Haridwar Junction (HW) Station — Pilgrimage Hub Guide

Haridwar Junction — station code HW — is where the Ganges leaves the Himalayas and enters the plains. The station serves one of Hinduism's seven holiest cities and is the starting point for the Char Dham Yatra (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri). Every evening, the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri draws thousands — and many of those people arrived by train at this very station.

HW sits at the terminus of the rail line from Delhi (the line continues a bit further to Rishikesh, but Haridwar is the major station). It handles heavy year-round pilgrimage traffic, with massive spikes during Kumbh Mela, Kanwar Yatra (July-August), and other religious occasions.

Station Layout

Haridwar has 8 platforms.

Platforms	Services
1–3	Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi, Mussoorie Express (Delhi services)
4–6	Long-distance trains (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata routes)
7–8	Regional, Rishikesh shuttle, passenger trains

Main entrance faces Railway Road, leading directly toward the city and the ghats. The station is about 2 km from Har Ki Pauri.

Getting To and From HW

By Auto/Shared Tempo

• HW to Har Ki Pauri: ₹30–50 (auto), ₹10 (shared tempo)
• HW to Rishikesh (Lakshman Jhula area): ₹200–300 (auto), 25 km
• HW to Dehradun: ₹400–500 (taxi), 55 km
• HW to Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun): ₹500–700

By Bus

Uttarakhand Roadways buses from Haridwar Bus Stand (1 km) connect to Rishikesh (30 min), Dehradun (2 hours), and Char Dham destinations during yatra season.

By Cab

App cabs have limited presence. Pre-book through your hotel or use the prepaid taxi stand.

Facilities

Waiting Rooms

AC waiting room on the first floor. Confirmed ticket required. The waiting room has recently been upgraded. Upper-class lounge for premium passengers. General waiting hall on the ground floor — extremely crowded during pilgrimage seasons.

Food

• Platform stalls: Aloo puri, samosa, chai, kachori — pure vegetarian (Haridwar is entirely vegetarian)
• Food court: North Indian veg thali ₹70–90
• Haridwar specialty: No meat, no eggs anywhere in the city. If you're a non-vegetarian, eat before arriving. The station and entire city are strictly vegetarian.
• Outside: Mohan Ji Puri Wale (near Har Ki Pauri) is famous for aloo puri breakfast. Hoshiarpur restaurant near the station for proper Punjabi veg food.

WiFi

RailWire WiFi. OTP-based.

ATMs

SBI and Uttarakhand Gramin Bank ATMs inside. More on Railway Road.

Medical

First aid center on platform 1.

Navigation Tips

Tip 1: Haridwar is a holy city — it is completely vegetarian. No meat, fish, or eggs are sold anywhere. Alcohol is also prohibited within city limits. This applies to the station as well. Tip 2: Kanwar Yatra (July-August) transforms the city. Millions of Shiva devotees (kanwariyas) pass through Haridwar on foot, and the station sees enormous extra traffic. Special trains are added, but crowds are intense. Avoid this period unless you're participating. Tip 3: Har Ki Pauri Ganga Aarti happens every evening at sunset. Arrive 30 minutes early for a good spot. The aarti is free and genuinely spectacular. From the station, walk down Railway Road (2 km) or take a shared tempo. Tip 4: If you're going to Rishikesh, take the bus or auto from Haridwar. The train to Rishikesh exists but is infrequent. The road journey takes 30–40 minutes and is scenic along the Ganges. Tip 5: For Char Dham Yatra, register online before arriving in Haridwar. Buses and shared taxis to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri depart from various points in Haridwar and Rishikesh. The yatra season is May–October.

Check IndianRail.app for train running status, especially during fog season (December-January) when Delhi-Haridwar trains face delays.

Cloak Room

Near platform 1. Open 5 AM–10 PM. ₹30 per bag. Very useful — drop bags, visit the ghats, attend the aarti, and catch an evening train.

Nearby Landmarks

• Har Ki Pauri: 2 km — the sacred ghat, Ganga Aarti
• Mansa Devi Temple: 4 km — hilltop temple, cable car available
• Chandi Devi Temple: 6 km — hilltop temple, cable car available
• Rishikesh: 25 km — yoga capital, Lakshman Jhula, rafting
• Rajaji National Park: 8 km — wildlife sanctuary

Quick Reference

Info	Details
Station Code	HW
Platforms	8
Zone	Northern Railway
WiFi	RailWire (free)
Har Ki Pauri Distance	2 km
Rishikesh Distance	25 km
Dietary Note	Entire city is vegetarian

Haridwar Junction is where rail travel meets faith. The station funnels millions of pilgrims toward the Ganges every year, and the energy is palpable even on the platform. Whether you're here for the aarti, the Char Dham, or just to dip your feet in the Ganges, the train from Delhi makes it wonderfully accessible.