Day trip · Haridwar
Rajaji National Park (Chilla)
Forest safari on the edge of Haridwar, home to wild elephants, leopards, deer and hundreds of bird species.
Rajaji National Park, now part of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, covers the Shivalik forests between Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. The Chilla range, just across the Ganga from Haridwar, is the most convenient entry point for jeep safaris.
A morning or evening safari is a calm contrast to the Kumbh crowds and a favourite with families and children.
Visiting tips
- The park usually opens to tourists from mid-November to mid-June—check the forest department’s current season and safari booking rules.
- Morning safaris are best for birds; carry a light jacket in January and February.
More places in Haridwar
Ghat
Har Ki Pauri
Heart of the mela
Haridwar’s most sacred ghat and the main Kumbh bathing site, famous for its evening Ganga Aarti.
Temple
Mansa Devi Temple
Above Har Ki Pauri, by ropeway
Hilltop Shakti temple on Bilwa Parvat, reached by ropeway or a steep walk, with views over Haridwar and the Ganga.
Temple
Chandi Devi Temple
About 4 km from Har Ki Pauri
Temple of Goddess Chandi on Neel Parvat across the Ganga, reached by ropeway through forested hills.
Temple
Daksheswara Mahadev, Kankhal
About 4 km south, in Kankhal
Ancient Shiva temple at the site of King Daksha’s yagna, where Sati gave up her life.
Temple
Maya Devi Temple
About 1 km from Har Ki Pauri
Ancient Shakti Peeth of Haridwar’s presiding goddess, and one corner of the city’s Siddh Peeth triangle.
Day trip
Rishikesh
About 25 km north
The yoga capital of the world: suspension bridges, riverside ashrams and the Triveni Ghat aarti.