It's only around 25 kilometers from Haridwar to Rishikesh, so most people choose to visit both places.
The River Ganges, after flowing for 253 kilometres (157 mi) from its source at Gaumukh at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time at Haridwar, which gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára.
Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. According to the Samudra manthan, Haridwar along with Ujjain, Nashik and Prayag (Allahabad) is one of four sites where drops of Amrit or nectar, the elixir of immortality, accidentally spilled over from the pitcher while being carried by the celestial bird Garuda, the spot is known as Brahma Kund or Har-ki-pauri.