Maya Devi Temple is the adhisthatri devi (presiding deity) of Haridwar and one of the city's most sacred sites. It houses a three-headed, four-armed idol of the goddess Maya, carved in black stone, and is part of the Panch Tirtha circuit of Haridwar. The temple sits in the heart of the old city, close to the railway station.
The small, intimate shrine can feel overwhelming with pilgrims during peak seasons. The architecture is relatively modest — the spiritual intensity comes from the devotion of the worshippers rather than the grandeur of the building. Non-Hindus are generally welcome but should dress modestly and observe silence inside the inner sanctum.