Haridwar
Featuring numerous Hindu fairs and festivals, Haridwar in Uttarakhand has the eminence of
being one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage destinations in India. The holy town occupies
a picturesque location on the banks of River Ganga, also referred to as 'Mother Ganga' by
the hindu community. Not only from across the country but from all over the world devotees
and travellers arrive here to seek spirituality. The name 'Haridwar' literally translates to 'Gateway
to God'. What makes Haridwar even more popular is the 'Kumbh Mela', the largest fair in human
history, which is held here at the interval of every 12 years.
Best Time to Visit Haridwar
Haridwar attracts crowd throughout the year. However, the main pilgrimage season is during the
month of July. Travellers can make a trip to the holy town anytime of the year. It would be
Advisable to avoid coming here during July.
Mythological Background
As the name suggests, Haridwar happens to be the Gateway to God. The sacred place has been mentioned in a number of Hindu scriptures. It is a land of saints, yogis and rishis. Due to this reason, the Hindus hold the place in extremely high regard. Haridwar is the chosen site
for organising the very vibrant 'Kumbh Mela',. The grand religious festival is held alternatively in the cities of Haridwar, Ujjain and Allahabad.
Places to See
Ganga ghats and Hindu temples are dispersed all across Haridwar. Visiting each of these religious sites would be like taking a living lesson on Hinduism.
Har ki Paudi
One of the major crowd pullers in the holy pilgrimage town, Har Ki Pauri is a ghat, associated with numerous myths and legends. Legend has it, that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu visited the ghat during the Vedic Era. It was king Vikramaditya who set up this ghat in rememberance of his brother Bhartrihari.
Chandi Devi
Erected by Suchat Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, the Chandi Temple is perched atop the Neel Parvat. To reach the temple, travellers and devotees need to undertake a scenic trek of 3 km from Chandi Ghat. Another option to get to the temple is via a ropeway from Gauri Shankar Temple.
Mansa Devi Temple
One can access the temple via a ropeway from the Upper Road. Dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi, the Mansa Devi Temple enshrines a three-mouthed and five-armed statue of the goddess. The temple is picturesquely perched atop the Bilwa Parvat.
Kumbh Mela
The religious fair is organised on the Har ki Paudi ghat in Haridwar. According to the Hindu mythology, the Ganges, during the festival, attains healing properties. Both the young and old participate in the fair with great zeal and fervour.
Reaching the Pilgrimage Town
The closest domestic airport from Haridwar is the Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, at 20 km. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport lies at a distance of 200 km from the town. Haridwar has its own well connected railway station. If you are coming to Haridwar from Delhi by road, the journey would take up around 5-6 hours. Rishikesh is at 1 hour's drive from Haridwar.
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