Plan your trip · Haridwar
Best time to visit Haridwar
For weather, October to March is the time to come. The calendar matters as much as the climate here, because two events can make an ordinary visit very hard.
❄️ Winter
RecommendedOct – Mar
Warm in October and March, cool and mostly dry from November to February — the comfortable peak season, with crisp mornings and evenings.
Pack: light layers with a jacket or shawl for early mornings and after dark.
Plan a winter day →☀️ Summer
Apr – Jun
Hot, often in the high 30s °C by midday in May and June, with cooler air in the hills an hour or two away.
Pack: light cottons, a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Plan a summer day →🌧️ Monsoon
Jul – Sep
Heavy rain, heaviest in July and August — rivers run high, rafting stops, and the hill roads above often close with landslides.
Pack: a good rain shell or umbrella, quick-dry clothes and grippy footwear — and buffer days for the hills.
Plan a monsoon day →October to March
This is the comfortable season. October and March are warm by day. November to February brings clear, cool days and cold nights, with fog on some winter mornings. The aarti is at its earliest in winter, around 5:30 pm, and a shawl helps by the river. This is also the busiest time for families and tour groups, so book rooms near Har Ki Pauri ahead for weekends and festivals.
April to June
The plains heat builds fast. Afternoons regularly pass 40 °C and the stone ghat steps burn bare feet. Pilgrims keep coming, because this is also Char Dham season and many travel on from here to Badrinath and Kedarnath. Visit the hill temples at dawn, rest through the afternoon and come back out for the aarti. Ganga Dussehra, usually in late May or June, is one of the big bathing days.
July to September
The monsoon brings heavy rain, not just passing showers. The Ganga rises and turns brown, and in heavy spells the administration warns people to keep away from the banks. The Shivalik hills above town can see landslides, and roads further up into the mountains often close. The cable cars stop in storms. In Shravan, usually from late July into August, the Kanwar Yatra fills the town. Millions of pilgrims walk in to collect Ganga water, and the Delhi–Haridwar highway is closed to normal traffic for about a week before Sawan Shivratri. Unless you are joining it, avoid those weeks.
The canal closure
In most years, the flow into the Har Ki Pauri channel is shut for cleaning for two to three weeks, usually between Dussehra and Diwali. The water at the ghat drops very low. Check the dates before an October visit.
Ardh Kumbh 2027
Haridwar hosts the Ardh Kumbh from mid-January to April 2027, according to dates announced by the state and the akharas. The main bathing days are reported for March and mid-April. Expect huge crowds, road closures and very high room prices on those dates. If you want to see it, plan early. If not, pick another year.
See what's on for the festival calendar.
Questions
Haridwar — FAQ
When should I avoid Haridwar?
The peak days of the Kanwar Yatra in Shravan (July–August), the main Kumbh bathing days and heavy monsoon spells. On those days roads close and the ghats are packed.
Is Haridwar good to visit in summer?
It is hot, often over 40 °C, but still busy with Char Dham pilgrims. Plan outings for early morning and evening.
Does the aarti happen in the monsoon?
It usually does, every evening. When the river runs very high, access to the lower steps may be restricted, so follow police instructions.
Is Har Ki Pauri dry at any time of year?
For a few weeks most autumns, usually between Dussehra and Diwali, the channel is closed for cleaning and the water drops very low.