subject: Delhi To Haridwar From The Capital City To The Gateway Of The Ganges [print this page] The capital city of India sprawled over the west bank of River Yamuna; Delhi is one of the important metropolitan cities of the country. Delhi has always been politically very significant and chosen as the place of power by old kings as well as modern day politicians. Monuments like the India Gate, Red Fort, Purana Quila, Qutub Minar and Jama Masjid speak a lot about the rich history of the city. Soaring skyscrapers, posh residential colonies and bustling commercial complexes can be seen along with the historical monuments.
Haridwar a major pilgrimage centre, is in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand in North India. This holy town at the mouth of River Ganges is situated at a height of 314 metres from the sea level between the Shivalik Hills in the North and Northeast. Being one of the oldest living cities, Haridwar has an ancient religious and cultural heritage. It is visited by hundreds of pilgrims and nature lovers to get a glimpse of the pious atmosphere and the picturesque view of the rivers and mountains around the city.
Haridwar does not have an airport. The nearest domestic airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is located 35 kilometres from Haridwar. There are regular flights from Delhi domestic airport to Dehradun from where one can take a taxi to Haridwar.
Haridwar has a railway station which falls under the Northern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. Trains to Haridwar depart from 3 stations in Delhi, which are Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Haridwar Mail (19105), Dehradun Express (19019), Dehradun Shatabdi (12017), Mussorie Express (14042) are few of the direct trains from Delhi to Haridwar. The train journey takes 5 to 6 hours on an average. Jan Shatabdi (12055) is the best train to travel as it reaches Haridwar in just 4 hours.
The distance from Delhi to Haridwar by road is 220 kilometres which can be covered in 3 to 4 hours. There are many state run General, Semi-deluxe, Deluxe and Volvo AC Delhi to Haridwar buses from Delhi ISBT, plying at every 30 minutes. One can also take the state run buses of Uttarakhand Roadways, Delhi Transport Corporation, UP Roadways, Rajasthan Roadways and Haryana Roadways that are comfortable and speedy. It is better to avoid private bus services in this route as it may prove unsafe and expensive.
Apart from the conventional option of trains and buses, taxis can be hired from Delhi to Haridwar which cost anything from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 7000 depending on the type of vehicle. Driving up to Haridwar by own car or bike is another option for the adventurous people but the bumpy and curving roads could get dangerous.
