Haridwar is the gateway to the four pilgrimages
(Char Dham Yatra) Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath
and Kedarnath of Uttarakhand. Haridwar is an important
pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of
Uttarakhand, India. The River Ganges, after flowing for 253
kilometres (157 mi) from its source at Gaumukh at the edge of
the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North
India for the first time at Haridwar, which gave the city its
ancient name, Gangadwára.
Haridwar
Video
It’s also your starting point on the journey to the sacred sources
of the rivers Ganga and the Yamuna. According to legend, Prince
Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his
ancestors who had perished due to sage Kapil’s curse. The penance
was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth from Lord Shiva's
locks and its bountiful water revived the sons of King Sagara.
In the tradition of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred
waters here, praying for salvation of their ancestors.
Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest
places to Hindus. According to the Samudra manthan, Haridwar
along with Ujjain, Nasik and Allahabad is one of four sites
where drops of Amrit, the elixir of immortality, accidentally
spilled over from the pitcher while being carried by the celestial
bird Garuda. This is manifested in the Kumbha Mela being celebrated
every 3 years in one of the 4 places, and thus every 12 years
in Haridwar. Amidst the Kumbha Mela, millions of pilgrims, devotees,
and tourists congregate in Haridwar to perform ritualistic bathing
on the banks of the river Ganges to wash away their sins to
attain Moksha. Brahma Kund, the spot where the Amrit fell, is
located at Har ki Pauri (literally, "footsteps of the Lord")
and is considered to be the most sacred ghat of Haridwar.
Haridwar is the headquarters and the largest city of the district.
Today, the city is developing beyond its religious importance,
with the fast developing industrial estate of State Infrastructure
and Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCUL), and the close
by township of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited in Ranipur,
Uttarakhand as well as its affiliated ancillaries.
Haridwar
Video
Etymology
In Sanskrit, Haridwar stands for Dwara of Hari or Gateway to
God, where 'Hari' means God and 'dwar' means gate. In ancient
times, the city was referred to as Gangadwára, the place where
the Ganges descends to the plains
History of Haridwar
A paradise for nature lovers, Haridwar presents a kaleidoscope
of Indian culture and civilization. In the scriptures it has
been variously mentioned as Kapilsthan, Gangadwar and Mayapuri.
It is also an entry point to the Char Dham (the four main centers
of pilgrimage in Uttarakhand viz, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri,
and Yamunotri), hence, Shaivaites (followers of Lord Shiva)
and Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu) call this place
Hardwar and Haridwar respectively, corresponding to Har being
Shiv and Hari being Vishnu.
The legendary King, Bhagirath, the great-grandson of the Suryavanshi
King Sagar (an ancestor of Rama), is said to have brought the
river Ganges down from heaven, through years of penance in Satya
Yuga, for the salvation of 60,000 of his ancestors from the
curse of the saint Kapila, a tradition continued by thousands
of devout Hindus, who brings the ashes of their departed family
members, in hope of their salvation. Lord Vishnu is said to
have left his footprint on the stone that is set in the upper
wall of Har-Ki-Pauri, where the Holy Ganges touches it at all
times.
Haridwar came under the rule of the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE),
and later under the Kushan Empire (c. 1st–3rd centuries). Archaeological
findings have proved that terra cotta culture dating between
1700 BCE and 1200 BCE existed in this region. First modern era
written evidence of Haridwar is found in the accounts of a Chinese
traveller, Huan Tsang, who visited India in 629 AD. during the
reign of King Harshavardhan (590–647) records Haridwar as 'Mo-yu-lo',
the remains of which still exist at Mayapur, a little to the
south of the modern town. Among the ruins are a fort and three
temples, decorated with broken stone sculptures, he also mentions
the presence of a temple, north of Mo-yu-lo called 'Gangadwara',
Gateway of the Ganges.
