Haridwar & Rishikesh by Cab: A Complete Travel Guide from North India
Two of India's most sacred cities sit just 24 km apart on the banks of the Ganga. Here's how to plan the perfect cab trip to Haridwar.
Haridwar and Rishikesh sit 24 km apart on the Ganga, and while they are usually mentioned together, they are quite different places. Haridwar is the older pilgrimage city — dense, ceremonial, organised around the river. Rishikesh is quieter upstream, with ashrams, footbridges and, increasingly, rafting operators.
The evening aarti
The Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri is the reason most people come to Haridwar, and it happens every evening around sunset. Arrive at least forty minutes early; the ghat fills quickly and the better vantage points go first. The ceremony lasts about half an hour and the crowd disperses slowly afterwards, so plan for a slow walk back to the vehicle.
What to see in Rishikesh
Triveni Ghat holds its own aarti in a calmer setting. Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula are the two suspension bridges worth crossing on foot, and the Beatles Ashram — properly the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram — is now open to visitors and makes an unhurried hour.
Timing your trip
March and April are the most comfortable months, with September and October a close second once the monsoon has passed. Avoid the Kanwar Yatra period in Shravan, usually July or August, unless you are part of it — the highways around Haridwar are effectively closed to ordinary traffic for the duration.
From Delhi the drive is about 230 km and five hours; from Bareilly, roughly 300 km. Both cities are compact enough to see in two days, and the road between them is short enough that staying in one and visiting the other costs nothing in time.
