🗓️ Last updated: July 30, 2026
Chandi Devi stands on Neel Parvat, 4 km from Har Ki Pauri on the far side of the Ganga canal. You reach it by ropeway from Chandighat or on foot in an hour to ninety minutes. Entry is free, darshan runs 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (approximate), and the thing worth knowing before you go is that it closes in the middle of the day — which is exactly when most people arrive, having done Mansa Devi first.
The Practical Details
🚡 Ropeway return
₹250–350 (approximate, sources vary)
🎫 Combined ticket
Combined with Mansa Devi, ₹290–340
🕐 Ropeway hours
Around 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, seasonal variation
🛕 Darshan hours
6:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (approximate)
🥾 Trek
About 3 km from Chandighat, 60–90 minutes, moderate. Steeper than the Mansa Devi walk.
⏳ Queue
Usually shorter than Mansa Devi — fewer visitors get this far
📍 Base station
Chandighat, 4 km from Har Ki Pauri
The midday closure catches people out
Darshan stops around noon and resumes about 3 PM. A visitor who does Mansa Devi at 10 AM, takes lunch, and arrives at Chandighat at 1:30 PM will find the ropeway running and the temple shut. Either be up here before noon or plan for mid-afternoon. Timings also move seasonally, so treat the hours above as close rather than exact.
Why This One Is Worth the Extra Effort
Built by Suchat Singh of Kashmir in 1929, on a site associated with the goddess who slew Shumbha and Nishumbha. It is quieter than Mansa Devi and the view back over the Ganga plain is the better one.
Most Haridwar itineraries treat Chandi Devi as the optional second temple, and that is exactly why it is worth doing. Mansa Devi receives the overwhelming share of visitors, so its courtyard is packed from mid-morning onward. Chandi Devi sits higher, gets a fraction of that footfall, and gives you the long view back over the Ganga spilling out onto the plains. If you have one temple in you and you would rather have space than convenience, come here.
Ropeway or Trek?
| Ropeway | Trek from Chandighat |
|---|
| Cost | ₹250–350 (approximate, sources vary) | Free |
| Time up | Under 10 minutes | 60–90 minutes |
| Difficulty | None | Moderate — steeper and longer than Mansa Devi |
| Shade | n/a | Patchy. Unpleasant after 10 AM in summer |
| Best for | Most visitors, families, anyone on a schedule | Fit walkers on a cool morning |
Be honest with yourself about this one. The Chandi Devi climb is a real hill walk, not the stepped pilgrim path you get at Mansa Devi. People who breezed up Bilwa Parvat in the morning regularly find this harder than they expected in the afternoon heat.
Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi Together
The two are almost always done as a pair and the combined ropeway ticket exists for that reason. The sequence that works:
- 7:30 AM — at the Mansa Devi base station as it opens, before the queue forms.
- 9:30 AM — back down, drive to Chandighat, roughly fifteen minutes.
- 10:00 AM — Chandi Devi ropeway up. Shorter queue at this hour.
- 11:30 AM — down and out before the midday closure.
- Afternoon — Daksh Mahadev at Kankhal, then the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri.
That is a full, unhurried Haridwar day and it is the shape our drivers run most often.
Neel Dhara Bird Sanctuary — the Stop Nobody Makes
Directly below Chandighat, where the Ganga spreads out before the barrage, is Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar. Between November and February it fills with migratory birds — Siberian cranes and a long list of waterfowl — and almost every Haridwar itinerary drives straight past it. If you are here in winter and have half an hour, it is the most underrated thing in the town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Chandi Devi temple timings?
Darshan runs roughly 6 AM to noon and again from 3 PM to 6 PM, with the temple closed for bhog in between. The ropeway operates around 7 AM to 6 PM. Both shift seasonally by up to an hour. The closure in the middle of the day catches out visitors who arrive at 1 PM having done Mansa Devi first — plan around it.
How much is the Chandi Devi ropeway ticket?
Roughly ₹250 to ₹350 for a return, and a combined Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi ticket runs about ₹290 to ₹340, which is why almost everybody buys the combined one. Published prices vary considerably between sources, so confirm at the Chandighat counter. There is no official online booking.
How long is the Chandi Devi trek?
About 3 km from Chandighat, taking 60 to 90 minutes uphill. It is noticeably harder than the Mansa Devi walk — steeper, longer, and with less shade. It is a proper hill path rather than a stepped temple approach. Fit walkers enjoy it; anyone who found the Mansa Devi climb tiring should take the ropeway here.
Is Chandi Devi worth visiting if I have already done Mansa Devi?
Yes, and for a specific reason: it is quieter. Mansa Devi is the temple everyone climbs, so its courtyard is dense from mid-morning. Chandi Devi gets a fraction of the same footfall, sits higher, and the view back across the Ganga and the plains from Neel Parvat is the better of the two by some distance. If you only have time for one and you value calm over convenience, choose this one.
What is the story behind Chandi Devi?
The temple marks the spot where the goddess Chandi is said to have rested after killing the demon generals Shumbha and Nishumbha. The present structure was built in 1929 by Suchat Singh, then king of Kashmir, though the site itself is far older and the principal idol is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Neel Parvat is counted among the Panch Tirth of Haridwar.
Can I visit Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi on the same day?
Comfortably, and most people do. Mansa Devi first thing, then cross to Chandighat for Chandi Devi late morning, and you are done before the afternoon closure. Allow four to five hours for both including travel between them. The combined ropeway ticket is designed for exactly this and saves roughly fifteen percent over buying separately.
How do I get to Chandighat from Har Ki Pauri?
It is about 4 km, ten minutes by car or auto. The ropeway base station is at Chandighat on the far side of the Ganga canal. Vehicles cannot go up Neel Parvat — the ropeway and the footpath are the only ways up, so any taxi drops you at the base and waits. Our temple circuit does exactly that.
Is there anything else near Chandi Devi worth stopping for?
Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar, the bird sanctuary on the Ganga just below Chandighat, is a genuinely good half-hour in winter when the migratory birds are in. Most visitors drive straight past it. If you are here between November and February with any interest in birds, it is the best-value stop in Haridwar.
Sources & official references
Both hill temples in one morning
Our temple circuit runs Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi in the right order, with the car waiting at each base station. Five to six hours, done before the afternoon closure.