How To Spend 3 Days In Haridwar? (2024)
Haridwar is a holy place where lakhs of devotees pray to the Gods at the exquisitely carved temples and the steps of the River Ganga. The sight of the people dipping in the holy river to wash their sins and immerse the ashes of their loved ones is mesmerizing. Why not plan and spend three days in Haridwar to have a holiday of a lifetime? Here in this article, we list down all the places to visit and activities to do in 3 days in Haridwar.
How To Spend 3 Days In Haridwar?
On arrival at Haridwar, check into your preferred hotel and relax. Freshen up and head for the quaint lanes of the Holy Haridwar. Plan a sightseeing trip and start your day by taking a dip in the Holy Ganges. Haridwar, the gateway to the Lord’s abode, is a sacred place where you can’t miss the famous temples, ashrams, ghats, and other adventure activity places.
Things To Do On Day 1 in Haridwar:
On day one, let’s start with:
Har ki Pauri:
Har Ki Pauri is a famous landmark in Haridwar and is said to be the divine steps leading to the River Ganga and the abode of the divine. Don’t be surprised if you see small kids sacrificing their hair in the “Mundan” ceremony. Every evening a considerable mass of people gather at the Har ki Pauri to enjoy the Ganga aarti in the morning and evening.
Hundreds of illuminated deeyas and lamps shine brightly as the saints worship the river with chants. Devotees offer lights at the Brahmakund in gratitude so that the light of devotion, thanks, and love stays lit forever. After all, the divine light protects and shines on our day and night.
People take a bath before the aarti and enjoy that sacred feeling and attention-grabbing view. The biggest holy fair in the world, called the Kumbh Mela, is held here.
Chandi Devi
The Chandi Devi temple is quite famous and one of the most attractive excursion places for pilgrims searching for spirituality. The King of Kashmir constructed the holy shrine in Neel Parvat in Haridwar. Pilgrims visit this place to pay their respects and obtain blessings from Devi’s idol. This spiritual area’s surroundings are mesmerizing and can leave people spellbound by the scenic glory of Haridwar from the hilltop. The wide variety of fauna, flora and the temple add beauty to its panoramic view. People who want fun can go to the food stalls selling beads, holy material chips, water, lemon – soda, etc.
Visit the Shantikunj Ashram:
As the name suggests, the Shantikunj ashram is a serene and tranquil place to meditate and worship the divine. If you want to feel close to the Gods and pray in peace, visit this place and attend the spiritual classes and camps to experience bliss. The ashram reverberates with spiritual knowledge and provides ample opportunities to establish new values and morality and gain spiritual information.
Several people go here to feel enlightened and at peace with the sacramental rites in tranquil surroundings daily. Celebrities like Murari Babu and Dalai Lama have visited this prominent ashram located at a distance of 5 km from Har Ki Pauri.
Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar:
Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar at the Bhimgoda Barrage, Haridwar, provides visitors with an eye-catching view of the flowing Ganga and hundreds of colorful birds. Located just about 3.5 kms from the holy city of Haridwar is the famous bird-watching point called the Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar. Teens often head to the Neel Dhara to camp and enjoy the fabulous scenic view at this place. Moreover, it is covered with several animal species besides birds. The site offers excellent parking facilities to attract tourists.
Local people often head to the Neel Dhara to enjoy barefoot walking. It is common to see animals cross the river carrying loads of stuff on their backs. Plan a trip in December or January, and you will get a chance to see immigrant birds by the lake or pond close to the Ganges. You can see the Swans, Cormorants, Siberian cranes, and many more birds here, and it is a sight to behold.
Visit the Mansa Devi Temple:
Mansa Devi, or the “Bilwa Tirth” temple, is a famous Hindu temple located on the Bilwa Parvat in Shivalik Hills and is one of the most revered temples in Haridwar. Hundreds and thousands come to pay their respects and worship the Goddess Mansa Devi at this holy place. Mansa Devi temple is a famous Sidhpeeth and offers an astounding panoramic view of the city. The temple is the sacred abode of Goddess Mansa, a form of Shakti who fulfills the wishes of her ardent and sincere devotees. People offer fruits, flower garlands, coconuts, and incense sticks to appease the Devi.
Now it’s sunset and time for the Ganga Aarti. Thus head back to the Har Ki Pauri for a soul-stirring experience. A Haridwar tour is incomplete without praying and paying respect to the sacred river along with thousands of pilgrims. Wash away your sins and stroll around the Local Markets to pick antiques and curios to take back home. By the way, you can do this both nights you stay here. Come back, relax in your hotel, and have your grub. It’s a load of excitement and fun!
Haridwar in Uttarakhand is an ancient pilgrimage center that means the “Gateway to Heaven.” The famous Kumbh Mela is celebrated in Haridwar, Nasik, Ujjain, and Allahabad. People from all over the world come to pay respect to this holy city where drops of the sacred water or elixir of life called Amrit had fallen.
Millions of tourists and devotees come here to dip in the sacred waters and wipe off their sins during the Kumbh Mela. Bathing in the Holy Ganga is recognized as the most ritualistic and celestial event in the town.
Things To Do On Day 2 in Haridwar:
Start your day with breakfast and plan a trip to the other exotic temples and ghats you have missed the day before.
