Introduction to city
Haridwar - In Uttranchal
To experience Haridwar is to know that beyond the
superficial sophistry of politically correct contemporary
Hinduism lies a faith as simple as the contours of a lily
in full bloom, as old as the abode of the Gods amidst the
northern snows. Not for nothing is Haridwar called the
/”Gateway to the Gods/”. Situated at the base of the
Shivalik hills of Uttar Pradesh, an aura of
divinity surrounds this sacred town where the
Ganga
is believed to wash away the sins of millions who take a
dip in its holy waters.
Tradition traces the origins of the town to the great
penance performed by King Shweta. Lord Shiva/’s
father-in-law, Daksha Prajapati also performed a yagna
here. Again, it is here that the Devas brought the pitcher
of nectar to foil the designs of the Rakshasas.
Besides being an important pilgrim centre of the Hindus,
Haridwar is a major adventure sports circuit offering
possibilities for river rafting, tracking and
mountaineering. It is also known world over for its herbal
remedies and Ayurveda (the ancient Indian science of
medicine).
Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination - Haridwar
Haridwar attracts herds of tourists all through the year.
Har-ki-Pauri is the centre of activity in Haridwar:
piety and brisk business go hand in hand here at all
times. There are thread ceremonies, tonsuring ceremonies,
holy dips, and ash immersion ceremonies. However, it is at
the time of the evening aarti that the ghats of
Har-ki-Pauri command rapt attention from the onlookers.
This is Haridwar at its best and is not to be missed. The
other attractions here include the Chandi
Devi Temple situated atop the Neel Parvat and the eight-storeyed
Bharat Mata Temple that towers over the small town. Then
there is Shanti Kunj, a spot famous for its
Gayatri Temple
housing 24 images of Gayatri just near the Saptarishi
Ashram. The bazaars of Haridwar also hold their own unique
importance. You will find rudraksh, kumkum (vermilion),
Gangajal (vessels containing Ganges
water), Ayurvedic medicines and precious stones in the
local Moti Bazaar, Upper Road, and Jwalapur.
Haridwar Sightseeing : Places
to visit in destination Haridwar
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Places to visit in the city Haridwar
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CHANDI DEVI -
Haridwar
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The Chandi Devi Temple, situated atop the Neel
Parvat, gives a panoramic view of the entire
Haridwar town. The temple was built in the year 1929
by the then king of Kashmir Suchat Singh. According
to a legend, Adi Shankaracharya established the main
statue here during the eighth century AD. You can
either trek the 3-km path to get to the temple from
Chandi Ghat or take the ropeway that starts from the
nearby Gauri
Shankar Temple. |
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BHARAT MATA TEMPLE - Haridwar
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The Bharat Mata Temple is a massive eight-storey
structure consecrated in 1983. Each floor of the
temple houses statues of different mythological and
historical legends, religious deities, leaders and
heroes who played important role in the formation of
the modern India.
The temple was founded by Swami Satyamitranand Giri.
The first floor of the temple has the statue of
Bharat Mata or Mother India with a map of India on a
raised platform. Likewise, the other floors also
contain renowned figures of Indian history and
mythology while the fifth floor serves as the
assembly hall. |
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SHANTI KUNJ -
Haridwar
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Shanti Kunj is another place to visit while you are in
Haridwar. It is the most important centre for the
Gayatri followers all over India.
The temple here houses 24 images of Gayatri. Shanti
Kunj is also famous for yoga practices.
