10 Places to Visit in Haridwar in 3 Days
Haridwar Getaway: A 3-Day Journey into Spiritual Bliss and Cultural Marvels
Top 10 Places to Visit in Haridwar in 3 Days
Uttarakhand is one of the States of Bharath. Uttarakhand is known as the land of Gods, is one of the most sacred places and holly pilgrimage among Sanatanis. Haridwar is one such a holly sacred place and pilgrimage of Hindus.
Haridwar which is located on the banks of Holly Ganges, at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges. Every year millions of devotes visit to take a dip in Holly Ganges. Apart from Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nasik, The holly KUMBH Mela is organized here in Haridwar also.
In the Sanskrit language, Haridwar means “Hari” is referred as God “VISHNU” and “Dwar” is referred as “Gate Way” i.e. you may say which is the gate way to the God VISHNU from where you start your journey towards “BHADRINATH” which is a sacred place dedicated to Lord VISHNU.
In this post we provide you with details of Places to visit in Haridwar, Places to visit nearby places of Haridwar, when to visit Haridwar, where to stay in Haridwar etc.
Some of the Key Notes about Haridwar:
- Gaumukh, Where the Holly Ganges originate from and flow through hilly corridors. Haridwar is the place where Holly Ganges enters into plain land.
- According to Itihasa of Bharath Varsh, it is said that during the churning of the ocean, drops of nectar had fallen in Haridwar also. These drops of nectar fell at four different places, Prayagraj, Ujjain, Nashik and the fourth one is Haridwar. For this reason also this place is considered very sacred.
- There is a legend that Kapil Muni, Saptarishi, and Rishi Viswamitra had gone through rigorous penance in Haridwar. This is why Haridwar is called the abode of sages and saints.
- Daily thousands of pilgrims visit Haridwar, and take a holy dip in The Ganges.
- There is a Shanthikunj Ashram in Haridwar which is famous all over the world for research on Ayurveda.
- Haridwar is one of the oldest cities of Bharath, established even before 1780 BC.
How to plan your tour to Haridwar for 3 days?
As per your schedule reach the holly town Haridwar. Keeping in the mind that you have your advance booking for hotel you head straight to the hotel.
On Day 1:
Go to the Holy River Ganga for a dip. After that enjoy the Desi breakfast and visit Mansa Devi temple. You should also visit Maya Devi temple and Chandi Dev temple. By this time it will be after noon so have a good lunch and take some rest. In the evening you should visit Har ki Pauri Ghat. It is very famous Ghat of river Ganges. During sunset every day, Ganga aarti is performed here and you should not miss it.
On Day 2:
As you are in the holy town it is best to start the day with dip in river Ganges. And start your day by visiting the beautiful ashrams in Haridwar. Shanti Kunj Ashram is a beautiful ashram in which you find beautiful garden. In the ashram they conduct many spiritual activities that help one’s advancement in the spiritual journey. From there you can head towards the Patanjali Yogpeeth. There a several ashrams in the town you can plan to your comfort.
On Day 3:
As usual begin the day with the holy dip in the river Ganges. In Haridwar you can have lot of fun activities like going to Safari, trekking, bird watching, river rafting and much more. For wild life adventure and Safari Rajaji National Park is another major attraction here. It is a habitat for elephants and tigers and many more wild life animals.
And this conclude you 3 day tour to Haridwar. Feel free to choose any best tour package that suits you. On the internet you can easily find many websites offering them.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Haridwar in 3 Days:
Har Ki Pauri:
Har Ki Pauri is one of the sacred Ghats of Bharath Varsh. This Ghat was constructed by The King Vikramditya in the memory of his younger sibling Bharati. This is the exact spot where the drops of “AMRIT” fell and here every day conducted morning and evening Aarti. This place is also called BRAHMAKUND.
Har Ki Pauri which translates in to ‘Steps to God’, Pilgrims pay visit to this Ghat and take holy dip in the river Ganges. There is a strong statement that a holy dip into the river Ganges is to wash away one’s sins.
Har Ki Pauri is the place where the river Gangs flowing through hills and touches the plains. In the evenings were the main event takes places as they perform Aarti, and this event is the main crowd-puller. The Aarti timings are 5.30 am to 6.30 am in the morning, and 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm in the evening.
