Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri (Kumbh legacy).

Going for this? Haridwar in January

Getting there

Where to stay in Haridwar

• Haveli Hari Ganga

  ₹3,000-6,000/night
  homestay · Har Ki Pauri area

  Heritage haveli right on the Ganga. You can see the evening aarti from your balcony. Rooms are old-world with carved doors. The rooftop restaurant is the real flex.

• Gosain Ashram

  Rs 500-1200/night
  guesthouse · Near Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar

  Budget-friendly ashram 800m from Har Ki Pauri. Simple but clean rooms with easy access to Ganga aarti and ghats

• Ganga Lahari

  ₹800-1,800/night
  guesthouse · Near Har Ki Pauri

  Budget option with surprisingly clean rooms. AC works. Walking distance to Har Ki Pauri. The temple trust dharamshala next door is even cheaper at ₹300/night.

All stays in Haridwar →

Where to eat

• Chotiwala Restaurant

  Legendary
  Subhash Ghat Road · ₹₹

  Signatureno-onion-no-garlic thali

  The thali is the value play — most other items are à-la-carte priced for tourists. Ask for the unlimited refills explicitly; staff don't volunteer it.

• Hoshiyar Puri

  Legendary
  Har Ki Pauri · ₹₹

  Signaturealoo poori with kheer

  Skip the lunch rush (12:30-2:30) — pilgrim buses arrive in waves. Mid-morning (9:30-11) is when the kheer is freshest and you'll get a table on the first floor.

• Mathura Walo Ki Pracheen Dukan

  Legendary
  Bara Bazar · ₹

  SignatureMathura peda

  Seating is six-seven tables for the whole shop — expect a 20-30 minute wait at peak. Order the puri with kaddu (pumpkin) sabzi, not the chole; the kaddu is the dish locals come back for.

• Mohan Ji Puri Wale

  Legendary
  Har Ki Pauri · ₹

  Signaturepuri with aloo sabzi

  The street counter is faster but you'll eat standing. Walk 30 seconds further to the dine-in shop for the same food on a leaf plate with a chair — same kitchen, no queue.

All eateries in Haridwar →

What else to see in Haridwar

• Ganga Aarti Ceremony

  Spectacular fire ceremony at sunset at Har Ki Pauri with chanting, bells, and thousands of oil lamps.

  ghat

  1 hour

• Patanjali Yogpeeth

  Largest yoga institute in the world run by Baba Ramdev. Ayurvedic hospital and meditation halls.

  monastery

  1-2 hours

• Chandi Devi Temple

  Ancient hilltop Shakti temple built by King Suchat. Cable car ride with panoramic Haridwar views.

  temple

  1-2 hours

• Har Ki Pauri

  Most sacred ghat in Haridwar where the Ganges leaves the mountains. Daily evening Ganga Aarti with thousands of floating lamps.

  ghat

  1-2 hours

• Mansa Devi Temple

  Hilltop temple reached by cable car. Wish-fulfilling temple where devotees tie threads for blessings.

  temple

  1-2 hours

Other festivals in Haridwar

• Ganga DussehraJune (Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami)
• Kanwar YatraJuly–August (Shravan month)

Other festivals in January, elsewhere

• Jaipur Literature FestivalLate January (5 days)
• Republic Day ParadeJanuary 26
• Bikaner Camel FestivalJanuary 13-14
• Auli Winter CarnivalJanuary (varies)
• Uttarayani FairJanuary 14 (Makar Sankranti)
• Patnitop Winter CarnivalJanuary (varies)

See every festival in January →