Geography of Haridwar
The Ganges emerges from the mountains to touch the plains. The
water in the river Ganges is mostly clear and generally cold,
except in the rainy season, during which soil from the upper
regions flows down into it. The river Ganges flows in a series
of channels separated from each other called aits, most of which
are well wooded. Other minor seasonal streams are Ranipur Rao,
Pathri Rao, Rawii Rao, Harnaui Rao, Begam Nadi etc. A large
part of the district is forested, and Rajaji National Park is
within the bounds of the district, making it an ideal destination
for wildlife and adventure lovers. Rajaji is accessible through
different gates; the Ramgarh Gate and Mohand Gate are within
25 km of Dehradun, while the Motichur, Ranipur and Chilla Gates
are just about 9 km from Haridwar. Kunao Gate is 6 km from Rishikesh,
and Laldhang gate is 25 km from Kotdwara. Haridwar district,
covering an area of about 2360 km², is in the southwestern part
of Uttarakhand state of India. Haridwar is situated at height
of 314 metres from the sea level, between Shivalik Hills in
the North and Northeast and the Ganges River in the South.
Best time to Visit Haridwar :-
Haridwar is a picturesque destination affording enchanting
views throughout the year.
The right time to visit would be February, March, August-October.
In July there is a festival called Savan where
thousands of people flock to Haridwar. Major roads are blocked
and hotels are crowded. It is better to avoid travelling to
Haridwar during that time.
Pilgrimage in Haridwar :- Places To Visit In Haridwar
| Visiting Places in Haridwar - Sight Seeing Places - Haridwar
Attractions - Haridwar Sight Seeing
Har Ki Pauri
This sacred Ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya (1st
century BC) in memory of his brother Bhrithari. It is believed
that Bhrithari came to Haridwar and meditated on the banks
of the holy Ganges. When he died, his brother constructed
a Ghat in his name, which later came to be known as Har-Ki-Pauri.
The most sacred ghat within Har-ki-Pauri is Brahmakund. The
evening prayer(Aarti) at dusk offered to Goddess Ganga at
Har-Ki-Pauri (steps of God Hara or Shiva) is an enchanting
experience for any visitor. A spectacle of sound and colour
is seen when, after the ceremony, pilgrims float diyas (floral
floats with lamps) and incense on the river, commemorating
their deceased ancestors. Thousands of people from all round
the world do make a point to attend this prayer on their visit
to Haridwar. A majority of present ghats were largely developed
in the 1800s.
Haridwar
Video
Chandi Devi Temple
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar The temple is dedicated to Goddess
Chandi, who sits atop the 'Neel Parvat' on the eastern bank
of the river Ganges. It was constructed in 1929 A.D. by the
king of Kashmir, Suchat Singh. Skanda Purana mentions a legend,
in which Chanda-Munda, the Army Chief of a local Demon Kings
Shumbh and Nishumbha were killed by goddess Chandi here, after
which the place got the name Chandi Devi. It is believed that
the main statue was established by the Adi Shankracharya in
8th century A.D. The temple is a 3 km trek from Chandighat
and can also be reached through a ropeway.
Mansa Devi Temple
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar Situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat,
the temple of Goddess Mansa Devi, literally meaning the Goddess
who fulfills desires (Mansa), is a popular tourist destination,
especially because of the cable cars, which offer a picturesque
view of the entire city. The main temple houses two idols
of the Goddess, one with three mouths and five arms, while
the other one has eight arms.
Maya Devi Temple
Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar Dating to the 11th century, this
ancient temple of Maya Devi, the Adhisthatri deity of Hardwar,
is considered one of the Siddhapethas and is said to be the
place where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati had fallen.
It is one of few ancient temples still standing in Haridwar,
along with Narayani Shila temple and Bhairav Temple.
Kankhal
Daksheswara Mahadev Temple The ancient temple of Daksha Mahadev
also known as Daksheswara Mahadev Temple, is situated in the
south Kankhal town. According to Hindu texts, King Daksha
Prajapati, father of Dakshayani, Lord Shiva's first wife,
performed a yagna, to which he deliberately did not invite
Lord Shiva. When he arrived uninvited, he was further insulted
by the king, seeing which Sati felt infuriated and self-immolated
herself in the yagna kund. King Daksha was later killed by
the demon Virabhadra, born out of Shiva's anger. Later the
king was brought to life and given a goat's head by Shiva.
