How To Reach Haridwar

The holy city of Haridwar, nestled on the foothills of Sivalik Range, has marked an indelible impression on the spiritual ethos of every Hindu. Standing as the gateway to God, the city of Haridwar serves as an entree to the 'char dhams' in Uttarakhand, namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. This revered city of Hindus, which finds a depiction in ancient scriptures, is far-famed for its 'Panch Tirths' like Har Ki Pauri, Kankhal, Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple and Maya Devi Temple. On visiting this celestial city, you will be enthralled to see the spiritual cacophony and hear the delirious chants of 'Har Har Ganga' raving in the air. Talking about the attractions of Haridwar, one cannot miss out on Kumbh Mela, which is believed to be humanity's largest festival. This spiritual fair, which takes place once in every twelve year, draws millions of devotees from around the world and is a spectacular sight to see. If you plan to visit Haridwar and experience its blissful aura, then knowing how to reach Haridwar would help you plan your itinerary. To know different ways to go to Haridwar, scroll down.

Traveling To Haridwar

By Air
Nearest airport to Haridwar is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is located at a distance of 35 km from the holy city. However, being a domestic airport, not too many major airlines operate from this airport. Travelers flying to Dehradun can avail Air Deccan flights to reach this place and then board a bus or hire private cabs to reach Haridwar. However, if you are looking for a more comfortable journey, then catching a flight to Delhi and then boarding a bus or train to Haridwar would take you to the city in great comforts. Located just 200 km away from Haridwar, Delhi airport is well connected to all the major domestic and international destinations by Air India, Air Deccan, SpiceJet, Kingfisher, British Airways, Jet Airways, Air Sahara and GoAir.

By Rail
Being one of the major pilgrimage centers in India, Haridwar is well connected to all the major cities of India namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Varanasi, Dehradun, Ujjain, Rishikesh etc. by rail route. Most devotees prefer train journey to any other mode of transportation as traveling by the rails is more pocket-friendly and comfortable. Some of the major trains running to Haridwar are Ujjaini Express, Mussoorie Express, Doon Express, Shatabdi Express and Jan Shatabdi Express. The trains here especially remain jam-packed during the festive months. Hence, if you wish to travel to Haridwar during one of the important months, then booking your tickets much ahead of the travel date would make a lot of sense. If you don't get direct train to this holy land, you can opt for rail transportation from Delhi as the capital city provides a large number of trains to Haridwar.

By Bus
Blessed with good network of roads and excellent road transportation, Haridwar is well connected to all the major cities surrounding the state. For more budget-conscious tourists, traveling by state government buses is the best option, which plies regularly to Haridwar. However, if a comfortable road journey is what you seek, then opting for a deluxe, AC or sleeping coaches should take you to the celestial city of Haridwar in great comfort. You can also avail private taxi and bus services provided by tour operators for a comfortable ride. On your way to the city, don't forget to check out the scenic beauty of the plain as it slowly ascends to the hilly region.