18 Most-Visited Temples in Haridwar

For those who seek a spiritually immersive experience, Haridwar is the perfect destination. The 2nd biggest city in Uttarakhand state, Haridwar is an ancient city that attracts many pilgrims as it is home to many renowned Hindu temples. Haridwar means ‘gateway to Vishnu’. The city is on the right bank of the holy river, the Ganges, at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges. Haridwar hosts many important religious events and is also the gateway to many important places of worship. One of the major religious events in India, the Kumbha Mela, which occurs once in 12 years, takes place in Haridwar. On this occasion, millions of pilgrims and tourists assemble on the banks of the Ganges to have a ritual bath that can wash away their sins and enable them to attain Moksha. According to mythology, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayag, are the 4 sites where some drops of Amrit, the elixir of immortality, accidentally spilled from a kumbha or pitcher carried by Garuda. Haridwar’s temples have great historical, cultural, and religious importance. This article is about 18 Haridwar temples that are a must-visit for devotees as well as tourists.

18 Popular Temples in Haridwar

Mansa Devi Temple

Chandi Devi Temple

Har Ki Pauri Ganga Temple

Daksh Mahadev Temple

Bharat Mata Temple

Maya Devi Temple

Neeleshwar Temple

Jain Temple

Saptrishi Ashram

Vaishno Devi Temple

Gaurishankar Mahadev Temple

Mahamrityunjaya Temple

Bilvkeshwar Mahadev Temple

Pawan Dham Temple

Doodhadhari Barfani Temple

Anjana Devi Temple

Sati Kund Temple

Siddhpeeth Shri Dakshin Kali Mandir

Mansa Devi Temple Located atop Bilwa Parvat, this Haridwar temple is the abode of Goddess Mansa Devi. She is an avatar of Goddess Shakti and was supposedly born from the mind of Shiva. Mansa means ‘wish,’ and she is supposedly a wish-fulfilling Goddess. Devotees tie threads on the branches of the temple tree and pray that their wishes will come true. Once they realize their wish, the devotees return to the temple and untie the thread from the tree. The temple is not easily to access. One has to trek or use the ropeway called ‘Mansa Devi Udankhadola’. It is one of the 3 Siddh Peeths. The other two are Chandi Devi and Maya Devi. The temple offers beautiful views of the Ganges river. Chandi Devi Temple Chandi Devi temple is the 2nd Siddh Peeth among three. Goddess Chanda Devi is the main deity in this Haridwar temple. It is among the most ancient temples in the country. Devotees visit the temple, especially during Kumbh Mela, Navratri, and Chandi Chaudas. It is only four kilometres away from Har ki Pauri, and one can trek to the temple or use the ropeway called ‘Chandi Devi Udankhadola’. As per mythology, Chandi Devi is an avatar of Goddess Parvati, who defeated the demons, Shumba and Nishumba, in this form. Har ki Pauri Ganga Temple ‘Har ki Pauri’ literally means the ‘steps of Shiva’, and is the name of one of the ghats on the banks of the holy river Ganges. One of the main attractions at this Haridwar temple is the dip or ‘dupki’ in the holy river, which can wash off all sins and give one a second chance to attain Moksha. Ganga Aarti in the evening is very famous here. It is usually performed around 7.30 pm, and many priests come together with diyas, balls of fire, temple bells, and chants to offer tributes to the holy river. This ritual attracts people from all over the world. Daksh Mahadev Temple This is a temple for Shiva, who is also called Mahadev. Among all the Haridwar temples, this is the one that devotees visit during Mahashivratri. The temple is lit up during the festival. The temple lies four kilometers away at Kankhal. Supposedly, Queen Dhankaur built it in 1810. It was rebuilt in 1962. The temple has beautiful architecture and also great mythological significance. The Mahabharata says that it is where King Daksha performed the Ashwamedha Yagya. Bharat Mata Temple Swami Satyamitranand Giri founded the temple in 1983. It is a renowned Haridwar temple and is, in fact, a shrine to Bharat Mata or Mother India. It is patriots who usually visit the temple. The former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, inaugurated it. The concept of the nation as a mother or father figure is quite common. The temple was built to inculcate the spirit of patriotism in Indians and encourage them to devote themselves to the motherland. This Haridwar temple has eight floors. The first houses the shrine of the Goddess, and the rest are dedicated to the heroes of India, famous Indian women, religions of India, the history of India, Goddess Shakti, Vishnu, and Shiva. Maya Devi Temple The Maya Devi temple is one among the three Siddh Peethas. The