Rishikesh vs Haridwar: Popular Tourist Places in Both Holy Cities

If you want to compare the mood between these 2 cities Rishikesh vs Haridwar then during Haridwar and Rishikesh trip definitely eat at these five places: In the city of temples, the cuisine of Haridwar and Rishikesh carries the mood of the city. Let us tell you what you can eat here and where you can roam.

Quick Facts: Rishikesh vs Haridwar

Feature	Rishikesh	Haridwar
Famous For	Adventure activities, Yoga retreats, Spiritual experiences	Pilgrimage destination, Temples, Ganga Aarti ceremonies
Best Time to Visit	September to June (ideal for river rafting and trekking)	October to April (best for festivals and Ganga Aarti)
Top Attractions	Lakshman Jhula, Beatles Ashram, River Rafting, Yoga & Meditation Retreats	Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple, Devotional Walks
Adventure & Activities	River rafting, Bungee jumping, Trekking, Camping	Traditional temple visits, Spiritual rituals, Cultural experiences
City Vibe	Relaxed, youthful, spiritual, backpacker-friendly	Traditional, devotional, bustling, family-friendly
Food & Cafes	Trendy cafes, Healthy food options, International cuisine	Pure vegetarian restaurants, Famous street food, Local sweets
Accessibility	20 km from Haridwar, well-connected by road and private transport	Major railway station, Direct trains from Delhi, Well-connected by road

Where you can roam in Haridwar

Mansa Devi And Chandi Devi

The Mansa Devi Temple is located on the Shivalik hills of Haridwar. This temple is dedicated to Mother Mansa Devi, a form of Mother Shakti whose worship with true heart can fulfill all your desires. For this reason, her name became Mansa Devi. When you come to Haridwar, do visit this temple to bow your head (matha tekna).

Shantikunj Ashram

Shantikunj Ashram is a very famous ashram of Haridwar, where people from all over the world come in search of spiritual and moral knowledge. This ashram is located just 5 kilometers from Har Ki Pauri.

Rishikesh vs Haridwar — Haridwar Uttarakhand India Evening Ganga Aarti

Rajaji Tiger Reserve

About 3 kilometers away from the city is Rajaji National Park. Spread over approximately 820.42 square kilometers, it is known for the beauty of nature as well as for its rich biodiversity.

Named after freedom fighter Shri C. Rajagopalachari, it was given the name Rajaji National Park in the year 1983, whose popular name is Rajaji. It is considered the last refuge of Asian elephants in North India. In its Chilla and Gohri Range tigers reside.

Along with several species of deer, here exist leopard, bear, and 315 species of other animals and birds. Every year between 15 November to 15 June the tourist zones of the reserve remain open. Chilla Tourist Zone is the most preferred. Here is a 35 km track. In Chilla there is also Elephant Safari. In the summer season, Elephant Safari i.e. riding on elephant is considered the best.

Jhilmil Conservation Reserve

The only home of Swamp Deer (Barasingha) in Uttarakhand is Jhilmil Conservation Reserve. Spread over 3783.5 hectares on the left bank of the Ganga River in Chidiyapur area of Haridwar Forest Division, this reserve is unique. Here, along with Barasinghas, watching herds of deer jumping around is enjoyable in itself. Similarly, at Bhimgoda Barrage there is also a good crowd for bird watching.

River Ganges in Haridwar — River ganges in Haridwar

City of Temples

At every step, in the city of temples Haridwar, the Narayan Shila Temple is considered the most recognized temple for the worship performed for the salvation of ancestors (Pitrs’ Moksha). In this temple, evidence of the arrival of Tathagat, that is Lord Buddha, is also found.

According to the report of archaeologist and Director General of Archaeological Survey of India during the British rule, Alexander Cunningham, there was a small idol of Lord Buddha in the temple, in which he was shown along with his disciples.

In the Shravannath Temple, also evidence is found of an idol of Lord Buddha under a tree at a samadhi site. Similarly, there is the Chandi Devi Temple. It is situated on the Neel Parvat on the eastern bank of the Ganga River. The temple is at a distance of 3 km from Chandighat. One can also reach here by ropeway. The Mansa Devi Temple, Maya Devi Temple are also quite famous.

Bharat Mata Temple

Bharat Mata Temple is also famous by the name ‘Mother India’. This temple of 180 feet height has eight storeys, and each has its own specialty. It is dedicated to various deities and freedom fighters. In the temple, on the first floor, there is the idol of Bharat Mata.

