Why the Haridwar & Rishikesh Twin Holiday is Unbeatable
Just 25 km of green highway threading through the Shivalik foothills separate Haridwar (the Gateway to the Gods) from Rishikesh (the Yoga & Adventure Capital of the World). Together, they make up India's most complete holiday stretch. I've driven it more than once.
In Haridwar, you're walking through thousands of years of living Vedic heritage. The bazaar lanes of Moti Bazaar pull you in with their noise. A ropeway cable car lifts you up to the hilltop shrines of Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi. Take a dip at Brahma Kund, then watch the evening Maha Aarti at Har Ki Pauri as thousands of brass lamps and flower diyas drift down the river. Worth staying up for.
A 35 minute drive upstream lands you in Rishikesh, where the river shifts into a turquoise alpine gorge. Your holiday flips into exhilaration mixed with calm. World famous Grade III IV rapids on a 16km river rafting expedition will get your heart going. Cliff jumps, iconic suspension bridges like Ram Jhula, the graffiti ruins of the Beatles Ashram, then cozy evenings around a campfire in luxury Swiss glamping tents at Shivpuri.