Haridwar, situated on the foothills of the Himalayas along the bank of
river Ganga, is a pilgrimage destination cherished by Hindus. Haridwar means
hari ka dwar i.e., the gateway to Hari (Lord Vishnu). It is also known as
Ganga Dwar, because the holy Ganga as enters the plain here.
Haridwar is bordered by other important pilgrimage destination namely,
Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath, due to its geographical location.
This sacred city is surrounded with several temples and shrines. It is one
of the seven holy sites and a dip in the Ganga that flows beside the holy
city, is believed to wash away mortal sins and cleanse the mind, body and
soul.
Haridwar is a busy, fairly fast moving town. Most people stay here for a
day or two and then move on
Tourists Attraction In Haridwar
» Har Ki Pauri : It is believed that it houses the footprints
of lord Vishnu, imprinted on the walls underneath the water at this Ghat,
and hence the name Har-ki-Pauri. The best time to visit Har-Ki-Pauri, most
sacred bathing ghats at Haridwar, when you can see the 'Aarti' of Ganga
being performed everyday at 6 pm. The arti consists of offering some large
lamps to the Ganga as and loud banging of gongs and other instruments.
» Manasadevi Temple : A cable car will take you to Mansa Devi,
another form of Goddess Durga, situated on the Valwa Parvat. Across the
Ganga, on the banks is the Neel Parvat (Hill). A top this is the Chandi Devi
Temple constructed by the King of Kashmir Suchat Singh, in 1929 AD It is
open from 8am to noon and 2 to 5 pm.
» The Daksha Mahadev Temple : The Daksh temple, situated at
Kankhal, is a tribute to the legend associated with it. According to Hindu
mythology, Daksha Prajapati, Sati's (Lord Shiva's wife) father, performed a
sacrifice here and failed to invite Lord Shiva. Sati, feeling insulted,
consequently, burnt herself in the fire.
» The Pawan Dham Ashram : It is popular for its Hanuman Temple
built with pieces of glass and Maya Devi temple, an ancient temple,
dedicated to Maya Devi. It is said that when Lord Shiva was carrying Sati,
who had burnt herself to keep the honor of her husband, her heart and navel
fell at this place.
» Chandi Devi Temple : A three kilometers from Chandighat,
perched at the top of Neel Parvat, is the famous Chandi Devi temple built in
1929 A.D. by the King of the Kashmir-Suchat Singh. It is believed that the
main statue was established by the Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century AD.
Excursion From Haridwar
» Dehradun : Dehradun is said to be the place of where Rama and
Lakshman performed austerities to kill demon Ravana. Perched at the top in
the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Dehradun is the Capital of Uttaranchal.
The name Dehradun is a group of two word "dera" meaning Camp and "dun"
meaning valley. It is one of the most beautiful resort in the sub mountain
tracks of India, known for its picturesque surroundings.
» Rishikesh : Located 24 kms from Haridwar, Rishikesh is
surrounded by exotic beauty of the hills on three sides with Holy Ganga
flowing through it. As the place is considered to be sacred, it is believed
that meditation at this place leads to attainment of salvation. Rishikesh is
also the gateway a to important religious places like Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
» Daksh Mahadev Temple and Sati Kund : Four kms from Haridwar.
The two are located at Kankhal, which is one of the five sacred places
(Panch Tirthas) around Haridwar. The other four are Ganga, Kushwart, Bilwa
Tirth, Neel Parwat. Legend says that Daksh Prajapati, Sati’s (Lord
Shiva’s first wife) father, performed a Yagna at this place. He did not
invite Lord Shiva and Sati, feeling insulted burnt herself in the Yagna Kund
here.
» Sapt Rishi : It is believed that Ganga splits herself in
seven currents so that the Sapt (seven) Rishis worshipping there would not
be disturbed.
» Chila Wildlife Sanctuary : Chila Wildlife Sanctuary covers an
area of around 240 sq. km that attracts wildlife lovers with its pristine
scenic beauty and rich biodiversity. It has 23 species of mammals and 315
fauna species.
Access
» By Air : Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 42 km.
» By Rail : The Northern Railway's broad and meter gauge lines,
is connected to major centers in the country by train.
» By Road : The State Highway 45 is connected to all major
centers in the region and other parts of the country by good roads.
Other Cities around Delhi
» Haridwar
» Rishikesh
» Mussoorie
