Haridwar
stands as the gateway to the four pilgrimages of Uttaranchal.
Geographically and geological, Haridwar, lying at the feet of Shiva's
hills, i.e., Shivaliks, in the Haridwar district of Uttaranchal Pradesh,
is a doorway.
The city abounds in temples of Hindu Gods and
Goddesses. Haridwar has a lot of spiritual retreats or Ashrams carrying
on the lineage of providing the way to body soul perfection via various
yoga and meditative techniques.
Suryavanshi prince Bhagirath
performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had
perished due to the curse of sage Kapila. The penance was answered and
the river Ganga trickled forth form Lord Shiva's locks and its bountiful
water revived the sixty thousand sons of king Sagara. In the traditional
of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here, praying for
salvation of their departed elder. It is doorway to the sources of the
Ganga and the Yamuna, 3000 to 4500 meters up into the snowy ranges of
the central Himalayas. The 'Aarti' worship of the Ganga after sunset and
the floating 'dia' (lamp) is a moving ritual.
The five sacred
bathing spots in Haridwar are Gangadwara, Kankhal, Nila Parvata, Bilwa
Theertha and Kusavarta. The main ghat at Haridwar is known as
Hari-ki-Pairi. Nearby is the Gangadwara temple, the most important of
the several temples that dot this town. The Ganga Aarti which is
celebrated at 7 pm each night, is a spectacular sight, when the aarti
ceremony is performed at all temples in Haridwar at the same instant.
Hundreds throng to the ghats at Hari-ki-Pairi to participate in this
festival. Offerings of lamps and flowers are made to the river
immediately following this ceremony and it is a moving sight to watch
hundreds of miniature lamps float along the river.
Attraction
in Haridwar
- Har Ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri is one of the most sacred
ghats in India. It is said that this ghat was built by Vikramaditya
in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. Also known as Brahmakund, the
Ghat is magnificently illuminated in the evening during a Maha Aarti
performed on this ghat. It is an event which is a must, not be
missed by any visitor.
- Bhimgada Tank
On the way to Rishikesh, this tank is
said to have been made by Bhim with the blow of his knee, when the
Pandavas were going to the Himalayas through Haridwar.
- Mansa Devi
Located on top of a hill called the Bilwa
Parvat, the Manas Devi Temple is worth visiting. The temple can be
reached by the rope way or one can take the normal trekking route to
the top. The top of the hill gives you an excellent view of
Haridwar.
- Chandi Devi
On the top of a hill called the Neel
Parvat which is on the other side of the river Ganga, the Chandi
Devi temple was constructed by the King of Kashmir, Suchat Singh, in
1929 AD. Chandi Devi is a 3 km trek from the Chandi Ghat.
Other AttractionsKavand Mela, Daksha Mahadev Temple,
Maya Devi and Shantikunj Ashram. Dehradun is at a distance of two hour
drive. Rishikesh is just 24 Kms from Haridwar. Best Season To Visit :
Temperature usually hovers around 40°C during summers. Winters see
the mercury dipping to as low as 6°C. October to March is very
pleasant season for the tourists.
How to reach
- Air
The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant in
Dehradun, but it is preferable to take a flight to Delhi and then
take a bus or train route to Haridwar.
- Rail
The major pilgrimage center of Haridwar is well
connected by trains to almost all the major cities in India. In
fact, trains are the major source of the tourist inflow to Haridwar.
- Road
The National Highway no. 45 crosses the city of
Haridwar, so it is connected to other cities of the state as well as
those in the other states too. The excellent road network links
Haridwar with Delhi for a smooth and comfortable travel journey.
