Hari is another name of Lord Vishnu and the name Haridwar literally translates to Gateway to Lord Vishnu. It is true in the sense that, to reach Badrinath, a temple of Vishnu, one has to start their journey from Haridwar. Haridwar is an ancient city and it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is located in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state. The holy river Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic plane after flowing for 157 kilometres, here in Haridwar.
Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven most holy places for Hindus. Legend believes that a drop from the elixir of immortality fell on the Har ki Pauri ghat, and since then it is believed as a very sacred place. Haridwar presents a series of Indian culture and development. The sheer number of people gathering around Har ki Pauri Ghat give Haridwar a chaotic but a reverent feel.
History
Haridwar is a historical city which withstood the onslaught of different empires and still managed to retain its spiritual significance. This city has been mentioned in several texts and manuscripts from before the Buddha period. In the archaeological surveys in Haridwar it was found that terra cotta culture thrived in Haridwar during the period of 1700 BCE to 1300 BCE.
Haridwar was also mentioned in the travel texts of ancient Chinese traveller Husang Tsang. During the reign of Emperor Jahangir (1596-1627) Thomas Coryat, an English traveller who visited the city mentioned it as Haridwara, the capital of Lord Shiva.
Weather
The maximum temperature recorded so far is 46.9 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature of Haridwar is 14.6 degree Celsius. In the months of summer the temperature in Haridwar varies from 35 degrees to 45 degrees Celsius. The temperature ranges from 10 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius in the months of winter. The weather of Haridwar is often unpredictable. Haridwar has a pleasant climate all through the year. As its location is in the hilly terrains, the climate is usually chilly and it doesn’t reach very hot temperatures. Thus Haridwar can be visited at any time of the year.
Ways to Reach
By Road
Haridwar is located at a distance of 225 kilometres from the national capital of Delhi. Haridwar is well serviced from Delhi and the other cities in Uttarakhand by a well maintained and an extensive network of roads. One can reach Haridwar from Delhi in about 6 and a half hours via the national highway 334. The roads in the hilly Uttarakhand region are well maintained so as to provide free movement from one place to another.
By Train
Haridwar has a well maintained train line and it houses the Haridwar junction which connects it with the rest of the country. The Haridwar junction has trains coming in and going out from it at a regular frequency.
By Air
Haridwar is located at a close proximity to the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun district. The distance between Jolly Grant airport and Haridwar is about 20 kilometres. There are multiple flights to Jolly Grant airport from the nearest metropolis; i.e Delhi. There are flights to Jolly Grant from Mumbai and Kolkata as well.
Famous to do activities at Haridwar
1. Observe Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri
Har ki Pauri is one of the most famous landmarks in Haridwar. This ghat is believed to be the exit point of the holy river Ganga. A huge procession called as the Ganga aarti takes place in Brahmakund area of Har ki Pauri. The biggest fair in the world, the Kumbh Mela also takes place in Har ki Pauri. The famous Ganga aarti timings in Haridwar is from evening 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm. However, if you want to watch the aarti from the opposite end of the river ghat, then make sure to reach the ghat by 4:30 PM to get the right place to watch Ganga aarti.
2. Visit Mansa Devi Temple
Mansa Devi temple is one of the most revered temples in Haridwar. It is located at the Bilwa parvat and this is a holy place to worship the Goddess Mansa Devi. Mansa Devi temple is a famous Sidhpeeth and temple offers an amazing panoramic view of the city.
3. Visit Chandi Devi Temple
Chandi Devi temple is a very popular temple situated in Neel Parvat in Haridwar. Located at a distance of 4 kilometers from the city, the idol is believed to be erected by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8 century AD. The present day temple structure was built by the king of Kashmir.
4. Visit Khankal
Khankal is a small colony in Haridwar. Khankal is one of the five important pilgrimage spots known as Panch Teerth in Haridwar. It is known for housing the Daksheswara Mahadev temple.
5. Experience Food
Since Haridwar is a spiritual city, non-vegetarian food and alcohol is not consumed. To protect the spiritual integrity of the place, even the sale of meat and alcohol is banned in this pure city. Vegetarian food from both North and South India are available in Haridwar.
6. Shop till you drop
a) Moti bazaar is one of the famous and the oldest markets in Haridwar. It is located on the Northern side of the upper road of the canal. Here one can find colorful bangles, beads, sweets, Ayurveda medicine and much more.
b) Jwalapur market sells every things from traditional items to modern products. The streets are lined with absolutely delicious food stalls and restaurants which will make you say ‘goodbye’ to your diet.
c) Bara Bazaar located on the railway road, this market sells religious and traditional products. It is also famous for the sale of ornaments. Ayurvedic medicines are sold at an economical price in this market