About
Har Ki Pauri is one of the most sacred ghats in Haridwar, the Uttarakhand city where the Ganges leaves the mountains and enters the plains. Devotees come here to take holy dips in the river, and the steps down to the water are busy from early in the day. The ghat is also known as Har Ki Pairi or Brahmakund, names you may see on signs and in guidebooks.
What to expect
The ghat is an open, outdoor place, so a visit is mostly about watching and walking. Along the riverside you will see people bathing, making offerings and sitting quietly by the water, while the sound of bells and chanting carries across the crowd. Plan to take your shoes off where others do, dress modestly, and keep your belongings close in a crowd.
The evening ceremony
Har Ki Pauri is especially known for its evening Ganga Aarti, a ceremony of lamps, song and prayer held on the river. Arriving a little before dusk gives you time to find a spot near the steps and see the lamps float out onto the water as the light fades. It is a good choice for anyone who wants to witness a living religious tradition rather than a restored monument.
Around the ghat
- The old town of Haridwar, with its lanes of shops, stalls and temples, is within walking distance.
- Haridwar is a city of pilgrimage, so the riverside rhythm of the day is set by worship as much as by sightseeing.
- Uttarakhand's Himalayan landscape begins not far beyond the city, a useful contrast to the riverbank crowds.
Address: Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249401, India.
Phone: +91-1334-265025.
