One of the holiest pilgrimages in India, Haridwar, or the ‘gateway to gods’, is located where Ganga, the sacredest of all Indian rivers, enters the Indo-Gangetic plains. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Haridwar is a city of temples and ashrams and its pious ambience envelops everyone. Haridwar is one of the four holy Indian cities that host the Kumbh Mela, a pious gathering of millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years. The Ardh Kumbh is organised here every six years. It also hosts the Kanwar mela every year during the rainy season. The ‘Panch Tirth’ or the five pilgrimages located within the periphery of Haridwar, are Gangadwara (Har Ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat), Kankhal, Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi). Haridwar serves as the gateway to the Char Dham of Uttarakhand as well. 

An ancient city, Haridwar’s roots are steeped deep in culture and traditions of the ancient Vedic times, and there are several institutions here imparting traditional knowledge of wellness. If you want to know more and experience the ancient methods of healing, there are many certified Ayurvedic clinics in Haridwar that you can visit. Ashrams also offer sessions in Ayurveda, meditation and yoga. Every morning and evening, the ghats (stepped banks of a river) of River Ganga witnesses the blissful Ganga aarti, which attracts devotees and tourists. The evening ritual being more popular, it makes for a mesmeric sight to see the river being venerated with loud and rhythmic chants and tall lamps, their lights lightening up the darkening waters. It is a spectacular sight as thousands of small diyas (earthen lamps) are set afloat on the river. 

Rishikesh has been a magnet for spiritual seekers since the late 60’s when the beatlas rocked up Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram. Known as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ because of the large number of ashrams teaching meditation and yoga. The northern part of the main town is the hotspot for all the action where the Ganges forested hills form a conducive environment for all the meditation. The evening aarti also draws a lot of crowd.

Haridwar Kumbh Mela (fair) is a major tourist attraction to the state. Haridwar is one of the four places in India where this takes place. Haridwar also has its big annual fair in the form of Magh Mela in January–February which turns into a bigger event every 6 years in the form of Ardh Magh Mela. Nanda Devi Mela and Nanda Devi Raj Yatra are great festivals of Uttarakhand, famous in all northern India. Nanda Devi Mela and Raj Yatra are the festivals of the goddess Nanda Devi, the bless-giving goddess.Kumaoni Holi a regional variant of the Hindu festival of Holi is also very well known.

Day 01: Start
Start from your location toward Haridwar.

Day 02: In train
Full day and night in train.

Day 03: Arrive Haridwar
Reach Haridwar railway station and proceed to Hotel.Check-in to the hotel, After breakfast local sightseeing of haridwar. Back hotel at lunch time , after lunch local sightseeing . Evening free for aarti Darsan.

Day 04: Haridwar-Rishikesh-Haridwar

After early morning breakfast, visit Rishikesh by our arranged transport vehicle. Rishikesh is the 7th largest city in the country and is also called as the “Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas”. Visit some famous places like Lakshman Jhula, Tera Manzil temple and Historic Bridges. Later, return to Haridwar in the afternoon and visit top attractions here such as Chandi Devi and Maya Devi temple. Return to the hotel and have dinner. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 05: Haridwar

Today is the rest day. Passengers can enjoy the roapway ride in Mansa Debi & Chandi Debi at your own cost. Evening free for any individual activities.

Day 06:  Haridwar-Mussourie

After morning breakfast, check-out from the hotel and drive to Mussoorie. The distance is around 87 km and it takes around 3 Hours hour to travel. On the way we will reach Mussourie by sightseeing Dehradoon. Upon arrival, check into the hotel.

Day 06:  Mussourie Sightseeing

After early lunch, Check-out for the hotel and enjoy the top attractions of Mussoorie. Visit top tourist destinations such as Lal Tibba, Lake Mist, Kempty Falls, Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, Gun Hill and enjoy paragliding and trekking in top places like Nag Tibba trek. After an exhilarating day in Mussoorie, return, to Dehradoon Railway station for return journey.

Day 07: In Train
Full day and night in train.

Day 08: Back
Back your own destination today in the morning.