Daksha Mahadev Mandir:
Daksha Mahadev Mandir is dedicated to Lord SHIVA. This Mandir is always flooded with devotes. This mandir is one of the most sacred and holly mandirs of Haridwar. The architecture of mandir is jaw-dropping.
According to itihasa, there was as King named Daksha Prajapati and this mandir is named after the same King. The King Daksha Prajapati performed a YAGNA here and MATA SATI daughter of The King immolated herself in the fire pit.
The walls of this Mandir were gone through a very beautiful workmanship. The atmosphere around the Mandir is very pleasant and devotees experience the same within themselves.
Saptarishi Ashram:
The legend of this place goes like this, There were Sapta Rishis (7 Rishis) Named Atri, Vasistha, Khashyapa, Viswamitra, Bharadwaja, Gautam, Jamadagi, They were meditating on the banks of Ganges near Haridwar. Meditating on the bank of river their meditation got disturbed by the roaring noise of the river and they trapped the river.
Later Holly Ganges split stream into seven parts to make less noise. Seven streams of holly Ganges known as “SAPTA SAROVAR”. The place where seven rishis meditated called “Sapta rishi Ashram”.
Sapta rishi Ashram is located at Motichur, 5 K.M away from Haridwar. You can reach the place by taxi or bus from Haridwar bus stand.
This ashram was established by Goswami guru in 1943. A Sanskrit school is run by the ashram alongside with residential hostel for poor children.
Chandi Devi Temple:
The main deity of Chandi Devi Temple is Maa Chandi Devi. As per ithihasa it is said the Adi Shankaracharya a great rishi of Bharath Varsh laid the foundation and consecrated the vigraha of Maa Chandi Devi in 8th A.D. Later in 1929 A Kashmir King Suchat Singh built a formal shrine.
This temple is located 4km away from Haridwar on the hill top, presenting the majestic bird’s eye view of entire Haridwar. This is a great experience for the trek lovers. There is also a rope way to reach the hill top.
During the festivals of Chandi Chaudas, Navratra and Kumbh Mela temple sees amazing celebrations and massive participation of pilgrims.
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Manasa Devi Temple:
Manasa Devi temple located at 3 km away from Haridwar. This temple is one of the major attractions among devotees who visit Haridwar. Temple is built on the peak of Shivalik range which gives you a bird’s eye view of Haridwar.
In 1811 A.D Maharaja Gopal Singh constructed this temple. Main deity of the temple is Manasa Devi. The two goddesses Manasa and Chandi who emerged from Goddess Shakti always reside close to each other, hence you find Chandi Devi Temple nearby Manasa Devi Temple.
Manasa Devi temple will remain open for devotees from 8.00 A.M to 5.00 P.M. Devotees can reach temple by 3 km trekking or hop into rope way called “Manasa Devi Udankhatola”. The first batch of cable car starts from 7.00 A.M April – October of the year, and for rest of the year starts from 8.00 A.M. the fare for the cable car To and From is 150 INR per person.
Maya Devi Temple:
The main deity of the temple is Mata Sati. This temple is 1 km away from the Har- Ki – Pauri. Maya Devi temple is one of the three oldest temples of haridwar. Narayana-Shila and Bhairava temple are the other two.
Maya Devi is the chief goddess of the city Haridwar and no pilgrimage is complete without paying visit of this temple.
Bilkeswar Mahadev Temple:
The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva. And temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his Consort. This temple is located very close to Haridwar Railway Station and one can reach by foot easily.
This temple has very beautiful woods as its surroundings on slightly hilly area. This temple is famous among local as weekend picnic spot.
Parad Shivling:
Parad Shivling is consecrated at Harihar Ashram. And this ashram is located 2 km away from Haridwar. The shivling which is consecrated here is formed from the substance Mercury, Hence the word Parad means Mercury in the Sanskrit Language.
Maha Mrityunjay Temple is another temple you can pay visit to in this ashram. There is Rudraksh tree stood here from ages.
