Sightseeing in Haridwar

Haridwar's most sacred ghat, built by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bharthari, centred on the Brahma Kund where devotees believe drops of amrita fell — and the stage for the city's famous evening Ganga Aarti. Har Ki Pauri (lit. 'Steps of Hari/Vishnu') is a ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar. This ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in the 1st century BCE in the memory of his brother Bharthari. Hindus believe that Brahmakund, a section of Har Ki Pauri, is the exact location where the drops of the elixir of immortality (Amrit) accidentally spilled over from the vessel that was being carried by Garuda. The evening prayer (Aarti) is offered at dusk to Goddess Ganga at Har Ki Pauri.

A hilltop shrine to the wish-fulfilling goddess Mansa Devi atop Bilva Parvat, reached by the Udan Khatola cable car, where devotees tie sacred threads to the temple's trees and railings. The temple of Goddess Mansa Devi, believed to be born from the mind of sage Kashyap, is situated at the top of the Bilva Parvat on the outskirts of Haridwar. Mansa Devi literally means the goddess (Devi) of desires (Mansa), and it is believed that this goddess fulfils all the desires/wishes of sincere devotees. The main temple houses two idols of the Goddess — one with three mouths and five arms, the other with eight arms.

An ancient temple to Goddess Chandi atop Neel Parvat on the eastern bank of the Ganges, built in 1929 by the king of Kashmir, reachable by a second cable car or a 3 km trek. The Chandi Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandi, who sits atop the 'Neel Parvat' on the eastern bank of the river Ganges. The present temple was constructed in 1929 CE by Suchat Singh, the king of Kashmir, though the main idol is believed to have been established by the philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century CE. It can be reached either by a ropeway or by trekking about 3 km up the hill.

An 11th-century Siddhapitha temple said to mark where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati fell — the ancient shrine that gave Haridwar its earlier name, Mayapuri. Dating to the 11th century CE, the ancient temple of Maya Devi is considered one of the Siddhapithas of the Goddess and is said to be the place where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati had fallen. It is considered one of the presiding deities of Haridwar, which was formerly known as Mayapuri after this temple.

An eight-storey temple to Mother India inaugurated by Indira Gandhi in 1983, each floor depicting a different era of Indian history and geography rather than a conventional deity. Bharat Mata Mandir was inaugurated on 15 May 1983 by Indira Gandhi on the banks of the river Ganges. The temple stands eight stories tall to a height of 180 feet (55 m). Each floor depicts an era in Indian history, from ancient sages and freedom fighters to a relief map of India, making it as much a museum of the nation as a temple.

A quiet ashram and meditation centre at Sapt Sarovar, where legend says the Ganges split into seven streams so as not to disturb seven meditating sages. Sapt Rishi Ashram at Sapt Sarovar, near the bank of the Ganga, is a meditation and yoga centre. The ashram was established in 1943 by Guru Goswami Dutt. According to legend, when the Ganges was flowing towards the sea, it split into seven streams (Sapt Sarovar) so as not to disturb seven sages (Sapt Rishis) who were meditating on its banks.

An ancient Shiva temple in Kankhal, south of the main ghats, built on the site of King Daksha's yagna — the mythological episode where Sati's self-immolation set the Shakti Peetha tradition in motion. The ancient temple of Daksha Mahadev is located in south Kankhal town, on the banks of the Ganges. It is associated with the mythological story of King Daksha's yagna (fire sacrifice), to which he did not invite his daughter Sati or her husband Shiva. Sati arrived uninvited and, unable to bear the insult to her husband, immolated herself in the sacrificial fire — an episode that, in the wider Shakti Peetha tradition, is said to have scattered her remains across the subcontinent.

A modern temple built almost entirely of coloured glass and mirror-work, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology — now as much a visual spectacle as a place of worship. Pawan Dham is a modern temple made entirely of glass pieces, intricately worked into mosaics and figures depicting Hindu deities and mythological scenes, which is now a popular tourist destination in Haridwar in addition to being a working temple.

A tiger reserve straddling the Shivalik foothills around Haridwar, its Chilla gate the closest entry point for a jeep safari through sal forest, grassland and the Ganges riverine belt. A large part of Haridwar district is forested, and Rajaji National Park — a tiger reserve spanning Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal districts — lies within its bounds. The park is home to elephants, tigers, leopards and over 300 bird species, and can be entered through several gates, the Chilla gate being among the closest to Haridwar and Rishikesh.