Daksha Mahadev temple is a tribute to this legend.
Sati Kund, another well-known mythological heritage worth
a visit is situated in the Kankhal. Legend has it that Sati
immolated herself in this kund.
Piran Kaliyar
Built by Ibrahim Lodhi, a ruler of Delhi, this 'Dargah' of
Hazrat Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari, a 13th century, Sufi Saint
of Chishti Order (also known as Sarkar Sabir Pak), in Kaliyar
village, 7 km. from Roorkee, is a living example of religious
harmony in India, visited by devotees from all over the world,
during the annual 'Urs' festival, which is celebrated from
1 st day of sighting the moon to 16th day of Rabeeull month
Islamic calendar.
Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar
This Bird Sanctuary is situated on the main Ganges river,
or Neel Dhara, at the Bhimgoda barrage, it is a paradise for
bird watchers and home to many migratory birds during the
winter season.
Bhimgoda Tank
This tank is situated at a distance of about 1 km from Har
ki Pauri. It is said that while Pandavas were going to Himalayas
through Haridwar, prince Bhima drew water from the rocks here
by thrusting his knee (goda), to the very ground.
Ram Mandir
This mandir is under construction near Saptarishi marge, at
Bhupatwala. Mandir is being constructed by Swami Ramanandacharya
Smarak Seva Nyays headed by Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami
Ramnareshacharya of Sri math, Panchganga Ghat, Varanasi. This
Ram temple would be biggest in India.
Doodhadhari Barfani Temple
Part of the ashram of Doodhadhari Barfani Baba, this temple
complex in white marble is one of most beautiful temples in
Haridwar, especially the temples of Rama-Sita and Hanuman.
Sureshvari Devi Temple
Temple of Goddess Sureshwari, situated in midst of beautiful
Rajaji National Park. Serene and religious makes this temple
abode of worshipers, saints etc. Located at outskirts of Haridwar
in Ranipur and permission from forest rangers is necessary.
Pawan Dham
A modern temple, made entirely of glass pieces, and now a
popular tourist destination.The Temple complex was constructed
by the effort of His Holiness Swami Vedantanand Ji Maharaj
and the Institiute is growing under the Leadership of His
Holiness Swami SahajPrakash Ji Maharaj. People of Moga ( Punjab)
has put their efforts and Money to bring up this place.
Bharat Mata Mandir
A multi-storey temple, dedicated to Bharat Mata, Mother India,
with each floor depicting an era in the Indian History, from
the days of Ramayan till India's independence. The temple
was built under the auspicious blessings of the honorable
former Shankaracharya His Holiness Maha-Mandleshwar Swami
Satyamitranand Giriji Maharaj. Swami Satyamitranand Foundation
was registered in 1998. Since the inception of the Foundation,
several other branches have been opened, namely in Renukut,
Jabalpur, Jodhpur, Indore and Ahmedabad. The Bharat Mata Mandir
was inaugurated on 15 May 1983 by Rt.Hon.Smt. Indira Gandhi
and stands along the River Ganges in Haridwar. It is situated
adjacent to the 'Smanvaya Ashram', and stands eight stories
tall to the height of 180 feet (55 m). Each floor is devoted
to a particular theme. On the first floor is the statue of
Bharat Mata. The second floor ‘Shoor Mandir’ is dedicated
to the well renowned heroes of India. The third floor ‘Matru
Mandir’ is dedicated to the achievements of India’s revered
women; such as Meera Bai, Savitri, Maitri etc. The great saints
from various religions, including Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism
are featured on the fourth floor ‘Sant Mandir’. The Assembly
Hall with walls depicting symbolic coexistence of all religions
practiced in India and paintings portraying history and beauty
in various provinces of India, is situated on the fifth floor.
The various forms of the Goddess of Shakti can be seen on
the sixth floor, whilst the seventh floor is devoted to all
incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The eighth floor holds the shrine
of Lord Shiva from which devotees can gain a panoramic view
of Himalayas, Haridwar, and the splendour of the entire campus
of Sapta Sarovar.