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HAR-KI-PAURI -
Haridwar
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 Har-Ki-Pauri is regarded as one of the major
attractions of Haridwar. It is a sacred ghat built
by the then King Vikramaditya in the memory of his
brother Bhartrihari. This sacred bathing ghat is
also known as Brahmakund. Thousands of devotees come
here to take a holy dip in the river Ganga
during the Kumbh Mela. Just near the ghat is the
Gangadwar Temple which is regarded as the most
important temple of Haridwar. |
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MAYA DEVI TEMPLE - Haridwar
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The Maya Devi Temple holds great religious
importance for the follower of Hindu religion. It is
said that a vital part of Goddess Sati had fallen at
this place during the process of divine
dismemberment. The temple is also regarded as one of
the Siddhapethas dedicated to the Adhisthatri Devi
of Haridwar. |
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BAZAARS - Haridwar
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Haridwar is also famous for its local bazaars or
markets. The main Haridwar bazaar is a long, winding
street, probably the oldest part of the town, free
of all vehicular traffic. The road is no more than
four yards wide. The shops spill over with sweets,
pickles, bead necklaces, clay images of the gods,
Shiva lingams, sacred texts, ritual designs, and
pictures of the gods, gurus and gotamas in vibrant
technicolour. You can also indulge in some items
made of shells, pearls, rudraksha beads, and cane,
jewellery like bangles, chains, ear and nose rings,
etc. |
Excursions : Places nearby
city - Haridwar
After you have visited the major places of interest in
Haridwar, it/’s time for you to indulge in some of the
exotic locations around the small town. If you are
spiritually inclined, there are many ashrams nearby like
the Sapta Rishi Ashram and Kanva Rishi Ashram.
Another holy place is Rishikesh, which was renowned
since the time of the Ramayana. Besides, there is
Triveni Ghat, the holy place of the major ritualistic and
religious ceremonies; Neel Kantha, the legendary place
related to Lord Shiva; and the Chila Wildlife Sanctuary,
with its lush green vegetation and Himalayan wildlife
species.
Haridwar Excursion :
Places nearby Haridwar - Uttranchal
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Places to visit nearby destination - Haridwar |
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Chila Wildlife
Sanctuary
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The Chila Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at a
distance of 10 km away from Haridwar. It is a part
of the Rajaji
National Park and houses a good number of rare
Himalayan flora and fauna. The sanctuary remains
closed for tourists from June 15 to November 15
every year.
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Kanva Rishi Ashram
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Situated at a distance of 42 km from Haridwar, the
Kanva Rishi Ashram lies along the forested road to
Kotdwar. The Malini River flows by the ashram.
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Neel Kantha
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As the name suggests, the Neel Kantha is a temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated at an
altitude of 1,700 metres and takes around 4 hours on
foot if you decide on to walk from Rishikesh.
According to a legend, this is the place where lord
Shiva drank the poison churned out of the cosmic
ocean. The Shivratri fair held here is famous all
over India |
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Rishikesh
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If Haridwar is the town of temples, Rishikesh is the
ashram capital of Hinduism. Located at the
confluence of the Ganga and Chandrabhaga at a
distance of 28 km from the Haridwar town, Rishikesh
is a sacred spot where the great sage Raibhya
performed penance and was granted an appearance by
God in his /’Hrishikesh/’ aspect. Rishikesh is today
a centre of Vedic, yogic, herbal medication and
meditation studies. Along the east bank of the river
lies a succession of ashrams in serene surroundings:
the river is beautiful, the air is fragrant with
freshness and there is benediction in the air.
Rishikesh is a place to be, not do. |
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Sapta Rishi Ashram
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Situated just a few kilometres from main Haridwar
town, the Sapta Rishi Ashram makes an important
excursion spot. As the name suggests, Sapta Rishi is
believed to be the meditation ground of seven sages
named Kashyap, Vashit, Atri, Vishwamitra, Jaindayani,
Bhardwaj and Gautam. Legends say that the holy river
Ganga didn/’t want to disturb the sages in their
meditation and so she split herself into seven
streams around each one of them keeping her flow
intact. |
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Triveni Ghat
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Known for its religious significance, the Triveni
Ghat is an important bathing ghat. Here people come
to worship the river with milk and diyas. After
sunset, priests perform religious rites and set
floating lamps on the water to mark the aarti
ceremony. |
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