Patanjali Yogpeeth:
Baba Ram Dev who is famous yoga guru is the person who is claimed to be the person for establishing this Patanjali Yogapeeth medical and research institute in Yoga and Ayurveda in the year 2006. This institute is named after the great “Saint and guru Patanjali”, who gave us the great “Patanjali Yoga Sutr”.
In this research facility they conduct many activities to name some are treating patients in hospital, conducting research in laboratories for improvement of ayurvedic medicines. This facility has two phases namely Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Phase II was developed in the year 2009. It has vast university, residential yoga camps, Food & Herbal Park etc.
Patanjali Yoga Peeth is located 15 km away from Haridwar on Roorkee road. You can easily find buses and taxis near Haridwar railway station.
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Pavandham:
Pavandham is Social non-profitable organisation. Swami Vedantanand Ji Maharaj is the person who founded this temple. Major attraction of this temple is the idols, which are adorned with precious jewellery.
This temple has a remarkable ancient architecture, has intricate glass work, and design of the walls is jaw-dropping view. Elaborate glasswork and houses idols adorned in rich jewels and precious stones. The main attraction of this temple is beautiful idol of” Lord Krishna preaching The Bhagavad Geeta to Arjun”. This temple is located at the distance of 2 km from Haridwar and one can easily reach the temple.
Rajaji-national-park:
In the year 1983 Government of India combined the three sanctuaries Chilla wild life Sanctuary, Motichur and Rajaji to form Rajaji National Park. You can have the magnificent view of the Holy Ganges and Himalayas to the north. Recently Rajaji National Park has announced the status of a Tiger Reserve by the Government of India.
Rajaji National Park has a heavily dense forest range and habitat for many types of animals, birds, flowers and fauna. The animals found in the park include the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, Langur, Leopard, Sambhar, Jungle cat, Striped hyena, Bear, Barking Deer, Goral, Indian hare, Monitor Lizard, Sloth bear, Indian Porcupine, and Rhesus Macaque.
Safari Timings:
The usual Safari timings are 06:00 AM to 11:00 AM for morning sessions.
11:30 AM to 1 PM for bird watching sessions inside the forest.
2:30 pm to 5:30 pm for afternoon sessions.
Depending on the season, the timings may undergo a slight change, which is notified in advance by the authorities in forest department.
Entry Fee:
For Indian Nationals: INR 750 per person
For Foreign Nationals: INR 1500 per person
For Jeep Safari: INR 1500 per Safari (INR 150 per person)
Shantikunj:
Pandit Sriram Sharma Achrya Established this ashram Shantikunj in 1971 at Haridwar. This is a world renowned ashram and this ashram is headquarter of “All Gayatri Pariwar(AWGP)”. This ashram attracts lot of devotees seeking advancement in their spirituality.
This ashram’s activities are to awaken the moral, cultural, ethical, spiritual values of society. Brhamhavarchas Shodh Sansthan a research institute and Dev Sanskrit vishwavidyalaya are part of this ashram.
Vaishno Devi Temple:
Vaishno Devitemple in Haridwar is a replica of a Vaishno Devi Mandir in Kashmir. This temple structured with tunnels and caves passing through these one can reach main inner sanctum where you find the main shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi.
In the temple three deities namely Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Kaali, and Goddess Saraswathi are consecrated. Devotees are supposed to go through three floors, crawl through man-made narrow tunnels to pay obeisance to Maa Vaishno Devi. Replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas are also placed here for view of devotees.
Maa Anandamayi Ashram:
Maa Anandamai Ashram is located in Khankal, Haridwar. This is a spiritual epic centre dedicated to Maa Anandamai who is basically a Bengali and she is a mystic, spiritually advanced soul. This is the place where Maa anandamai’s Samadhi. This ashram consists of many several buildings which are used for meditation, yoga and several same activities.
Anandamai Ashram is located at Khankal, which is 6 km away from Haridwar. One can easily reach the ashram by bus or taxi.
Bhimgoda Kund:
Bhimgoda Kund
Bhimgoda Kund is located in the town of gate way to the gods Haridwar, Uttarakhand. This Kund is named after Second of the Pandavas.
According to itihasa of Bharath Varsh, it is said that Bhima who is a second sibling of pandvas thrust his knee very powerfully at this place. Due to which the water of Patal loka rushed out and came up the surface of the ground. This is where the Kund was built.
