Somewhere around 2000 years ago, this town earned its place as one of the seven holiest cities in Hinduism, and that reputation has only deepened since. Haridwar marks the exact point where the Ganga leaves the Himalayas and eases into the plains, a geography that gives the town its name, the gateway to God. Most things to do in Haridwar orbit that river, whether that means a sunset aarti or a temple perched on the hills above. Beyond the ghats, places to visit in Haridwar stretch into ashrams, hilltop shrines and the starting point of the Char Dham Yatra, giving the town a pull that reaches well past its own city limits.

Evenings gather at Har Ki Pauri, the ghat where Hindu tradition holds that Vishnu once left his footprint, for a Ganga Aarti that fills the riverbank with chanted hymns and hundreds of floating diyas. A ropeway ride climbs to Mansa Devi Temple on Bilwa Parvat, one of the wish granting Siddh Peeths that make up the town's Panch Tirtha, with a second cable car reaching Chandi Devi Temple across the river on Neel Parvat. Bharat Mata Mandir, an eight storey temple dedicated to Mother India, gives visitors a walk through the country's history one floor at a time, while Sapt Rishi Ashram, where the Ganga splits into seven separate streams, offers a quieter counterpoint for meditation on the riverbank.

What lingers after a Haridwar visit has less to do with any single temple than the rhythm of the whole town. Bells ringing out across the ghats at dusk, the scent of marigold and incense drifting over the water, and pilgrims and tourists moving together through the same narrow lanes all shape the visit as much as any landmark. Winter months bring the most comfortable weather for temple visits and riverside walks, while the town's Kumbh Mela, held here once every twelve years, draws the largest human gathering on the planet. Sterling Mantra Haridwar, a business friendly hotel just minutes from the main ghats, keeps this spiritual heart of the town within easy reach, with Awadhi and Mughlai dishes served at its own Golden Leaf restaurant and an open lawn for a quiet morning yoga session before the day's sightseeing begins.