Haridwar

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About the city

‘Gateway to the Gods', there has to be a reason why Haridwar is titled this. and there can be no reason better than Haridwar itself! Located at the base of the Shivalik Hills, this place is steeped in legends, mythology and ancient beliefs. An aura of spiritualism surrounds wherever you visit. This bustling city has a lot to offer -colourful markets selling all kinds of paraphernalia, beautiful temples dedicated to all possible gods and goddesses, ayurvedic potions, exotic wildlife, and exciting adventure options like rafting, trekking and mountaineering. The world famous Kumbh Mela that takes place once in 12 years has put Haridwar on the world chart! Over ten million people visit this holy place then, all looking to cleanse their souls and attain salvation. No matter when you decide to travel here, don't miss out on the spectacular Ganga Aarti, where priests perform religious rites to the river and thousands of diyas illuminate the sacred waters.

The playful Ganges debouches from the hills on to the plains at Haridwar. and Rishikesh, as the name implies is the refuge of the rishis (saints). They are two different places, but what ties them together is the sanctity, the religious binding and their deep inroads into Hinduism. At Haridwar it is not about worshipping any idol as such. People throng to the various points across this temple dotted town for paying obeisance to the Mighty Ganges. Late evenings, devotees flock the "ghats" in dozens daily and float offerings of auspicious things like kumkum, flowers, lighted incense stick on little rafts lit up beautifully with lamps - the river looks as if it is a sky lit up with stars, not reflected from those in the sky. and at Rishikesh, you can catch up with the latest trends in yoga. What makes both these places special is the devotion, the sanctity, which just imbibes in you the fact that there is a God...and the God, wants us to be close in touch with nature.

Haridwar, known by various other names in the past, is one of the oldest pilgrimage towns in India as it marks the place where the Ganges leaves the mountains for the plains. It attracts many holy men and pilgrims, and the huge Kumbh Mela festival is held here every 12 years. The bathing ghats, especially Hari- ki- Pauri with its footprint of Vishnu and clock tower, are very popular. Safety chainsw hang under the footbridge at Hari- ki- Pauri to protect bathers from the current. The streams here are clean, cold and fast- flowing. A broad esplanade along the river has many open air restaurants and tea stalls as well as temple and Ashrams.

Haridwar, one of the seven sacred cities of India lies in the foot hills of shivalik ranges, on the right bank of river Ganga. According to a mythological legend, prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors, who had perished due to saint Kapila's curse. Bhagirath was blessed and the holy river descended on the earth and its water revived the sons of King sagara. Following the tradition of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here and pray for the salvation of their ancestors.

Haridwar is also famous for the ‘kumbh' and ‘Ardh kumbh' fairs held here once in every 12 and 6 years respectively. Millions of devotees flocks to the Haridwar during this auspicious occasion and take a dip in the holiest river of India. It is said that drops of amrit (nectar) obtained after the ‘Sagar Manthan' fell at four places - Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and Nasjik and the Kumbh fair is held at these four sacred sites.

Pilgrims traditionally visit the hilltop Mansa Devi Templeb, which overlooks the town. A new cable car helps the weight- disadvantaged. The nearby Beauty Point gives an even better view.

Haridwar should be visited, in the cool weather anyway, nut photography is activelty discouraged in mot areas.

An engineering marvel is the hanging bridge at Rishikesh called the Lakshman Jhoola over the Ganga, which flows fast, free, and fresh, here. There are a lot of temples and ashrams scattered around this area. You can get an ideal view of the whole area from this bridge. It is a backpackers dream! The Ram Jhoola and the Sivanand Jhoola are also remarkable architectural works. Walk across them, and for the shutterbugs..there is nothing like the view from here! Kali Kambli Wala foundation is one very unique institution in this area. They supply blankets free of cost to needy pilgrims. Of course you are expected to return them after use, you can also bring new blankets and gift it to the organisation, for the use of other pilgrims whose need may be greater than theirs

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Haridwar has a population of about 175,010. Males constitute 54% of the population and females about 46%. Haridwar has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the female literacy is about 64%. In Haridwar, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Local Languages

Hindi and English
Steeped in legend and mythology, every place in Haridwar has a dramatic tale to tell. Imagine, for example, the loss felt by Vikramaditya that compelled him to build the Hari-ki-Pairi in the memory of his brother. Or the might of Bhim who could, with a single blow of his knee, strike water at the Bhimghoda tank. Or perhaps the anger of the mob that lynched Daksha Prajapati when his refusal to grant permission for his daughter's wedding to Shiva resulted in her suicide. Haridwar is a whirl of religious fables in a fitting ambience. The site of the famous Kumbha Mela, it is witness to ash-covered sadhus taking a dip in the Holy Ganga which begins its journey from this pilgrim town. It is aglow with the flickering lights of a thousand diyas that are lit during the Ganga Aarti at the ghat. A pilgrim tourist's delight with its heavenly sights, Haridwar lives up to its name as the Gateway to God.