One Taking dip in this Bhimgoda Kund is considered sacred. This is the reason this place attracts huge number of pilgrims.
This Kund is located at walking distance from Har-Ki-Pauri. And 3.5 km away from Haridwar railway station.
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Beyond above mentioned places there are many more places that require a visit.
Top 10 best Places to visit in Haridwar in 3 days:
- Ganga Aarti
- Bharat Mata Mandir
- Jai Ram Ashram
- PremNagar Ashram
- Sri Santosh Puri Ashram
- Bholagiri Ashram
- Gau Ghat
- Doodadhari Barfani Temple
- Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar
- Sureshwari Devi Temple
- Swami Vivekananda Park
- Bhuma Niketan
- Crystal World Water Park
How to reach Haridwar?
Haridwar is one of the major pilgrims visited town in the state of UttaraKhand. If you are planning to visit Haridwar then without any hustle you easily reach the town. Haridwar is well connected throughout all the major cities of India that is Bharath.
One can opt any of the three means of transport likely By Air, By Train, and By Road.
By Air:
Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport which is 36 km far from Haridwar. After reaching you can easily hire taxi to reach Haridwar. And daily flights are available from Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport.
By Rail:
Haridwar is well connected with rail-networks of major cities of India. You can find trains on regular basis from Delhi which is 4-5 hours journey.
To name few trains from Delhi are:
- Shatabdi Express.
- Jan Shatabdi Express.
- Mussoorie Express.
By Road:
Haridwaris well connected by road with all the major cities of India. There are many private bus services, Government buses, taxi, uber. Haridwar is connected to the National Highway no.58.
When to visit Haridwar?
In general there is no specific time to visit the place. But most of the pilgrims visit the place in the month of Feb-April and SEP-NOV of the year.
Where to stay in Haridwar?
1. Budget-Friendly Accommodation: If you are a solo traveller, there are plenty of budget-friendly options to choose from. Guesthouses and small hotels in the main area of the city offer comfortable stays. On average, you can find rooms in this category ranging from ₹500 to ₹1,500 per night.
- Recommendation: Try “Hotel Ganga Darshan” or “Hotel King ” for a decent stay at an affordable price. These places are not far from the famous Har Ki Pauri Ghat.
2. Mid-Range Accommodation:
For families or those seeking more comfort, Haridwar has several mid-range hotels. These options offer a balance between affordability and quality. You can expect to pay between ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per night.
- Recommendation: Consider staying at “Haveli Hari Ganga” or “La Casa Hotel” for a pleasant experience. These properties offer a range of facilities and are situated in convenient locations.
3.Homestays and Ashrams:
Haridwar also offers unique and spiritually enriching accommodation options in the form of ashrams and homestays. Staying in an ashram can provide an authentic and serene experience, while homestays offer a chance to connect with local families.
- Recommendation: Explore ashrams like “Parmarth Niketan” for a spiritual retreat or consider booking a homestay through platforms like Airbnb.
Additional Tips:
- Make reservations well in advance, especially during peak pilgrimage seasons like Kumbh Mela or major festivals.
- Be mindful of the location; staying near the Ganges River or Har Ki Pauri can offer beautiful views and easy access to the main attractions.
- Remember that prices may vary depending on the time of year, so it’s advisable to check current rates online or contact the accommodation directly for the most up-to-date information.
How to travel with in the city?
You can find many taxi agencies, bike rental agencies, autos to travel with in the town. If you are a solo traveller then you can opt for bike rental and for families you can go with the taxies.
Bike Rentals:
Renting a bike is best option for the single travellers. There are many bike rental agencies that provide bikes on rent. To name some like agencies are “Haridwar Bike Rental” and “Royal Brothers”. To get a bike on rent you have to provide some ID’s like valid Driving license, Aadhar Card as proof of identity.
Depending on the bike the prices may vary. In normal the price may be approximately from 500 INR to 1500 INR and even more.
Taxi Services:
Many Hotels and travel agencies provide you with tourist taxies. You can book these services for local sight-seeing or to cover the nearby pilgrimages.
