History

Haridwar is the heart of the pilgrimage centers of Uttarakhand. Haridwar is also called Ganga-Dwara, because the holy Ganges enters the plains here. This is one of the seven holy cities in India. It has also been referred to as the Mayapuri Kshetra in the Indian Puranas. The five pilgrimage centers in Haridwar are Gangadwara (Hari-Ki-Pauri), Kushwart, Bilwa Teerth (Mansa Devi), Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi) and Kankhal. Haridwar has been a holy place of pilgrimage from time immemorial. It is situated on the right bank of the river Ganga at the base of the Shivalik Mountains. On every twelfth year when Kumbh is held in Haridwar thousands of pilgrims throng to this place. Pilgrims come here in search of salvation from worldly sins. Haridwar has many small and big temples, spread in the mean streets of the city. Most of the temples are dedicated either to Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu.

The sacred Ghat of Gangadwara is also referred to as the Hari-Ki-Pauri. The most sacred Ghat within Har-ki-Pauri is Brahmakund. The evening prayer offered to goddess Ganga is an enchanting experience for a pilgrim. A display of sound and colour is seen when, after the ritual, pilgrims float lamps and incense on the river, commemorating their deceased ancestors. Thousands of people from all round the world do make a point to be present at this prayer on their visit to this holy city. The Chandi Devi temple of Haridwar is dedicated to goddess Chandi who sits atop the `Neel Parvat` on the eastern bank of river Ganga. It is one of the most religious places in Haridwar. The temple on top of the Bilwa Parvat is dedicated to Mansa Devi is a popular tourist destination, particularly because of the cable cars, which offer a pictorial view of the entire city. The Maya Devi temple dates back to the 11th century and is dedicated to the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar. The Sati Kund of Haridwar has a mythological heritage and is a must visit for the tourists. The Pawan Dham temple in Haridwar is one of the important religious sites in India that must be visited during pilgrimage tours. The Vaishno Devi temple of Haridwar is newly built and is visited by devotees in large numbers all throughout the year. The Gauri Shankar Temple is an important religious site of Haridwar. The Bharat Mata temple is a eight storeyed temple and is one of important temples of the place. It is dedicated to Mother India. Besides the above-mentioned temples there are quite a few other spiritual places in Haridwar, like Jai Ram Ashram, Sapt Rishi Ashram, Anandamayee Ma Ashram and the Daksha Mahadev temple.

Apart from pilgrimage centers there are few adventurous locations in Haridwar. The Chila Wildlife Sanctuary is a major crowd puller. It is noted for its immaculate scenic beauty and rich biodiversity. It is a home to twenty three species of mammals and three hundred fifteen fauna species. One is likely to watch a herd of elephants wandering majestically in the jungle or may find oneself excited by wildlife of many kinds including tigers, leopard, jungle cat, Sambar, barking dear, cheetah, wild boar, langur, sloth bear, king cobra, woodpecker, etc.

The Gurukul Kangri University of Haridwar has a Ved mandir in its precincts which houses many archaeological exhibits. It is a museum and a traveler may derive pleasure in seeing the displayed objects.
 

Surface

The road network system is very efficient in Haridwar. The National Highway no.45 crosses the city, so it is connected to other cities of the state as well as those in the other states too. Buses and taxis are easily available to and from the major cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Agra, Lucknow, Jaipur, etc. Local transports of Haridwar include the private bus services, auto rickshaw, tonga, cycle-rickshaw and taxi.

Haridwar is one of the oldest and the holiest pilgrim centers of India and is also the place that plays host to around eight to ten million devotees during the Kumbh melas. Haridwar in Uttarakhand is full with infinite number of ashrams and dharamsalas, which have been established by religious institutions to give shelter to the countless pilgrims who visit and depart from Haridwar every day. The busy market, filled with vegetarian restaurants, is crowded with shops stuffed with foodstuffs, travel goods, woolens and souvenirs.

Train

Haridwar has a railway station of its own and is well connected by trains to almost all the major cities in India. In fact, trains are the major source of the tourist inflow to Haridwar.

Air

Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is the nearest domestic airport from Haridwar. It is located approximately thirty five kilometers away from the holy city. It is also accessible from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.