Jairam Ashram
Famous for its diorama exhibition, and a massive white statue
depicting the famous Samudra manthan episode, a must-see for
any visitor.
Sapt Rishi Ashram and Sapt Sarovar
A picturesque place near Haridwar, where seven great sages
or Saptarishis, namely Kashyapa, Vashisht, Atri, Vishwamitra,
Jamadagni, Bharadwaja and Gautam, said to have meditated.
The Ganges split herself into seven currents at this place
so that the Rishis would not be disturbed by the flow.
Parad Shivling
Situated in Harihar Ashram, Kankhal. Parad Shivling (Mercury
Shivling) weighing about 150 kg and Rudraksha tree are the
main attractions here.
Ramanand Ashram
Situated in shravan nath nagar of the town near railway station,
this is the main ashram of Ramanand Sampraday in Haridwar.
Mahant Bhagwan Das is the chief of this ashram.
Anandamayi Maa Ashram
Situated in Kankhal, one of five sub-cities of Haridwar, the
ashram houses the samadhi shrine of Sri Anandamoyi Ma (1896–1982),
a noted saint of India.
Shantikunj
Shantikunj is the headquarter of famous spiritual and social
organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP) established
by Pt Shriram Sharma Acharya. Its located at a distance of
6 Kilometers from Haridwar railway station towards Rishikesh/Dehradun
on NH58. At the bank of the holy Ganges and between the Shivalik
ranges of the Himalayas, its also a place of attraction for
tourists as well as seekers of spiritual guidance.
Haridwar
Video
Festivals
in Haridwar :-
Being a place of intense religious significance, Haridwar
also hosts several religious festivals throughout the year;
popular among them are the Kavad Mela, Somvati Amavasya Mela,
Ganga Dashara, Gughal Mela, in which around 20-25 lacs (2-2.5
million) people take part. Apart from this, there is the Kumbh
Mela which takes place once in every twelve years, when the
planet Jupiter (Brihaspati) comes into the sign Aquarius (Kumbha).
First written evidence of the Kumbha Mela can be found in
the accounts of Chinese traveller, Huan Tsang or Xuanzang
(602 - 664 A.D.) who visited India in 629 AD. According to
The Imperial Gazetteer of India, an outbreak of cholera occurred
at the 1892 Mela at Haridwar, which lead to the rapid improvement
of mela arrangement by the authorities and the formation of
'Haridwar Improvement Society', and in 1903 about 400,000
people attended the fair. A stampede took place near Har-ki-Pauri,
during the Kumbh Mela in 1980s, in which 600 people were killed
and scores injured. The 1998 Maha Kumbh Mela saw over 80 million
pilgrims visiting this city, to take a dip in the holy river,
the Ganges.
FAIR,
FESTIVAL AND MAHOTSAV OF HARIDWAR
Haridwar
is one place where fairs are being organized with full
enthusiasm round the year, such as Somwati Amavasya,
Kartik Poornima, Shravan Poornima, Ganga Dussehra and
other important bathing dates of Hindu calendar. The
Kanwad mela during the month of Shravana is very popular
among masses in which lacs of devotees of Lord Shiva
come to Haridwar to take holy water of river Ganga.
Apart from these, Kumbh mela and Ardh Kumbh mela at
the interval of 12 and 6 years respectively do not need
any introduction. District administration had
also organised 'Haridwar Mahotsava', a 3-4 day cultural
festival on the bank of river Ganga and 'Ayurveda Mahotsava'.
Besides this 'Urs' is organized annually at the holy
dargah of Piran Kaliyar in which people of all sects
participate and pray for their well being.
Following table shows month wise festivals/fairs arranged
in this district and approximate no. of visitors
to them.
