Haridwar
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Haridwar is referred as the Gateway to the Lord and one of the seven holiest Hindu pilgrim sites situated on the banks of the sacred river Ganga. This place is deeply associated with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It is also a gateway to the four pilgrimages in the Uttrakhand region which makes it highly revered place by the Hindus.
The blessings from the trinity of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma made this place a prominent Hindu pilgrimage destination of India. It is also among the four venues for the Kumbh Mela which is held at an interval of four, six and twelve years. At this place India's most sacred river Ganga descends from the hills to the North Indian plains.
The holy land Haridwar is one of the prominent Shaktipeeths of India which attracted several scholars, philosophers, saints and sages since time immemorial. Not only as a spiritual and religious centre, Haridwar also emerged as a major learning centre for arts, science and culture. This is also one of the best destinations for learning yoga and meditation. Ayurveda facilities are also available here.
Har ki Pauri
It is the holy ghat of Har-Ki-Pauri or Brahamakund which was constructed by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhatrihari. The religious importance of this place makes it among the most visited places in Haridwar. At this one can still see the footprints of Lord Vishnu in the temple beside the ghat. During the Kumbh and the Ardh Kumbh Mela this ghat becomes the most prominent and the scared place of bathing. This place is visited by almost every visitor who comes to this place.
Mansa Devi Temple
This is highly revered temple dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi which is situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat. Devotees reach this temple via rope-way cable cars.
Chandi Devi Temple
It is located on the top of the Neel Parvat which is believed to be built in 1929 by Suchat Singh, the King of Kashmir. The main deity at the temple was enshrined by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. This temple offers a 3 km wonderful trek from Chandighat.
Bharat Mata temple
Situated on the bank of River Ganga, the foundation of Bharat Mata Temple was laid by Swami Satyamitranand Giri. This massive and unique temple in Haridwar is dedicated to Mother India and has historical legends as deities. The temple complex is an 8-storey structure with each floor dedicated to different Gods and mythological heroes.
Bara Bazaar
Bara Bazaar is a popular shopping place in Haridwar, situated on the Railway Road. The Bazaar is famous for its handicraft items that can also be taken back home as souvenirs. Rudraksha seeds, Churan (digestive powders) and a variety of sweets made from milk can also be brought from the shops in Bara Bazar. Ayurvedic medicines are also quite a popular buy in the market.
The holy land of Haridwar is popular for temples and pilgrimages. It is visited by scores of devotees and tourists throughout the year. Some of the known visiting places of this place are Bharat Mata Mandir, Maya Devi Temple, Bhooma Niketan, Daksha Mahadev Temple, Sapt-Rishi Ashram and Sapt-Sarovar and many more.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is one destination which is popular for pilgrimage, yoga as well as adventure sports. Situated on the foothills of the Shivalik range on the banks of river Ganga, Rishikesh is frequented by both national and international travellers for its varied attractions. This small serene town is the ideal starting point for exploring expedition in the Himalayan region.
Attractions to Visit: Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula, Shivpuri, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, and Triveni Ghat.
Dehradun
One of the oldest cities of India, Dehradun shines like a precious jewel in the lower Himalayan mountain ranges. Perched at an elevation of 435 meters, Dehradun is the gateway to the famous hill station of Mussoorie and the pilgrimage spots of Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Attractions to Visit: Tapkeshwar Temple, Robber’s Cave, Lacchiwalla, Tibetan Buddhist Temple, Malsi Deer Park, and Tiger Falls.
Haridwar is an important religious centre which hosts festivals throughout the year. Some of the well known fairs celebrated in Haridwar are the Kumbh Mela, Ganga Dussehra, Somvati Amavasya Mela, Kavad Mela etc.
The Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu Pilgrimage. This is one of the oldest and largest religious gathering of Hindus that occurs after every twelve years. Kumbh fair is organized once in 12 years when the planet Jupiter (Brahaspati) gets closer to the planet Uranus (the ruling planet of Aquarius/Kumbh). Ardh-Kumbh is held after every 6 years. During this time people from all nook and corner of the globe gather at Haridwar to take a dip in the holy waters of river Ganga. According to the Hindu mythology it is believed that taking a dip in the holy river removes all past sins and evils from an individual's life.
It is organized on the 13th or the 14th night of the new moon during Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun with the festival of Shivratri (the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati), when the devotees throng to Haridwar to collect the holy waters of the river Ganga. They carry it back to their home town and offer it to Lord Shiva on the occasion of Shivaratri.
Haridwar being a religious place offers several prayer articles, idols of Gods & Goddesses, books and CDs on spirituality, Yoga and Meditation etc. One can visit the Uttarakhand Handloom Emporium located near the Bharat Mata temple to purchase handicrafts, shawls, jewellery, beads, artifacts, decorative pieces, etc. Some of the other shopping areas of this place are Moti Bazaar, Upper Road, Jwalapur and Kankhal.
By Air: The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant (41 km) in Dehradun.
By Train: Haridwar itself is well connected by trains to almost all the major cities in India.
By Road: The city lies on National Highway - 45 . Therefore, it is easily accessible by road as well. One can reach Haridwar by state transport buses, deluxe buses or taxis from Dehradun, Delhi, Nainital, Agra or several other major cities.