Haridwar (Gateway to the God)

Haridwar is the entrance to the abode of God, stated on the bank of Holy Ganga is one of the four palces where Every twelve years the great festival of Kumbha Mela is held and every six years an Ardh Kumbha.During these festivals millions of pilgrims come to Hardwar from all over India.The town has also been called Gangadvar, meaning 'Door of the Ganga'. Haridwar is the gateway for Yamunoti, Gangotri, Sri Kedarnath and Sri Badrinath.

According to legend, Prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to Sage Kapila'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 the salvation of their ancestors.

The list of attractions in Haridwar is endless. Har-Ki-Pauri, the sacred ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother Bhartrihari. The golden reflection of floral diyas in the river Ganges is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga aarti ceremony at the ghat.

Haridwar has a number of interesting sites that you can include in your excursion. Rishikesh, around 28 km off Haridwar, is at the base of the Himalayas and it is where the Ganges comes down to the plains from the hills. A breathtaking experience of natural beauty and undiscovered wildlife awaits here. Not to mention the peace and tranquility of a landscape associated with sages and meditation.

Geographical Information:

Area
11.20 sq. km (City area).

Altitude
356 m (1190 ft).

Population
82,000

Distances from Major Cities:

• Delhi (214 kms.)
• Agra (386 kms.)
• Ambala (168 kms.)
• Badrinath (325 kms.)
• Dehradun (52 kms.)
• Kedarnath (250 kms.)
• Saharanpur (81 kms.)
• Nainital (286 kms.)

Accessibility:

Air
The nearest Airport is Jollygrant, BhaniaWala, Dehradun (41kms). Vayudoot services from Delhi. Indira Gandhi International Airport,Delhi (220kms)

Rail
Connected with all important Cities of India viz., Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Howrah, Varanasi, Allahabad, Ujjain, Amritser, Dehradun, Lucknow, etc.

Road
Haridwar is connected by road with most places of North India.

Climate:
Summer :- Max 41.0ºC, Min 36.6ºC.
Winter :- Max 32.2ºC, Min 18.3ºC.

Clothing:
Summer :- Cottons.
Winter :- Woolens.

Best Time to visit:
Through out the year.

Sight must to visit :

Har Ki Pauri :

Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar Yatra The Ganga Aarti in Hardwar's Har-ki-Pauri is one of the famous rituals in India. It starts at around 6.30 pm after sunset, with large crowds gathered around both the banks of a canal that carries the waters of Ganges. Loud speakers blare songs in praise of Ganga Maiya and Shiva.The time of Aarti sees a bustle of activity on the ghats.

Chandi Devi Temple :

The temple is situated at the hilltop near Haridwar.Chandidevi temple is one of the popular shaktipeethas in North India.Chanda Devi Temple, Haridwar Yatra It is also called siddhapitha as it is believed that theGoddess Chandi fulfills the wishes of her devotees. The pilgrims can visit the temple by the ropeway in around 5 minutes while the steep climb by steps takes over 45 minutes. The main image at Chandidevi temple is said to have been installed by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century A.D.

Near By Places :

Rishikesh (24 Km) :

Rishikesh is located at a height of about 1360 feet above sea level.Rishikesh represents the Gateway to the Himalayas in the Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttarrakhand. It abounds in natural splendour. The spectacle of the Ganga rushing through the Himalayan foothills is an awesome sight. Several temples dot the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh. The Lakshman Jhula, a 450 feet long suspension bridge was built in 1939. It is one of the main tourist attraction in Rishikesh.

Kaudiyala (64 Km) :

Kaudiyala,is located on the banks of river Ganga at an altitude of 480 mts. Kaudiyala is the paradise for adventure lover. it is well known for its white water rafting.

Dehradun (40 Km) :

Dehradun is the provisional capital of uttaranchal, and situated in the center of Doon valley.Dehradun is the part of Garhwal Himalayan region, which was earlier known as Kedar Khand.Legend has it that Guru Dronacharaya, a Brahmin teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharat, set up his ashram or 'dera' here. Eventually, the Dron Ashram came to be known as Dehradun.