From the eighth floor, the beautiful views of the Himalayas, Haridwar, and Sapta Sarovar can be seen. The construction of this temple was done by Swami Satyamitranand Giri, and in 1983, it was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In cuisine appears the mood of the city

According to Indian culture, the mood of the city is there and this is also seen in the cuisine here. Near Kotwali of the city there is about hundred years old shop of Jeevan Chhole Wale.

Here, every day begins by offering free food to girls. Even today there are shops more than a hundred years old here which have their own taste. In Haridwar, on Har Ki Pauri, there is about 130 years old shop of Mohan Ji Poore Wale.

Travelers coming here taste puri–chhole–potato curry along with halwa at Mohan Ji Poore Wale. In Chowk Bazaar Jwalapur, the Moong Dal (Muradabadi) of Surje became so famous that people named it only “Surje ki Dal”. Surja Lal started it 50 years ago.

People take time to reach him to eat this dal. Here the Bengali taste is also not less. In Bengali Market, Bhola Giri Road, it is a mine of the taste of Bengali dishes. Coming here feels like being in some lane of Kolkata. In these hotels, even the waiters are Bengali. Here only is the hotel of “Dada Bodhir” (Bhaiya–Bhabhi), which is famous for its unique taste.

Crazy for ‘Kanji Vada’

When coming to Haridwar, if Kanji Vada is not eaten, it feels like something is missed. For this, the Chaat wali Gali of Moti Bazaar is famous. In this same lane is ‘Jain Chaat Bhandar’. Established in 1951, this shop is presently managed by Neeraj Jain. According to him, the first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, singer Kishore Kumar, Anup Jalota, actress Kumkum, and famous chef Sanjeev Kapoor have also tasted Kanji Vada.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh is the most popular travel destination of the northern region of India. Here not only reaching is easy but also you get to do many activities. Whether you are an adventure lover or want to spend some moments of relaxation…

Rishikesh is the most popular tourist destination of North India, where throughout the year you will see a crowd of tourists. That is, this place has no off-season at all. Whether you are an adventure lover, spiritual, for health, or just want to enjoy the views of the mountains and the Ganga River. From Delhi reaching Rishikesh is also very easy.

Enjoy River Rafting

For adventure-loving tourists, Rishikesh is a major center for tourists. During the monsoon season, a large number of tourists come to Rishikesh for river rafting. You too can enjoy river rafting in Rishikesh.

Enjoy Cliff Jumping

For cliff jumping, Rishikesh is a popular spot. Tourists come to Rishikesh for cliff jumping. At the cliff jumping spot in Rishikesh, there is the facility of operators. Therefore, you can enjoy cliff jumping under the supervision of an operator. Besides this, you can also enjoy boating and flying fox. For this, during the festival season, you can travel to Rishikesh with family and friends.

Rajaji National Park

At the foothills of the Shivalik Range, Rajaji National Park is no less than a heaven for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. This park is famous worldwide for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Not only in Uttarakhand, it is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries in India. Here you get the chance to see various kinds of animals and birds.

Kunjapuri Temple

This temple is located in Tehri, Uttarakhand, about 27 km from Rishikesh. It is dedicated to Mata Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva. To reach this temple, you have to do trekking, but the journey is very beautiful. If you come here in the early morning for darshan, you will get to see a very beautiful view of the sunrise. For this, take a bus or shared jeep from Rishikesh towards Hindola Khal village. After reaching the village, a shared jeep runs up to the Kunjapuri Temple parking.

Neer Garh Waterfall

Located 4 km from Laxman Jhula and 6 km from Rishikesh main market, this waterfall is a short hill route away from the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway. To spend quality time with family and friends, Neer Garh Falls is the best place. Its natural beauty is worth seeing.

Tourist Places of Rishikesh and Nearby Area

Chaurasi Kutia:

Distance from Rishikesh – 600 meter
Sightseeing: Shankaracharya Nagar, established by Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, the proponent of Bhavatit Dhyan Yoga, which is also associated with the memory of the Beatles
Group. Here are 84 Dhyan Yoga centers in dome-shaped structures.
Transportation: Two-wheelers and four-wheelers can reach the main gate of Chaurasi Kutia.
Facility: In the nearby Swarg Ashram and Laxman Jhula area, there are sufficient hotels, dharmshalas, and food arrangements.
Walking Track: Inside Chaurasi Kuti, there is about 03 km nature trail.

