white and red shikharas of the Daksh Mahadev Temple in Kankhal, Haridwar, with lion statues at the gateDaksh Mahadev Temple, Kankhal. Photo: Aashishraja7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsTempleDaksh Mahadev Temple, KankhalA Shiva temple in Kankhal, one of Haridwar's Panch Tirth, linked by tradition with Daksha's yagna. Nearby Sati Kund is held to be where Sati gave up her life.4,5About 4 to 6 km from Haridwar railway station, the official Kumbh directory says.
The decorated image of Bharat Mata inside the Bharat Mata Mandir, HaridwarBharat Mata Mandir, Haridwar. Photo: Nilesh shukla, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsTempleBharat Mata MandirA temple to Mother India on eight floors: Bharat Mata on the first, then heroes, celebrated women, India's faiths and history, Shakti, Vishnu and Shiva.4
TempleBilkeshwar MahadevAn old Shiva shrine on Bilwa Parvat, close to Har Ki Pauri and the railway station, linked by tradition with Parvati's penance to win Shiva.4
CampAkhara seats and campsThe official Kumbh directory lists the 13 akharas' seats in Haridwar, eight of them in Kankhal. Before bathing days sadhus walk in processions with flags, music and insignia.6,2
SatsangSatsang and discoursesAcross camps and spiritual spaces, seekers gather to listen and learn through satsang, discussions, recitations and teachings, the official Haridwar Kumbh site says.2
MuseumGurukul Kangri Archaeological MuseumA university museum begun in 1907-08, with Harappan finds, over 4,000 coins, sculpture including a Samudra Manthan panel of about the ninth century, and Kankhal-style paintings.7,8About 7 km from Har Ki Pauri by road (OpenStreetMap).
Priests in matching dress performing the evening Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh, with lights along the river.Evening aarti at Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh. Photo: Bhuvi Uniyal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsNearbyRishikeshUpstream on the Ganga, a town of ashrams and the Lakshman Jhula bridge. At Triveni Ghat, Uttarakhand Tourism says, an evening aarti is held with lamps, drums and chanting.9,10,825 km, the official Haridwar Kumbh website says; OpenStreetMap gives about 25 km by road from Har Ki Pauri to Triveni Ghat.
NearbyNeelkanth MahadevA Shiva temple in the hills beyond Rishikesh where, by legend, Shiva drank the poison that rose from the churning of the ocean, the Pauri Garhwal district says.1132 km from Rishikesh by the Barrage road or 22 km via Ram Jhula, the Pauri Garhwal district says.

With respect

  • The official Haridwar Kumbh 2027 website asks pilgrims to honour the Kumbh with respectful behaviour, to follow local customs and to show consideration to fellow pilgrims.12
  • The same page asks pilgrims not to use soap or detergent in the river, and not to throw waste, flowers, plastic or religious offerings directly into it.12
  • No official rule on photography inside akhara camps or on temple dress in Haridwar was found. KumbhMela.info's own guidance stands: ask at the camp before you photograph, and accept a no.
Sources (12)
  1. Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (Utsav portal): Haridwar Ganga Aarti (Live Darshan)
  2. Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand: Rituals of Kumbh (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website)
  3. District Haridwar, Government of Uttarakhand: History (District Haridwar)
  4. Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand: Temples directory (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website), all 25 entries
  5. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Government of Uttarakhand: Haridwar (destination page) (2025)
  6. Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand: Akharas directory (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website)
  7. Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar: Archaeological Museum, Gurukul Kangri (About Museum)
  8. OpenStreetMap contributors (data under the Open Database License); routes from the OSRM demo server (router.project-osrm.org), points from Nominatim: OpenStreetMap road routes and place points, computed on 21 October 2026
  9. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Government of Uttarakhand: Rishikesh (destination page)
  10. Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand: Explore Haridwar: nearby attractions (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website)
  11. District Pauri Garhwal, Government of Uttarakhand: Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
  12. Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand: Pilgrim Dos and Don'ts (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website)

Plan the day around the bath

Our itineraries fit these places around a bathing day, and our stay guides map the areas for Haridwar, Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, Prayagraj and Ujjain.

Where next

How to reachTrains, buses, roads and the last stretch
Where to stayAreas, camps and what to check
First visitA simple order for getting ready
Ghats and placesWhere the bathing happens

Sources

12 sources · checked 21 Oct 2026
  1. Temples directory (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website), all 25 entries · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  2. Akharas directory (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website) · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  3. Rituals of Kumbh (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website) · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  4. Pilgrim Dos and Don'ts (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website) · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  5. Explore Haridwar: nearby attractions (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website) · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  6. Haridwar Ganga Aarti (Live Darshan) · Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (Utsav portal) ·
  7. History (District Haridwar) · District Haridwar, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  8. Haridwar (destination page) · Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  9. Rishikesh (destination page) · Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  10. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple · District Pauri Garhwal, Government of Uttarakhand ·
  11. Archaeological Museum, Gurukul Kangri (About Museum) · Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar ·
  12. OpenStreetMap road routes and place points, computed on 21 October 2026 · OpenStreetMap contributors (data under the Open Database License); routes from the OSRM demo server (router.project-osrm.org), points from Nominatim ·