COST INCLUDES: 

• Deluxe Accommodation.
• Accommodation on Double / Triple Sharing Basis.
• Meal Plan : API (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
• Vehicle – Exclusive Private vehicle
• All permit fees & hotel taxes (as per itinerary).

COST EXCLUDES:

• Air Fare / Train fare.
• Any other meals not mentioned in the inclusions.
• Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity. Mineral /soft / hard drinks, rafting, joy ride, Pony Ride, Cable Car.
• Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
• Room Heater, Local Cab fare, Guide charges & Entrance Fees.
• River cruise, Traditional Dance & Elephant or Jeep Safari.
• Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances, etc. (to be borne by the client, who is directly payable on the spot).
• Any increase in taxes or fuel price, leading to increase in cost on surface transportation & land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to departure.
• Travel Insurances.
• Anything which is not include in the inclusion.

BY AIR

The city of Haridwar does not have an airport. Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest one. It is a domestic airport that is connected to various cities in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Chennai and Lucknow. The major airlines serving the airport are Air India Regional, IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and Ventura AirConnect. Tourists from other cities in India and abroad can reach Haridwar from Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi. It is an international airport that is well-connected to most of the cities across the world such as New York, Paris, Beijing, Moscow, Melbourne, Toronto, Dubai, etc., via

BY TRAIN

The main railway station serving the area is Haridwar Railway Station. It comes under Northern Railway Zone and it is connected to major cities and tourist destinations in India, such as Delhi, Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Ahmedabad, etc. Some of the trains that pass through this station are Bandra Terminus Haridwar Express, Kochuveli-Haridwar Link Express, Haridwar Mail, Allahabad Haridwar Express, Amritsar Haridwar Jan Shatabdi Express, Haridwar Howrah Kumbha Express and many more.

BY ROAD

Haridwar is well-connected to many cities across India, through many highways. National Highway 58, passes through Haridwar connects it to Delhi, Muzzafarnagar, Roorkee, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Badrinath. National Highway 74 originates from Haridwar connects it to Kashipur, Pilibhit Kichha, Nagina and Bareilly. Various public and private buses ply through these routes. You can choose between A/C, non-A/C, deluxe, ordinary, semi-deluxe and many such options. 

Haridwar in Summer (March – June) 

The month of March is pleasant for spending holidays in Haridwar, as the weather is neither too cold nor too hot. The skies are painted in blue during the daytime, becomes orange during dawn and splattering red during sunsets. You get the best views of Haridwar from Lakshman Jhula. Ramnavami celebrations in Haridwar can be enjoyed during this time as well. April marks the arrival of plenty of sunshine and days start getting warmer due to the rise in temperature. However, the ambience of this weather is ideally warm enough to go on outdoor trips. The clear blues skies will make your excursions even more joyful. Whether you chose to take a holy dip or go out for exploring the mesmerising sights, the weather will not be a hindrance in your venture.

Haridwar in Monsoon (July – September) 

The arrival of July brings about a change in the weather patterns of Haridwar as dark blue skies and thundering clouds replace the warm winds. Spells of rainfall keep on refreshing the environment, making the daytime ventures quite enjoyable and revitalising. Since monsoons are not preferred for tourism, you can avail the special offers and discounted deals on accommodations and tour packages. Dark clouds keep dominating the skies in August, because of which the holy lands are drenched with heavy rains. The rainfalls lend a serene touch to the ambience and provide much-needed relief from the blistering heat. Haridwar looks even more amazing after being washed by storms, and rain lovers will have a great time during monsoons. It is necessary to carry proper rain gear while venturing outdoors.

Haridwar in Winter (October – February) 

The chill inviting days in Haridwar begin in November. The entire month is ideally pleasant for spending enjoyable holidays or going on a pilgrimage tour in this holy city. Winters are also a favoured time to plan sightseeing tours and take boat rides in rivulets. As the temperature tends to drop by a few degrees in the evenings, especially by the end of November, it is advisable to carry light woollens. The month of December is blessed with lovely sunny days and hence the ideal month for tourism. Even though it is still winter, the skies remain partially cloudy. The temperature continues to drop down further while remaining within a comfortable range, as the month approaches its end. Do not forget to pack warm jackets, heavy woollens and boots to make the most out of your sightseeing and pilgrimage tours.