Goddess here has the power to grant her devotees’ wishes. The deity is another avatar of Shakti and has three heads and four arms. There are three idols inside the shrine - those of Goddess Kali, Goddess Kamakhya, and Goddess Maya. Unlike the other two Siddh Peethas, this Haridwar temple is easy to reach. Instead of trekking or taking the ropeway, one can use buses or cabs to reach it. Navratri and Kumbh Mela are the major festivals here. Neeleshwar Temple This ancient and small Haridwar temple offers marvelous views. ‘Neel’ is the name of the Shiva devotee who built this temple. Shiva is the main deity here. A remarkable feature of this temple is the tiny stream of the Ganges that flows next to it. Its name is ‘Neel Dhara’. Devotees take a dip in this stream before visiting the shrine. Jain Temple This Jain temple in Haridwar, the holy city of Hindus, boasts exquisite architecture and a serene atmosphere that attract devotees as well as tourists. The temple has two floors. On the ground floor is a white marble idol of Tirthankara Shri Adinath Bhagwan. On the first floor is an idol of Shri Chintamani Parshwanath. There are also two smaller temples bordering the main one for Shri Ghantakaran Mahavir and Shri Adinath Bhagwan. The latter temple is in the form of giant foot imprints, a replica of Shantrunjay in Palitana. Saptarishi Ashram The founder of this well-known ashram in Haridwar is the renowned Guru Goswami Dutt, who established it in 1943. The ashram has a peaceful ambiance. The ashram is 5 km from Haridwar and lies on the banks of the Ganges, at a point from where the river separates into 7 different streams or Sapt sarovars. As per mythology, the Saptarishis (Kashyapa, Vashishta, Atri, Jamadagni, Vishwamitra, Bharadwaja, and Gautam) were meditating on the banks of the Ganges. As the gushing sound of the river disturbed them, they trapped the flow of the river. So Ganga split into 7 streams to reduce the noise. The place where the Saptarishis meditated became Saptarishi Ashram. Vaishno Devi Temple This temple is a replica of the one in Kashmir. Vaishno Devi is a form of Goddess Lakshmi. There are large caves and tunnels inside the temple. The caves lead to the sanctum sanctorum. There are idols of Saraswati, Kali, and Lakshmi, as well as replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas in this Haridwar temple. Gaurishankar Mahadev Temple This Haridwar temple stands near the famous Chandi Devi temple. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The Himalayas forms the backdrop to this shrine. The natural beauty of its location and tranquil atmosphere attract many tourists as well as devotees. Maha Mrityunjaya Temple This temple is famous for the regular chants of Maha Mrityunjay Mantra, or Shiva Moksha Mantra. People chant this mantra to achieve self-realization and be free of all fears, diseases, and negativity. The unique Linga here has an opening in the shape of an eye. This Haridwar temple is the largest and oldest shrine in the Jageshwar complex. Bilvkeshwar Mahadev Temple This Haridwar temple enshrines Shiva and Parvati. It has a tranquil atmosphere, and people believe that Parvati worshipped Shiva with great devotion and requested him to marry her when he finally appeared before her. Pawandham Temple This Haridwar temple is renowned for its architectural splendor. One can find intricate glasswork and oddly designed walls here. Beautiful jewels adorn the idols of this temple. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage spots in the city of Haridwar and lies 3 km from Har ki Pauri. Doodhadhari Barfani Temple This temple is famous for its beautiful architecture. It is made of white marble. This Haridwar temple is also a part of the Doodhadhari Barfani Baba Ashram and has images of Rama, Hanuman, and Goddess Sita. The temple is 4 km away from Har ki Pauri. Anjana Devi Temple The temple enshrines Goddess Anjana Devi, the mother of Hanuman. The place where she did penance is located on Neel Parvat in Haridwar. It is located on the hilltop, near the Chandi Devi temple. It offers many mesmerizing views. Sati Kund Temple The temple stands on the banks of the Ganga in the Kankhal region of Haridwar. It is the site of the Yagna Kund, where Sati immolated herself after her father, Daksha, humiliated her husband, Shiva. The shrine is one of the important Haridwar temples. Siddh Peeth Shri Dakshin Kali Mandir This temple is dedicated to Kali, a form of Parvati and the Goddess of Destruction. Its beautiful location draws many visitors throughout the year. For the devout, Haridwar temples offer a banquet of historical, cultural, and architectural experiences. The legends and myths around these temples only add to their charm and mystery.