About the Haridwar Kumbh with Rishikesh package
Haridwar and Rishikesh sit only about 25 km apart on the same river, yet they feel like two different pilgrimages. Haridwar is the Kumbh city: the great ghats, the akhara camps and the crowds of the mela. Rishikesh, where the Ganga leaves the hills, is quieter, greener and full of ashrams, suspension bridges and riverside temples.
This four-day package gives you both. You take your Kumbh snan at Har Ki Pauri, spend time in the mela itself, and then devote a full day to Rishikesh, ending with the evening aarti at Triveni Ghat. It is the trip we suggest most often to couples and families who want more than a quick dip, and to anyone visiting the region for the first time.
Who this package suits
- Couples and families who want a balanced trip: one day of Kumbh intensity, one calmer day by the river.
- First-time visitors to Uttarakhand who want to see the two best-known pilgrim towns together.
- Yoga and meditation enthusiasts, since Rishikesh is home to many established ashrams and an optional yoga session can be added.
- Groups with mixed interests, where some want temples and others want to walk, shop or sit by the river.
If you only have a weekend, the Haridwar Kumbh Snan Package covers the essentials in three days.
When to go
The Haridwar Kumbh runs from 14 January to 20 April 2027, and this package works on any bathing day in that window. Two points are worth thinking about when you choose your dates:
- Weather. January and early February are cold in both towns, with foggy mornings. From late February into April the days become pleasant, which suits a full day of walking in Rishikesh.
- Crowds. The Amrit Snans on 6 March, 8 March and 14 April bring the largest crowds and road controls to Haridwar. If you want a relaxed Rishikesh day, schedule it on the day after your snan, not the day before, when roads into Haridwar may already be restricted.
Our Haridwar weather guide explains what to pack month by month.
Your trip, in more detail
Day 1: arrival and Ganga Aarti. We meet you at Haridwar Junction or Dehradun airport and take you to your camp. In the evening your coordinator walks with you to Har Ki Pauri for the Ganga Aarti, and briefs you on the snan morning: where you will walk, where to meet and what to carry.
Day 2: Kumbh snan and the mela. You leave the camp before dawn with your coordinator and take your dip at the bathing ghat. After breakfast, spend the day in the mela itself. Walking through the akhara camps, hearing the bhajans and seeing sadhus from every tradition is as much a part of the Kumbh as the snan. Read about the akharas and Naga sadhus before you go. The afternoon is free to rest.
Day 3: Rishikesh. A private car takes you to Rishikesh after breakfast. A typical day:
- Walk across Lakshman Jhula or Ram Jhula, the suspension bridges over the Ganga, and visit the temples along the river.
- Spend time in the area around the old Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia), now part of the Rajaji reserve area.
- Have lunch at one of Rishikesh's many vegetarian cafés.
- In the evening, join the Triveni Ghat aarti, smaller and more intimate than the one at Har Ki Pauri.
You return to your camp in Haridwar for the night. If anyone in your group wants to try white-water rafting, it can be added, depending on the season and river conditions. See our Rishikesh day trip guide for more ideas.
Day 4: departure. After breakfast we drop you at Haridwar station or Dehradun airport.
Where you stay
The package includes three nights in our Deluxe Camp category in Haridwar: cottages with attached bathrooms, beds and vegetarian meals, close to the mela area. Staying in Haridwar rather than Rishikesh matters on snan morning, when every minute of walking counts.
If you would prefer to spend the third night in Rishikesh, we can arrange that too; read staying in Rishikesh for the Kumbh for the pros and cons. For more comfort, upgrade to a Luxury Camp. We confirm the exact camp and photos before you pay.
What is included
- Three nights' stay with daily breakfast and dinner
- All transfers, including the Rishikesh excursion by private car
- A coordinator on snan day
- Planning help for the aarti, temples and mela walks
Not included: train or air fare, lunches, activities such as rafting, and puja expenses. We leave these out so you only pay for what you actually want to do, and we are happy to book any of them for you.
How the price is worked out
The package is priced on request because Kumbh rates change with dates and availability. Your quote depends on your snan date (Amrit Snan weeks cost more), your stay category, how many people are travelling, and any extras such as a night in Rishikesh, rafting or a Delhi pick-up. Send us your dates and we will reply with an exact, all-inclusive quote.
Good to know
- Rishikesh is a vegetarian, alcohol-free town, like Haridwar. Plan your meals accordingly.
- Wear good walking shoes. The Rishikesh day involves a lot of walking on uneven paths and bridges.
- Respect the river. The Ganga flows fast at Rishikesh even when it looks calm. Bathe only at recognised ghats with chains.
- Carry a light shawl for the evening aarti, when the breeze off the river gets cold.
Ways to extend this trip
Popular additions are a visit to Neelkanth Mahadev, the Shiva temple in the hills above Rishikesh (guide), a morning safari in Rajaji National Park, or an extra day for the Kankhal temples and Haridwar's genealogy registers. Our Haridwar–Rishikesh itinerary shows how these fit together.