Taxi fares vary on the basis of the distance you cover, days you hire, model you hire. To tour with in the city for various places the price may be approximately 1,000 INR to 2,000 INR. To cover nearby attractions the price will accordingly.
What is the total expense of Haridwar trip (approximately)?
The total expense of the trip can be varying on the way you prefer to. This includes Accommodation, Food, Travel and Miscellaneous.
Accommodation: Depending on your preferences whether you like budget friendly, mid-range, or luxury type of stay.
For budget-friendly hotels, guesthouse you end up spending more or less 500 INR to 1,500 INR per day.
For mid-range hotels, family-friendly hotels the cost may be up to 2,000 INR to 5,000 INR per day.
For luxury hotels they charge 6,000 or more per day.
Food: The cuisine of the Haridwar is delicious. Being pilgrimage place the cost you may find a bit higher side.
For budget friendly food you prefer road side hotels, local street food stalls which cost approximately from 300 INR to 400 INR per day per person.
For mid-range restaurants the cost per day may range anywhere from 500 INR to 1200 INR per day per person.
For luxury range they cost you up to 1500 INR per day per person and more.
Travel:
Depending upon the options you choose to travel the expense will vary accordingly. If you prefer autos the cost will be approximately 1,000 per day. If you go for bike rentals the cost will be 1500 per day. And you go visit nearby places to Haridwar then the fare for taxi will be 2,000 to 5,000 depending upon the distance.
Miscellaneous:
As you visit the temples and perform various rituals they need to be paid for. One prefers to donate to the temple on visiting the temple. This cost in total may vary upon how much you donate. In general the amount you donate as a middle class person is 1,000 to 2,000 for entire trip. And for rituals the fare is as the temple authority decides.
Total Estimated Expenses:
For a budget trip the cost of the entire 3-day trip for family for four is around 15,000 INR to 25,000 INR.
For a mid-range trip the cost of the entire 3-day trip for family for four is around 25,000 INR to 45,000 INR.
For a luxury tour the cost of the entire 3-day trip for family for four is around 45,000 INR and may exceed.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Haridwar in 3 Days
FAQ’s
1.How to spend 1 day in Haridwar?
- Har Ki Pauri. Admired as a significant landmark in Hindu culture, Har Ki Pauri is the first tourist attraction that comes to everyone’s mind whenever anyone is on their Haridwar tour. …
- Chandi Devi Temple. …
- Vaishno Devi Temple. …
- Rajaji National Park. …
- Fun Valley Water Park.
2. Is 1 day enough for Haridwar?
If you have taken the Haridwar Rishikesh sightseeing packages and are thinking of visiting Haridwar in one day, then you can easily do so. Haridwar is only a 30-minute drive from Rishikesh which means that if you are on time, you can cover and visit some of the best and the most famous parts and spots of this city.
3. Can I stay in Haridwar Ashram for free?
Shri Jairam Ashram. Shri Jairam Ashram in Haridwar is one of the best that offers a free stay to its guests. Besides being near Har Ki Pauri, the ashram is famous for its diorama exhibition, a massive white statue that depicts the entire Samudra Manthan episode, and other vibrant white sculptures of the Hindu gods.
4. What is the time of Ganga aarti in Haridwar?
In the summer months from March to October, the morning Aarti commences anytime between 5:00 AM and 6:50 AM, while the evening Aarti starts between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM. During the winter months, the morning Aarti begins between 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM, and the evening Aarti begins between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM.
5. Which ashram is near to Har Ki Pauri Haridwar?
Shri Chintamani Ashram is located Barely 700 meters from the bus stand. The ashram is near Har Ki Pauri. They offer two and four bedded rooms at an affordable price. The rooms are clean and spacious with helpful and friendly staff.
Conclusion:
In this post I have provided you with the detailed information on how to reach Haridwar, where to stay, how to commute with in the city, places to visit with in the city and around the city, the total expense for the trip of 3 day.
In conclusion, a trip to Haridwar is a transformative journey that allows you to connect with your spiritual side, savor delicious local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of India. No matter your budget, the memories created in this enchanting city will be priceless. Be prepared for an unforgettable voyage of self-discovery, and take home not just souvenirs but a deeper appreciation of the spiritual and cultural heritage of Haridwar.
