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Understand

thumb|Har Ki Pauri

Haridwar (huh-rihd-wahr) literally means the Gateway to God, is one of the Hindu holy places in India and a centre of Hindu religion and mysticism for centuries. Located on the banks of the River Ganges (Ganga), at the point where the Ganges descends from the hills to the North Indian plains, Haridwar attracts a large number of Hindu pilgrims from all over the world.

Get in

Haridwar is about 200 km from New Delhi, the capital of India and is well connected by road and rail network from all parts of India. Although the town is nicely connected by train and bus, you should remember to book in advance, especially during pilgrimage season.

It is better to avoid travelling to Haridwar during the Hindu month of Sawan (around July) since there is a heavy crowd and all important roads are blocked and most of the hotels, buses, and trains are crowded. It is also not good choice to visit this place during the monsoon season (late May to August) as the rain will hinder your visit.

To travel from Delhi to Haridwar you can rent a car or private taxi. You can also prefer to go by train as frequent trains are available and those are less costly as compared to private cabs.

Get around

Central Haridwar can be comfortably covered on foot. However, taxis and auto-rickshaws can be available at train and bus stations.

Cycle rickshaws usually cost ₹10 for nearer distance, while ₹25 for longer distance such as from main station to Har Ki Pauri. If you want to hire a taxi for more than three hours to visit ashrams and local temples then it may cost you ₹400. For similar distance, auto-rickshaws can cost around ₹200.

See

thumb|Chandi Devi Temple thumb|Mansa Devi Temple

Buy

Haridwar, the holy city is one of the most renowned pilgrimage centres in India. Pilgrims from all over the world flock to this sacred city to take a dip in the holy waters of River Ganga. Being a destination for pilgrimage tourism, shopping in Haridwar is not on the itinerary of the tourist.

However shops in Haridwar have some interesting things to offer to the tourist. The main shopping centres are Moti bazaar, Upper Road, Jwalapur and Kankhal. You can also check out the Government Handloom and Handicrafts Emporiums and the Gandhi Ashram. Offers a range of handicraft decorative pieces. If you are interested in jewellery, then you can choose from a variety of imitation ones which make good fashion accessory.