Ghattu Ghat:

Distance from Rishikesh – 25 kilometers.
Sightseeing: Havel Valley, mountains, and adventurous activities like bungee jumping, flying fox, etc.
Transportation: Reachable by two-wheelers and four-wheelers.
Facility: Sufficient hotels, camps, and resorts. Homestays are also developing.
Walking Track: There are good walking tracks in Havel Valley.

Itharna:

Distance from Rishikesh – 25 kilometers.
Sightseeing: Lord Shiva and Mata’s temple, velvet grass field, beautiful view of sunset and sunrise, waterfalls, and the scenic view of Doon Valley.
Transportation: Reachable by two-wheelers and four-wheelers.
Facility: Small shops for food and tea/snacks. There are also two resorts on the way. Homestays are also available.
Walking Track: There is a walking track from Itharna to Kukhai Village and Agar Khal.

Neer Gaddu:

Distance from Rishikesh – 4 kilometers.
Sightseeing: Neer Waterfall and nature trail.
Transportation: All types of vehicles can reach the main road.
Facility: Sufficient hotels and resorts are available in Neer Gaddu and Tapovan. Adequate food arrangements are available. Neer Waterfall and tea/snack shops are available.
Walking Track: There is a 2 km nature trail from the main road to the waterfall. Homestays are available in Neer Gaddu village.

Kimsar:

Distance from Rishikesh – 30 kilometers.
Sightseeing: Jungle safari, Ganga Valley, beautiful view of Rishikesh, Haridwar, and the Himalayas.
Transportation: All types of vehicles can reach the main road.
Facility: Sufficient hotels, resorts, and food arrangements in Kimsar and Ramjiwala. Some villages also have homestay facilities.
Walking Track: There is a walking track from Kimsar to Bhumiaki Sar and Ghughuti Garh.

How to reach Rishikesh?

To reach Rishikesh, you can come by train to Dehradun, Rishikesh, or Haridwar. You can also reach Rishikesh by bus, taxi, or your own vehicle. The distance from Rishikesh to Delhi is approximately 210 kilometers.

If you are going to Rishikesh, then we are telling you about some such cafes and restaurants where you must go.

60’s Café

It is also known by the name Beatles Café, in this café you will get delicious food. From the name of this café it is clear that its name is kept after the popular band of the 60’s, ‘The Beatles’. If you like Thai, Continental, and Italian food, then definitely come here.

VJ’s by the Ganges

Situated in Tapovan, at VJ’s by the Ganges you can enjoy eating while sitting outside, that is, here there is outdoor sitting. From here you will get to see the beautiful views of the mountains, and sitting in the outside garden you can enjoy your food. The food here is also delicious and you will get many kinds of dishes.

Ayurpak

If you are in search of homemade food, then you must go to Ayurpak. This restaurant is located in Tapovan, Laxman Jhula. The food prepared from vegetables grown at home is something else, isn’t it?

Ramana Organic Café

From the name itself you get to know quite a lot about this café. In this café, you will get everything healthy and organic. This café is very different from others because it is also a school and a boarding home for children.

This is a volunteer café, which will take full care of your diet. It doesn’t matter whether you are vegan, lactose-intolerant, organic, or have some food allergies, you will get everything here. This café is at Tapovan, Laxman Jhula.

Pappu Lassi

If you are from North India and you are searching for lassi in Rishikesh, then you can go to the shop of Pappu Lassi situated in Mayakund, Rishikesh. In Rishikesh, the lassi of Pappu is very popular. From far away, people come to the shop of Pappu to drink lassi.

Ayurpak

This restaurant is situated in Tapovan. The big specialty of this restaurant is that here you will easily get home-made food. Tapovan is a sacred religious place. If you want to eat pure vegetarian food, then definitely go to Ayurpak.

The Sitting Elephant

If you want to enjoy the taste of North Indian cuisine, then definitely go to The Sitting Elephant. This restaurant is situated on the rooftop of Hotel EllBee Ganga View in Palika Nagar. From here you can have a view of the Ganga River and the surrounding mountains.

Whenever you go to Rishikesh, definitely go to these places for food. In a low budget, along with desi flavors, you can also enjoy foreign dishes.

Here you must come for delicious North Indian food. This restaurant is on the rooftop, and from here you will get to see the beautiful views of the Ganga River surrounded by mountains. Many people also come to enjoy the decoration here. This restaurant is on the rooftop of Hotel LB Ganga View, which is situated at Palika Nagar, Haridwar Road.

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