Prem Nagar Ashram
Haridwar, Uttarakhand · garden
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Prem Nagar Ashram is one of Haridwar's largest and most serene ashram compounds, spread across leafy grounds on the bank of the Upper Ganga Canal along Jwalapur Road, roughly midway between the pilgrim heart of Haridwar and the ancient quarter of Kankhal. The name translates literally as "Town of Love" (prem = love, nagar = town), and the atmosphere lives up to it: broad manicured lawns, shade trees, flowering borders and quiet walking paths make the ashram feel more like a contemplative garden estate than a busy pilgrimage stop. Because it sits a little away from the crush of Har Ki Pauri, it offers a rare pocket of calm within the holy city, and many visitors come simply to stroll the gardens, sit by the water and rest between temple visits.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Ashram bhojanalaya / bhandara - simple satvik pure-veg meals are typically served to guests during set hours; availability for casual visitors varies, so check at the gate.
- ✦Jwalapur Road vegetarian dhabas and sweet shops - plain pure-veg thalis, chai, samosas and mithai along the ashram stretch; the whole city is strictly vegetarian.
- ✦Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukan (Bara Bazaar, near Har Ki Pauri) - a long-standing pure-veg institution for chaat, rabri and mithai, about 3-4 km away; a good add-on when you head to the ghats.
- ✦Hoshiyar Puri (Bara Bazaar, Haridwar) - a heritage pure-veg thali house near Har Ki Pauri; hedge for queues at peak pilgrim times.
About
Prem Nagar Ashram is one of Haridwar's largest and most serene ashram compounds, spread across leafy grounds on the bank of the Upper Ganga Canal along Jwalapur Road, roughly midway between the pilgrim heart of Haridwar and the ancient quarter of Kankhal.
- The name translates literally as "Town of Love" (prem = love, nagar = town), and the atmosphere lives up to it: broad manicured lawns, shade trees, flowering borders and quiet walking paths make the ashram feel more like a contemplative garden estate than a busy pilgrimage stop.
- Because it sits a little away from the crush of Har Ki Pauri, it offers a rare pocket of calm within the holy city, and many visitors come simply to stroll the gardens, sit by the water and rest between temple visits.
- The ashram was established in the mid-1940s by Shri Hans Ji Maharaj (Hans Ram Singh Rawat), and it grew over the decades from a modest riverside house into a large campus of prayer halls, residential blocks for resident mahatmas and long-stay guests, and open green space.
- Its best-known feature is an enormous satsang and meditation hall — reported to be among the largest such assembly halls in the region — a broad, calm interior designed to seat very large gatherings for group meditation and discourse.
- The scale of the hall, set against the softness of the surrounding gardens, is what most first-time visitors remember.
- For travellers, Prem Nagar Ashram is best approached as a peaceful, unhurried stop rather than a ticketed monument.
- Entry is generally free, dress is expected to be modest, and quiet, respectful conduct is the norm inside the halls and meditation spaces; remove footwear where indicated and ask before photographing people at prayer.
- Photography of the gardens and grounds is usually fine.
- As everywhere in Haridwar — a sacred, strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free city — the food around the ashram is entirely pure-vegetarian.
- Ashram kitchens here typically serve simple satvik meals (often onion- and garlic-free) to residents and guests during set hours, and the surrounding Jwalapur Road stretch has plain vegetarian bhojanalayas, chai stalls and sweet shops.
- It pairs naturally with a slow Haridwar itinerary that also takes in Kankhal's temples and, in the evening, the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Jwalapur Road, on the Ganga-canal bank between Haridwar and Kankhal, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249401
How to Reach: On Jwalapur Road between Haridwar and Kankhal, about 3-4 km southwest of Har Ki Pauri. From Haridwar Junction railway station an auto-rickshaw costs roughly Rs 60-100 (10-15 minutes); shared vikrams (tempos) run along the Jwalapur Road route very cheaply. Cycle-rickshaws are available for short local hops. There is no metro in Haridwar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Prem Nagar Ashram in Haridwar known for?
It is known for its large, tranquil garden grounds on the Ganga-canal bank at Jwalapur Road and for a very spacious satsang and meditation hall - reported to be among the largest assembly halls of its kind in the region. Set away from the crowds of Har Ki Pauri, it is valued as a quiet, green place to walk, sit and meditate.
Is there an entry fee for Prem Nagar Ashram?
No, entry to the ashram grounds is generally free. It is a living spiritual institution rather than a ticketed monument, so there is no admission charge, though visitors are expected to dress modestly and behave quietly and respectfully inside the halls and meditation spaces.
How do I reach Prem Nagar Ashram?
The ashram is on Jwalapur Road, between Haridwar and Kankhal, about 3-4 km southwest of Har Ki Pauri. From Haridwar Junction railway station an auto-rickshaw takes 10-15 minutes and costs roughly Rs 60-100; shared vikrams (tempos) also run this route very cheaply. There is no metro in Haridwar, so auto-rickshaw or shared tempo is the standard way.
What are the timings of Prem Nagar Ashram?
The grounds are generally reported open from around 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, but meditation-hall and satsang timings vary and the ashram can restrict access during private programmes. Early morning is the most peaceful time for a garden walk. Please confirm current timings locally, as they are not fixed like a museum's.
Can I get vegetarian food near Prem Nagar Ashram?
Yes - Haridwar is a strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free holy city, so all food nearby is pure-vegetarian. The ashram kitchen typically serves simple satvik meals to guests during set hours, and Jwalapur Road has plain veg dhabas, chai stalls and sweet shops. For a fuller meal, heritage pure-veg spots like Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukan and Hoshiyar Puri near Har Ki Pauri are about 3-4 km away.
How much time should I spend at Prem Nagar Ashram?
About an hour to ninety minutes is enough to walk the gardens, sit quietly by the canal and see the main meditation hall. It works well as a calm, unhurried stop within a slower Haridwar itinerary that also includes Kankhal's temples and the evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri.
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