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Haridwar,
literally means 'The gateway to the Gods'.
It's the place where the river Ganga descends to
the plain. A Gateway to the four pilgrimage of
Uttarakhand, Haridwar is variously mentioned as
Mayapuri, Gangadwar, Mokshadwar in the ancient
Hindu scriptures and epics. A major Shaktipeeth
from time immemorial, the place is believed to
have both sanctified by the powerful trinity of
Hindu mythology - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
This is why the place has been a ever-refreshing
mystic venue for the purification of the mind,
body and soul. The Kumbh Mela, happening once
every 12 years and the Ardh Kumbh Mela (Coming
once every six years) are big draws.
Haridwar is very much associated with the
legends in Hindu philosophy. In order to purge
the earth of its sins, it is said the a king
named Bhagirath brought river Ganga from heaven
to earth. Haridwar is also very popular among
both foreign and indigenous tourists because of
the different types of alternative treatment
facility that it provides. Interestingly enough
more and more people are turning towards
Ayurveda and Yoga. In Haridwar, you will get
some excellent Ayurveda and Yoga institute. The
city of Haridwar is only 10 km away from
Rajaji National Park. If you are a wildlife
lover or a die-hard adventure maniac, make sure
that you visit this wonderful place. Situated in
the state of Uttarakhand, the city is easily
accessible by air, road and rail. Haridwar is
only 214 km from Delhi and 386 km from Agra. If
you wish to journey by car, it will not take
more than just a few hours to reach here.
Haridwar also has a railway station and is well
connected by rail. The nearest airport is just
35 km away at Dehradun. If you are planning to
spend a vacation away from the din and bustle of
daily life, this is the place where you should
be.
Haridwar located in the foothills of the
Himalayas, represents the point where the Ganga
reaches the plains. Haridwar is an ancient
pilgrimage site, held in reverence for
centuries. The Chinese pilgrim Hyuen Tsang who
visited India in the first millennium CE,
describes Haridwar as Mayura, on the eastern
banks of the Ganges. Several temples and ashrams
dot this town and a visit to Haridwar is like
stepping into a totally different world. Legend
has it that Bhagirath, brought the Ganges into
the earth, and into this point where his
ancestors were burnt to ashes by the curse of
the sage Kapila. Kapilastaan, a spot in Haridwar
is pointed to as Kapila's hermitage. Haridwar
was once known as Gangadwar. Haridwar (and
Rishikesh) represents the gateway to the
Himalayan pilgrimage shrines of Badrinath and
Kedarnath. The pilgrimage to the Himalayan
shrines begins only when the sun reaches the
zodiac sign of Aries. Haridwar is also the site
of celebration of the Kumbh Mela, once in twelve
years, when Jupiter transits to the zodiac sign
of Aquarius.
The five sacred bathing spots in Haridwar are
Gangadwar, Kankhal, Nila Parvat, Bilwa Teerth
and Kusavarta. The main ghat at Haridwar is
known as Hari-ki-Pauri (known for a
footprint of Vishnu on a stone in a wall).
Nearby is the Gangadwar 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 (see image above).
Hundreds throng to the ghats at Hari-ki-Pauri 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. Near Haridwar are the towns of
Mayapuri and Kankhal. Kankhal houses the
Daksheswara temple, said to be the site of
Daksha's yagna, which was destroyed by Shiva.
Places to Visit >>
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Har Ki Pauri :
Also known as Har ki Pauri, it is
the centre of attraction in the
pilgrimage town of Haridwar.
Devotees gather here to take a holy
dip in the Ganges and to offer
prayers. The celebration Ganga Aarti
is a sight to behold here for
tourists.
The aarti ceremony takes place here
every evening at 7 pm. As the river
Ganga is worshipped, hundreds of
diyas are set afloat along the
river. According to Hindu mythology,
Har ki Pairiis the place where a
drop of the nectar fell from the
moiling oceans, when the world came
into existence. |
Mansa Devi :
One of the most visited temples in
Haridwar, Mansa Devi Mandir occupies
a place on top of the Shivalik
hills. The temple is dedicated to
Goddess Mansa Devi, believed to
fulfill the wishes of those who
visit here.
It is a tradition with the devotees
to tie sacred threads around the
tree that stands within the premises
of the Mansa Devi temple. From the
temple, one can have heart stirring
views of the Haridwar town. Along
with Chandi Devi temple and the Maya
Devi temple, it completes the
Siddhapeeth Triangle. |
Chandi Devi :
The temple stands in dedication to
Goddess Chandi. One of the most
ancient in the country, the temple
can be reached either by a ropeway
ride or by undertaking a steep
climb, that takes up around 45
minutes.
The rituals at the temple begin as
early as 4 am in the morning.
Visitors are required to strictly
follow the dress code before
entering the premises of the Chandi
Devi temple. |
Daksha Mahadev Temple :
The temple is situated towards the
south of the Kankhal town. Built by
Queen Dhankaur in AD 1810, the
Daksha Mahadev Temple is the site
where Daksha performed a yagna (a
Hindu ritual to invoke gods and seek
their blessings).
In the Hindu mythology, Daksha
Prajapati is the father of Sati, the
spouse of Lord Shiva. The temple is
just a few minutes drive from the
railway station. |
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Maya Devi :
Dedicated to goddess Maya Devi, the
temple is a major attraction for all
visitors to Haridwar.
The temple is counted as one of the
shaktipithas in India. According to
the Hindu mythology, it is the place
where the heart and navel of goddess
Sati fell down, while Lord Shiva was
carrying her burnt body. Numerous
festivals are held at the Maya Devi
temple in keeping with the customs
and traditions. |
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Parad
Shivling :
The mythological site is
located in the historical town of
Kankhal, at 6 km from the town of
Haridwar.
The Parad Shivling remains enshrined
inside the premises of the Harihar
Ashram in Kankhal. Weighing 150 kg,
the shivling is major pilgrimage
site for Shaivites. Devotees worship
the shivling to seek the blessings
of Lord Shiva. |
Accessibility :
By Air :
The airport of Dehradun is the nearest from
Haridwar. It is known by the name of Jolly Grant
Airport and is located approximately 35 km away
from the holy city. Though there are not a large
number of airlines that operate from New Delhi
to Dehradun, you will easily get a Simplifly
Deccan flight, which operates on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays.
By Rail :
Haridwar has a railway station of its own,
connected with all the major cities of India.
Many trains coming from Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi,
Kolkata, etc halt here and bring in the large
rush of visitors who come to take a bath in the
waters of the holy Ganges. There are a large
number of trains available for reaching Haridwar
from New Delhi, with the ones to Dehradun also
making a stoppage here.
By Road :
Haridwar, with it good road network, is easily
accessible from the key cities in India. The
city is around 215 km from New Delhi and since
the National Highway passes through it, reaching
there by road is not at all a problem. Buses and
taxis are easily available to and from the major
cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Agra, Lucknow,
Jaipur, etc.
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Haridwar
