Following are the excursions around Haridwar that any tourist visiting Haridwar must make it a point to visit:
Rishikesh
Located among the right bank of the River Ganga, Rishikesh is one of the best known pilgrimage centres. The holy River Ganga emerges from Haridwar and runs through the thickly wooded hills of Tehri and passes through Rishikesh. This holy town presents a beautiful and breathtaking view of the natural beauty, apart from the undiscovered wildlife that abounds here. It has become a centre for learning and research in yoga and meditation. There is also the week long International Yoga festival which happens here, and attracts scores of people from around the world annually.
Rajaji National Park
For nature and wildlife lovers, there is the Rajaji National Park that is located close-by. Rajaji National Park is about 820 sq.kms. in area. It also attracts wildlife lovers because of its magnificent beauty and the wildlife diversity. The Rajaji National Park has 23 species of mammals and 315 species of plants. It is not uncommon to see a herd of wild elephants roaming around in the jungle. Even other animals like leopards, Himalayan yellow throated marten, samber, chital, barking deer, wild boar, langoor, sloth beer, king cobra and jungle cats are visible here.
Piran Kalier
Piran Kalier is the dargah of Hazrat Makhdum Allauddin Ali Ahamed Sabri, and is located on the outskirts of Roorkee town. It is located towards the southern side of Haridwar. This place stands testament to the unity of the Hindu and Muslim religions. The dargah is visited each year by millions of devotees from all regions, both from India and abroad. It is believed that the dargah has powers that fulfill the desires of the devotee.
Sureshwari Devi
The Sureshwari Devi temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is located in the forest area of Rajaji National Park.
Dehradun
Dehradun is a very famous tourist spot. It is also a place where many retired civil and defense officers like to settle down. Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand and is known because many Government institutions of national importance are located here. It is situated in the Doon valley and is surrounded by the Himalayas in the north, and the Shivalik hills in the south. It is a place which must be visited if someone is visiting Haridwar.
Kodiyala
Kodiyala is a very popular destination for tourists who love adventure sports, like rafting. It is also known for turbulent white waves.
Mussoorie
Mussoorie, the queen of hills is located near Haridwar. It is an ideal hill station for many tourists who want to get away from the heat of the plains. It is located in the foothills of the Himalayan ranges and is popularly known as the Queen of the Hills. There is another town near to Mussoorie called Landour which includes a military cantonment and is considered part of the 'Greater Mussoorie'. It is located at an altitude of 2000 metres and is surrounded by green hills and different species of flora and fauna.