Khankal:
Khankal is a small colony in the holy city of Haridwar and is recognized as one of the five essential pilgrimage spots popularly called the Panch teerth in Haridwar. It is known for housing the Daksheswara Mahadev temple, several ashrams, and Sati Kund, with a mythological and historical significance that intrigues people.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and tells a tale of the unfairness of Daksh and the self-immolation of Goddess Sati. Dev Sati burnt herself in the sacrificial pyre at the Sati Kund.
The famous Maa Anandamoyi Ashram and quaint old houses adorned by exquisite wall paintings created by Hindu pilgrims of the 19th century can also be seen at Khankah. A visit to Khankal is only complete if you admire the mirror work of Pawan Dham and shop the variety of goodies at Moti Bazaar.
Swami Vivekananda Park:
This park, created in the memories of Swami Vivekananda Ji, contains a majestic idol of Lord Shiva and Swami Vivekananda. Haridwar doesn’t have many parks and is known for its temples and glorious River Ganga, but this park is auspicious, offers an exquisite scenic view, and has pleasant weather to calm the senses of the tourists. The park, situated on the banks of the river Ganga is bright and green with its lush green plantation.
Bhimgoda Tank :
Bhimgoda tank is a short walk from the Har Ki Pauri and is named after the strong and mighty Bhim, the second among the famous five Pandavas. As the name suggests, “Bhim-Goda,” the tank came into existence after Bhim hit his knee, or Goda, against the ground.
With plenty of history and culture at their feet, travelers should plan a visit to Haridwar. There are plenty of mythological sites with legendary history to see, and you should take advantage of them. The Bhimgoda tank is one of them. A dam is situated close to the tank, which is filled with the water of the Ganga.
The holy water flows into the tank on the lines of modern-day architecture. All around the tank are beautifully manicured gardens with fragrant flowers and several fountains to add to the scenic beauty of this region. Travelers and backpackers have the Bhim Goda tank high on their bucket list priorities.
The Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary
The Chilla wildlife sanctuary, or the Rajaji National Park, is about 10 kms from Haridwar. This place best suits people interested in observing animals and animal conservation. With several animal species to study, you can be mesmerized by the surroundings here. If you want to look closely at the animals’ natural habitat and learn about their different species and types, visit here. The sanctuary is vastly widespread and covers an area of 249 kilometers. The Rajaji National Park sanctuary is home to various animals like lions, tigers, deer, Quakes, hornbills, hawks, etc.
Things To Do On Day 3 in Haridwar:
Why not keep the last day in Haridwar reserved for adventurous sports? You have had a brush with spirituality; now it’s time to enjoy and let the adrenaline flow. Let us begin with the following:
1) Kayaking:
Rishikesh near Haridwar offers Kayaking, the water sport performed across moving water. You can experience this activity near Haridwar and can travel easily by auto or bus because the travel distance is approx 21 kms and it takes about half an hour to reach there. This water sport is practiced throughout and organized with appropriate safety gear. Make sure you slip into comfortable clothing and grab a first aid box with essential things before heading off to the kayak.
2) Bungee Jumping:
The adventure activity list is always incomplete without bungee jumping and can be efficiently conducted in Haridwar. All you have to do is book your slot online or on the phone to zip upside down in the air.
3) Giant Swing:
This activity is very similar to and as exhilarating as bungee jumping. Both activities’ height, thrill, and adventure remain the same and offer the same exciting, thrilling blood rush. You can book your place for these activities about 25 kms away from Haridwar at Mohanchatti. It will take twenty minutes to reach this place of action, so go for it. We promise you super fun!
4) Flying Fox:
A word of advice- Don’t try this activity on a heavy stomach. You have an enjoyable adventure sport waiting for you. Why not give zipping through the air at 140 km per hour a chance? Try out the exciting and exhilarating Flying Fox. It’s a treat to remember! The height may not be too much, but the thrill is unbeatable and unlimited. Drift away in the cool breeze, zooming out to experience a spine-chilling activity that will soon become a favorite for most sports enthusiasts.
5) River Rafting:
In the Himalayan region, this is a highly sought-after activity amongst most people. You get to raft in the chippy and crystal clear waters of the river Ganga.
6) Crystal World:
Nested in Haridwar, the land of River Ganga, lies a park called the Crystal world. This green and colorful amusement park and water world is spread lavishly across 18 acres and has about 40 thrilling rides for its customers. People head here to enjoy the meadows, landscapes, games, parties, camping, outings, and musical evenings. Thousands of people come to the amusement park to have fun and make memories.
As day three ends, you have to leave the holy place of the sages and Ganga. Moreover, take advantage of the Maya Devi temple sights and pay your respects at the Chandi Devi temple and Mansa Devi shrine. There is so much to see and so many temples to pray at. We have listed the best ways “How to spend three days in Haridwar?”
Don’t forget to include the Joona Akhara, Mayadevi temple, Bilmangal Mahadev temple, Sapt Sarovar, Panchmukhi Mahadev, Swami Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth, Anjani Devi Temple, Shantikunj, etc. See the maximum you can because each corner of Haridwar is worth exploring. The glorious temples, meditation, spiritual respite, yoga, and many exhilarating, adventurous activities, including water rafting and camping, await you.