Haridwar, Hindu Pilgrimage in India
HARIDWAR
FACTS & FIGURES
Location:
Uttar Pradesh, India
Best time to Visit: October to March
Significance: Kumbh Mela every twelve Years, Ardh Kumbh after every six years, performance of last rites by hindus.
A paradise for nature-lovers, Haridwar presents kaleidoscope of Indian culture and civilization. Haridwar also termed as 'Gateway to Gods' is known as Mayapuri, Kapila, Gangadwar as well. The followers of Lord Shiva(Har) and followers of Lord Vishnu(Hari) pronounce this place Haridwar and Haridwar respectively as told by some. It is also a point of entry to Dev Bhoomi and Char Dham (Four main centers of pilgrimage in Uttaranchal) Viz. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
Best time to Visit: October to March
Significance: Kumbh Mela every twelve Years, Ardh Kumbh after every six years, performance of last rites by hindus.
A paradise for nature-lovers, Haridwar presents kaleidoscope of Indian culture and civilization. Haridwar also termed as 'Gateway to Gods' is known as Mayapuri, Kapila, Gangadwar as well. The followers of Lord Shiva(Har) and followers of Lord Vishnu(Hari) pronounce this place Haridwar and Haridwar respectively as told by some. It is also a point of entry to Dev Bhoomi and Char Dham (Four main centers of pilgrimage in Uttaranchal) Viz. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
Legendary
King Bhagirath
is said to have
brought the river
Ganga from heaven
to earth in order
to provide salvation
to his ancestors.
It is also said
that Haridwar has
been sanctified
by the presence
of three Gods; Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh.
Lord Vishnu is said
to have his foot
print on the stone
that is set in the
upper wall of Har-Ki-Pauri
where the Holy Ganga
touches it all the
times . Devout believers
feel that they can
go to heaven by
getting their salvation
after a dip in the
sacred Ganga at
Haridwar.
Pilgrim/Tourist Attractions in Haridwar
Har Ki Pauri 
Har Ki Pauri
or Brahm Kund
is the main ghat
of Haridwar. It
is believed that
it represents the
point where River
Ganges takes leave
of the mountains
and makes it way
to the plains. It
is so named, as
it is believed that
it is Lord Vishnu's
footprint that is
imprinted on one
of the stones here
and is thus visited
regularly by a number
of devotees, who
come here to pay
their homage to
this footprint of
God and take a dip
in the sacred waters
of Ganga. Ganga
aarti held
here every evening
is famous because
it quite a
spectacle to see
hundreds of tiny
diyas and
marigolds floating
down the river as
priests recite 'Om'
on the Ghat steps.
Mansa
Devi Temple
A
cable-car ride to
the Mansa Devi Temple,
which is situated
on a hill above
the city can be
very thrilling.
Another option is
to climb up the
1.5 km stretch,
to the temple of
Goddess Mansa, one
of the varied forms
of Goddess Durga
said to have power
to grant your wishes.
Chandi Devi Temple
The
temple of Chandi
Devi a top the Neel
Parvat on the other
bank of river Ganges
was constructed
in AD 1929 by Suchat
Singh, the then
King of Kashmir.
The temple is a
3-km trek from Chandi
Ghat and it is believed
that the Adi Shankaracharya
established the
main statue in eighth
century AD. The
Chandi Devi Temple
is now also accessible
by a ropeway, which
starts near the
Gauri Shankar Temple.
Sapt Rishi Ashram
Sapt Rishi Ashram
is the point where
River Ganges
flows in seven little
streams.
It is believed that
seven greatest saints
or holy sages prayed
here for the good
of humanity. These
saints are the only
seven saints that
have reached that
level amongst the
innumerable others
who tried to attain
it across number
of aeons since the
world was made.
It is believed that
a constellation
of seven stars is
actually the saints
who took this form
after leaving their
mortal bodies for
the heavenly abode.
Pavan Dham
3
km from Har Ki Pauri,
Pavan Dham has become
a tourist attraction
because of its temple,
which has fabulous
glass interiors
and are a pleasure
to look at.
Bharat Mata Temple
It is a rare multi-storeyed
building and each
of the floors in
the building has
been dedicated to
different
gods. Here
the motherland India
is given a form
of a deity with
the tri-colored
national flag in
her hand a tri-colored
sari adorning her
idol. It represents
the 'Unity In Diversity'
in India and the
oneness of all Indians.
Vaishno Devi temple
The
Vaishno Devi temple
here is newly constructed
and a true
replica of the original
Vaishno Devi temple
in Jammu & Kashmir.
FAIR,
FESTIVALS 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.
How
to Reach Haridwar
•
Air: The
nearest airport
is the Jolly Grant
in Dehradun, but
it is preferable
to use the roads
or rail to Delhi
and then take flights
to the destination
of ones choice.
•
Rail:
Haridwar
is well connected
by trains to almost
all the major cities
in India.
•
Road:
Haridwar is well
connected to all
the major cities
of India by roads
and there are bus
services to and
from Delhi, Agra,
Shimla and Varanasi.
