TempleFree entry

Maya Devi Temple

#2of 7 places to visit in HaridwarHaridwar, Uttarakhand

Also known as Mayapuri Temple

Quick answer

Opening hours: 06:30–12:00 and 15:00–21:00. Entry is free. Allow 45 min. Best time: 07:00 – 08:30 AM.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: World8115 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Opening hours: 06:30–21:00
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 45 min
Best time of day: 07:00 – 08:30 AM
Best months: Oct – Mar
Address: Maya Devi Mandir Road, near Bhoosa Godam, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249401

About Maya Devi Temple

Maya Devi Temple occupies a small, unassuming compound close to Haridwar Junction railway station and holds a status well above its modest footprint — it is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas, the pan-Indian network of sites where, per the Sati legend, a body part of the goddess fell to earth. Here, tradition places the heart and navel of Sati. The temple's antiquity is unusual for the genre: architectural and inscriptional evidence supports an 11th-century CE date, making it one of the older surviving structures in a city where most temple buildings have been rebuilt multiple times. The sanctum holds three images side by side — Maya Devi, the presiding deity and namesake of the city's old name Mayapuri, alongside Kali and Kamakhya, an unusual triple arrangement that marks the site as both a Shakti Peetha and a Siddha Peetha (a site believed to grant spiritual accomplishment).

Best time of day: 07:00 – 08:30 AM. Shortly after opening, when the narrow inner sanctum is least crowded and the morning offerings are freshly arranged.

Maya Devi Temple timings

Maya Devi Temple is open 06:30–12:00 and 15:00–21:00. The weekend is no different: Saturday and Sunday follow the same times.

Opening hours: 06:30–21:00; Mon–Sun 06:30–12:00 and 15:00–21:00
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	06:30–12:00 and 15:00–21:00

Opening hours compiled from uttarakhandtourism.gov.in and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Maya Devi Temple ticket price

Entry fees for Maya Devi Temple
Ticket	Price
Indian visitors	Free
Foreign visitors	Free
Children	Free
Camera	Free

Entry and darshan are free. No camera fee is charged, though photography inside the inner sanctum is discouraged by temple custom — check with attending priests before shooting.

Prices compiled from uttarakhandtourism.gov.in and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Maya Devi Temple

Quiet
Moderate
Busy

06:30 – 09:00
Morning OpeningBest time to go
Local residents on their way to work stop briefly; the sanctum is quiet enough for an unhurried few minutes in front of the idols.
Quiet
09:00 – 12:00
Midday Approach
A steady trickle of pilgrims combining Maya Devi with a Haridwar Junction transit stop; still comfortably walkable.
Moderate
15:00 – 18:00
Afternoon Reopening
The temple reopens after its midday closure; visitor numbers pick up gradually through the afternoon.
Moderate
18:00 – 21:00
Evening Darshan
The busiest window, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays associated with goddess worship; single-file queueing is enforced in the sanctum.
Busy

History of Maya Devi Temple

Haridwar's older name, Mayapuri, derives directly from this temple, indicating Maya Devi's centrality to the city's identity before the Har Ki Pauri ghat rituals came to dominate its modern pilgrim economy. The structure standing today is generally dated to the 11th century CE, though the site's religious use likely predates the surviving building by centuries, consistent with its inclusion in the older stratum of Shakti Peetha sites alongside temples in Assam, Bengal, and Odisha.

Unlike Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi, whose current buildings were rebuilt in the 20th century, Maya Devi's core structure has survived largely intact, which local temple historians point to as the reason it retains a plainer, less ornamented stone finish than Haridwar's hilltop shrines.

Rules & etiquette at Maya Devi Temple

The inner sanctum is compact and single-file movement is enforced by temple volunteers during the morning and evening rush — do not expect to linger directly in front of the three idols on a Tuesday or Friday, the temple's busiest weekdays for goddess worship. Footwear is removed at a small rack just inside the compound gate; there is no separate paid cloakroom.

As with most working Shakti Peetha temples, flash photography inside the sanctum is discouraged rather than formally banned — ask the attending priest before using a camera or phone near the idols. The temple observes the standard midday closure (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM) common to older Haridwar shrines, when the deities are believed to rest.

Tips for visiting Maya Devi Temple

1
Maya Devi is easy to combine with a Haridwar Junction station visit — it sits close enough to walk to directly from the station forecourt, making it a practical first or last stop for travellers arriving or departing by train. Because it lacks a ropeway or hilltop approach, it sees a fraction of the crowd that overwhelms Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi, and is one of the few genuinely quiet darshan experiences left in central Haridwar.
2
Pair the visit with Bhimgoda Tank, roughly 2 km away, to cover two of the city's older, lower-profile heritage sites in a single short auto-rickshaw loop before heading to Har Ki Pauri for the evening aarti.

How to reach Maya Devi Temple

The red star is Maya Devi Temple; the numbered pins are the 5 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Maya Devi Mandir Road, near Bhoosa Godam, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249401Directions in Google Maps

From Haridwar Junction Railway Station
1 km · 5–10 min
Walkable; ₹30–40 cycle-rickshaw
From Har Ki Pauri
₹40–60
1.5 km · 8–10 min
Auto-rickshaw
From Haridwar Roadways Bus Stand
₹50–70
2 km · 10 min
Auto-rickshaw

Nearest airport

From Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun

approximately 38 km, 60–75 minutes by road.

Nearest railway station

From Haridwar Junction (HW)

approximately 1 km, 5–10 minutes on foot or by cycle-rickshaw.

Maya Devi Temple FAQs

Why is Maya Devi Temple important in Haridwar?

Maya Devi Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, sites where, per tradition, a part of the goddess Sati's body fell to earth — here, the heart and navel. Haridwar's older name, Mayapuri, comes directly from this temple.

How old is Maya Devi Temple?

The current temple structure is generally dated to the 11th century CE, making it one of Haridwar's older surviving religious buildings, though the site's use in worship likely predates the standing structure.

Is there an entry fee for Maya Devi Temple?

No. Darshan is free as of 2026; no camera fee applies, though photography inside the inner sanctum is discouraged by temple custom.

How far is Maya Devi Temple from Haridwar Junction railway station?

About 1 km, roughly 5–10 minutes on foot or by cycle-rickshaw, making it one of the most convenient temples in Haridwar to visit on arrival or departure by train.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places