Fast Facts

Time Zone: GMT +0530 (Indian Standard Time) Latitude: 29.58N Longitude: 78.13E STD Code: 133 Area: 12 sq km / 5 sq miles Population: 23,000

Orientation

Haridwar (Gates of God) is at the base of the Siwalik Hills, on the right side of the bank of the River Ganga that comes down from the Himalayas and passes through a gorge to continue its journey towards the Bay of Bengal. Stretching for roughly 3 km, Haridwar is situated at an altitude of 294.70 m above sea level and is surrounded by wooded hills to the west and the river to the east. Haridwar's main street has the railway station and Station Bus Stand lying face to face on the southwest of the centre while a narrow street lined with shops called the Bara Bazaar leads north up to Hari-Ki-Pairi ghat. The Ganga flows into Haridwar in two principal channels. The main natural stream lies to the east, while the canal to the west holds the ghats, ashrams and buildings.

History

Haridwar also known as ‘the Gateway to the Gods', is the centre for Hindu religion. Other pilgrimage destinations in Uttarakhand are namely, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath also referred to as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, and Mokshadwar according to the ancient scriptures and epics, but Haridwar remains the the most vital and sacred city for the Hindus. Many foreign scholars like Huen Tsang praised it and also called it the ‘Mayura' on the eastern banks of the Ganges.

The first recorded history of Haridwar is found in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim Huen Tsang in 1 AD. where he calls Haridwar by the name of Mayura, a city on the eastern banks of the river Ganga. Haridwar was also called 'Gangadwara' or the Gateway to the Ganga. In Hindu mythology, Haridwar is also referred to as Kapilsthan. According to legend, Prince Bhagiratha performed penance here to remove the curse of the sage Kapila on his ancestors and to bring them back to life. Pleased with his devotion, the daughter of heaven, Ganga gushed down to earth to fulfill his wish. Haridwar is also said to be the place where drops of amrit or nectar fell from the kumbha or vessel of the son of Lord Indra, thus making it a holy place for Hindu devotees.

Modern History

In 1929, the King of Kashmir, Suchat Singh built the Chandi Devi temple which today is a famous tourist destination in Haridwar. Over the years, Haridwar also earned its name as a centre of culture and learning. The University of Roorkee founded here in 1847 became the first technical institute in India, eventually earning the name of IIT.

Recent History

After the creation of the new state of Uttaranchal on November 9, 2000, Haridwar is now developing as a major industrial destination. . The town is also home to one of the first PSUs of India - Bharat Heavy Electricals India Ltd (BHEL) and many Government administration offices like Lok Sewa Ayog and Sanskrit Academy are established here.

The Temple Town

On the other side of town, on another foothill of the Shivaliks, is the Chandni Devi temple. This temple is situated atop the highest mountain the other side of town at a height of 4 kilometres. This temple is accessible by cable car as well, and you can get a view of the other side of town from here. At the temple above, you might end up meeting some rather interesting people as well

5 kilometres away from Haridwar, on the way to Rishikesh, is the Sapta Rishi Ashram (monastery), which is an important study centre. It is believed that the Pandavas had stayed here for a while, during the course of their fourteen year exile. Now, the ashram is an important centre for meditation and religious studies. It is usually seen that places originally of religious importance and worship or pilgrimage, due to frequent visits by tourists, itself become tourist attractions, and thus become quite commercialised. Haridwar is one such place.

There are many new temples here that have become famous for their architecture and craftsmanship, like the Pawan Dhaam, for example. The sparkling relief work is all made of glass. The Bhuma Niketan that attempts to spread the message of water conservation among the people. The temple in its cave-like appearance, is quite interesting.

You can also have a look at the India temple, for the very nominal charge of only two rupees. 24 kilometres away from Haridwar, is Rishikesh, and the spot we headed first to, there, was the Laxman Jhula. It is believed that this 450 feet high bridge was built by Lord Laxman. Up until 1939, the bridge was supported by rope, after which the PWD department modified it with modern reinforcements.

There are temples to be viewed on either side of the bridge, some that are 11 and 13 floors high, which are viewed only by those who have it in them to go all the way up. The town of Rishikesh sleeps by 7:00 pm, yet we tried to find ourselves, a rudraksh, that is famous the world over. and with that souvenier in hand, we headed back.