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Fast Facts

How to get there

Haridwar is easily accessible both by rail and by road. The temple town is a five hour drive from New Delhi by car. Several buses a day connect Delhi with Haridwar.

The Bombay-Dehra Dun Express departs from Bombay Central at 2220 hours daily and reaches New Delhi at 0605 hours. It departs from New Delhi at 0625 hours and reaches Haridwar at 1435 hours two days later. In the reverse direction the Dehra Dun Bombay Express departs from Haridwar daily at 1350 hours and reaches New Delhi at 2155 hours. It departs from New Delhi at 2210 hours and reaches Bombay at 0445 hours two days later.

The Ujjain-Dehra Dun Express departs from New Delhi at 1205 hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays and reaches Haridwar at 1650 hours. In the reverse direction the Dehra Dun-Ujjain Express departs from Haridwar Wednesdays and Saturdays at 0735 hours and reaches New Delhi at 1255 hours

For the Kumbh Mela the Indian Railways has organised 12 special trains from New Delhi, Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow, Amritsar, Jammu Tawi and Bathinda on April 12 and 13 for Haridwar.

Where to stay

• Classic Regency, Haridwar-Delhi road, tel # 0133-428005, 428006, 428007, 428009, 428010: Heated/air conditioned double room for Rs 1,400 and suites for Rs 1,700.

• UP Tourism offers interesting tent accommodation for Rs 1,000 or US $ 35 per day. The tents are fairly comfortable and have their own attached living room, shower and toilet. A restaurant in the complex serves vegetarian meals. Call 0133-425111, 426379.

• Tourist Bungalow, Belwala, tel # 0133-426379, offers 22 rooms at very reasonable prices.

Since hotels are often very full during the Kumbh mela it may be more feasible to stay at Rishikesh or Dehra Dun.

Where to eat

The town, especially the Hari-ki-Pairi ghat area, is dotted with bhojanalayas offering vegetarian thalis. The Chotiwala Bhojanalaya is famous for its thalis; only problem is there are a dozen such named restaurants all offering interesting thalis. The dahi bara, chaat, ragda pattice and pani puri available at the Chaat Galli next to Bank of Baroda, near Hari-ki-Pairi and at the carts on the main road are very tasty and hygienic.

What to see

A cable ride to the Mansa Devi temple, a shrine to the triple headed Shakti, perched on a hill is a great excursion. The view of the temples, the Ganga and the town is breathtaking. This temple apparently receives 100,000 visitors a day during the Kumbh season. During the Mela the tickets for the cable are discounted; Rs 20 a piece. Chanda Devi temple is also accessible by cable car and is another interesting side trip.

The sadhu tents are located all over town. It is quite possible to walk in and sit down and chat with the sadhus.

Kankal, a few kilometres from the centre of town is the address of a number of important ashrams, including the Anandamoyee Ma Ashram. Many of them entertain visitors. The nearby Shri Dakheshwar temple is worth a short visit.

The bazaars of Haridwar offer interesting items at great prices. Marble statues, sandstone carvings, brass ornaments, silver jewellery, silk, saffron cotton, woollens and pickles. Don't to forget to collect some Ganga jal.

Bathing Dates

• Chaitra Purnima on April 11.
• Mesh Sankranti on April 13.
• Maha Kumbh on April 14.
• Vaisakh Amavasya on April 26.
• Aksjava Tritiya on April 29.
• Vaisakh Purnima on May 14.

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