Haridwar and Rishikesh sit on the Ganga where it leaves the Himalaya, less than an hour’s drive apart. Two or three nights covers the essentials: the evening Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri, the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples by ropeway, Neelkanth Mahadev, and the aarti at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh. We plan the trip from Haridwar station or Dehradun airport, either on its own or as the first stop before the Chardham or Do Dham Yatra.
Haridwar and Rishikesh packages at a glance
| Package | Nights | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haridwar and Rishikesh | 2N / 3D | Har ki Pauri aarti, both ropeway temples, Neelkanth, Rishikesh aarti | A long weekend, families with elders |
| Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun | 3N / 4D | The above at an easier pace, plus a day for Dehradun or Mussoorie | A slower first visit |
| Ardh Kumbh snan stay | 2N to 3N | A Haridwar stay around one of the 2027 bathing dates | Pilgrims coming for the Kumbh |
| Haridwar plus Do Dham | 6N / 7D | Haridwar aarti, then Kedarnath and Badrinath | May to October, when the dhams are open |
The full day-wise plan for Haridwar and Rishikesh 2N/3D is on its own page. The other formats are built from it, adding or dropping days, and any of them can be changed to suit you.
Haridwar: Har ki Pauri and the hill temples
The Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri happens every evening around sunset, which in winter means roughly 5:30 pm and in summer closer to 6:30 pm. There is a morning aarti too. The ghat fills up well before the lamps are lit, so arrive at least 45 minutes early and keep your shoes, bag and phone with one person. Floating a diya after the aarti is the custom. Leaf-boat sellers are everywhere and cost very little.
Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi stand on hills at opposite ends of town. Both are reached by Udan Khatola ropeways. The combined ticket for both ropeways is ₹460 per adult and ₹235 per child, including GST, with a ₹95 bus between the two lower stations. The Mansa Devi ride takes about 2 minutes. Chandi Devi’s is longer and steeper, about 5 minutes, and the walk up there takes over an hour, so seniors should ride. Mansa Devi’s ropeway runs roughly 6 am to 7 pm and Chandi Devi’s 7 am to 6 pm. Buy tickets online or at the official counter, never from touts.
Rishikesh: aarti, bridges and Neelkanth
Rishikesh has two evening aartis worth choosing between. Triveni Ghat, in the main town, is the traditional one: larger, louder and more crowded. Parmarth Niketan’s aarti across the river at Swargashram begins at sunset with a havan about half an hour before. It’s calmer, with seating on the steps, and easier for elderly parents. The ashram’s reception gives the exact time each day.
- Lakshman Jhula is closed. The old suspension bridge was shut to the public for safety. Next to it, the new Bajrang Setu is a 132 m bridge with glass walkways along both sides. Walkers have been using it since spring 2026, though no formal inauguration had been reported when we checked. The glass sections are open 6 am to 10 pm, and the state has approved a user fee of ₹100 per adult for them, which had not started either.
- Ram Jhula, further downstream, is the main crossing to Swargashram and Parmarth Niketan.
- Neelkanth Mahadev is 32 km from Rishikesh by road via the barrage, or 22 km via Ram Jhula. The temple is in the forest at about 926 m. It’s a half-day trip by car. Some pilgrims walk the old 12 km forest path instead.
Best time to go, and when to avoid
October to March is the most comfortable for elders: dry days and cool evenings. December and January mornings are cold and often foggy, which delays trains from Delhi. April to June is hot in Haridwar but busy because the Chardham season begins. July to September brings rain and a high, fast Ganga, so bathing needs extra care.
Two periods need special planning:
- Kanwar Yatra, in the month of Sawan. Millions of Shiva devotees come to Haridwar to collect Ganga jal. In 2026 it ran from 30 July and peaked around Sawan Shivratri on 11 August. The Delhi to Haridwar highway is closed or diverted for much of that fortnight, and Neelkanth is packed. Unless you’re a kanwariya yourself, go another time.
- Ardh Kumbh 2027. Haridwar holds the Ardh Kumbh from mid-January to April 2027. The Uttarakhand government and the Akhara Parishad announced the main Amrit Snan dates as 6 March (Mahashivratri), 8 March (Phalguna Amavasya) and 14 April (Mesh Sankranti). Some reports add 20 April (Chaitra Purnima). Other bathing days include Makar Sankranti on 14 January, Mauni Amavasya on 6 February and Basant Panchami on 11 February. If you want to be in Haridwar on an Amrit Snan day, book as early as you can and expect long walks from the parking areas, because traffic near the ghats is restricted at big melas.
Getting there from Mumbai, Pune and Delhi
- From Mumbai: the Dehradun Express runs daily from Bandra Terminus to Haridwar in about 31 hours. There are also weekly superfast trains. Haridwar has direct trains to Ahmedabad, Indore and Jaipur as well.
- From Delhi: the Vande Bharat from Anand Vihar to Dehradun stops at Haridwar about three and a half hours out. It doesn’t run every day, so check the running days. Other day and overnight trains run from Delhi too.
- By air: Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun is 37 km from Haridwar and closer to Rishikesh. Flying from Mumbai or Pune saves more than a day.
What to know before you go
- Expect vegetarian food only and no alcohol around the ghats and ashrams.
- The Ganga is fast and cold even when it looks calm. Bathe only at ghats with chains and keep elderly family members on the steps.
- For elders who find the ghat steps hard, the Parmarth Niketan aarti is the easier one to sit through.
Questions pilgrims ask before booking
Should we stay in Haridwar or Rishikesh?
For a short trip focused on the aarti and temples, Haridwar. It’s the railhead and Har ki Pauri is in the centre. Rishikesh is quieter and better if you want ashram stays, yoga or the river. On a 2N/3D trip we usually book both nights in Haridwar and take a day trip to Rishikesh.
Can we see both aartis on one trip?
Yes, on different evenings. Both are at sunset and the drive between the towns in evening traffic makes doing both on the same evening impractical.
Is it worth going during the Ardh Kumbh?
If bathing at the Kumbh matters to you, yes. Pick an ordinary bathing day rather than an Amrit Snan day if you’re travelling with elderly parents. The crowds and walking distances on Amrit Snan days are hard on anyone who can’t stand for hours.
Can I combine this with Kedarnath and Badrinath?
Yes, between May and October or November, when the temples are open. Haridwar is the usual starting point. See our Chardham Yatra packages.
Checked November 2026. Ropeway fares and timings are from the Udan Khatola operator’s website. Neelkanth distances are from the Pauri district website and the airport distance from the Haridwar district website. Ardh Kumbh dates were announced in November 2025, and the Bajrang Setu, Kanwar Yatra and train details are from news reports and railway timetables of 2026. Aarti times change with the season, and we confirm current timings and Kumbh arrangements when we send your quote.