Month
Occasion
Approx. no. of Tourists
January
Makar Sakranti
2 to 2.5
lacs
Feb-March
Maha Shivratri
2 lacs
March-April
RamNavmi
3 to 4 lacs
April
Baisakhi
8 to 10
lacs
May
Buddha Poornima
3 lacs
May
Ganga Saptami
2 lacs
June
Ganga Dussehra
8 to 10
lacs
July-August
Kanwar Mela
25 to 30
lacs
July
Somwati
Amavasya
20 to 25
lacs
August
Janmashtmi
1 lac
October
Durga Puja
3 lacs
November
Kartik Poornima
7 to 8 lacs
Every Month
Ekadashis
2 lacs
Poornimas
2 lacs
Amavasyas
2 lacs
Whenever
occurs
Surya Grahans
4 to 5 lacs
Chandra
Grahans
4 lacs
How
to Reach Haridwar - Transport
Haridwar is headquarters of Haridwar district and it has good
connectivity with the other towns of the district and the
state.
Road
National Highway 58, between Delhi and Mana Pass passes through
Haridwar connecting it with Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar,
Roorkee and Badrinath and National Highway 74 originating
from Haridwar connects it with Kashipur, Kichha, Nagina, Pilibhit
and Bareilly.
Rail
The Haridwar Railway Station located in Haridwar is under
the control of the Northern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.
It has direct links the major cities of India such as Delhi,
Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Indore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad but it
lacks direct connectivity to major cities of Central India
namely Jabalpur, Bhopal, Gwalior and Nagpur.
Air
The nearest domestic airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun
which is a located 35 km from Haridwar. Indira Gandhi International
Airport in New Delhi is the nearest International Airport.
Industry InHaridwar :-
Haridwar is rapidly developing as an important industrial
township of Uttaranchal since the state government agency,
SIDCUL (State Infrastructure & Industrial Development Corporation
of Uttranchal Ltd.) set up the Integrated Industrial Estate
in a district attracting many important industrial houses
which are setting up manufacturing facilities in the area.
Haridwar has a thriving industrial area situated at the bypass
road, comprising mainly ancillary units to PSU, BHEL, which
was established here in 1964 and currently employs over 8000
people.
Haridwar - has a pleasant climate for many months of the year.
As its location is in the hilly terrains, the climate never
becomes extreme type. Thus Haridwar is one such tourist spot
that can be visited any time of the year.
The weather of Haridwar can be studied with a glimpse towards
its climatic conditions. The maximum temperature recorded
so far is 27.7 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature
of Haridwar is 14.6 degree Celsius. In the months of summer
the temperature in Haridwar varies from 35 degrees to 45 degrees
Celsius. The temperature ranges from 10 degrees to 30 degrees
Celsius in the months of winter. The weather of Haridwar often
becomes unpredictable. There are frequent precipitation that
takes place. The annual mean rainfall in Haridwar is about
2136.7 mm.
The holy city of Haridwar lies at the bank of river Ganga.
The region is surrounded by the Himalayas and falls under
the climatic conditions of the western part of the Himalayas.
The day remains pleasant and sunny with comparatively cold
evenings. The winters are very cold and the summer season
is mild and moderate followed by a good rainfall in monsoon.
Summer Season in Haridwar :- During the months from March
to June. The maximum temperature that you can expect during
the summer is around Summer 20 °C to 40 °C.
Monsoon Season in Haridwar :- Monsoon season is from July
to September and during this time most activities are suspended
due to the heavy blast of rains. Rainfall is highest in the
month of August. During the month of October and November
the conditions are pleasant and temperate.
Winter Season in Haridwar :- Winter season can be cold
in the town and the temperatures can be expected to around
6 °C. The barometer rises up to a maximum of 16 °C during
the winter months. Wollen clothing is essential during this
period.
Route
Map to Haridwar
By Train - Haridwar railway station
From Delhi there are many trains to Haridwar, some of the best
are :-
Shatabadi Express, Jan Shatabdi, AC Special Express, Mussoorie
Express. to buy a ticket.
Like all Hindu holy towns, Haridwar has more than its fair share
of filth, aggressive beggars and charlatans.
During festivals, especially the Kumbh Mela, Haridwar is packed
to bursting and beyond. Stampedes are a regular occurrence,
with over 50 killed in 1986, 21 killed in 2003 and 5 killed
in 2010; the bridges across the Ganges are the most dangerous
spot.
Google
Map of Haridwar
Google
Map of Haridwar
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