Haridwār, India
Region: Uttarakhand
Geographic Coordinates: 29.945000, 78.163000
Temperature Range: 15.0°C to 35.0°C (59°F to 95°F)
Climate: Seasonal.
Population: 228832
Language: Hindi
Haridwar is a holy city situated in the state of Uttarakhand, India. The name ‘Haridwar’ means ‘Gateway to God’, And it holds great significance for Hindus as one of the seven holiest places in their religion. The city is located on the banks of the river Ganges, Which flows through it and makes it an important pilgrimage site. The history of Haridwar dates back to ancient times and has been mentioned in Hindu mythology, Mahabharata, And Puranas. According to legend, Haridwar was one of the four places where drops of Amrit fell from a pitcher carried by Garuda.
One of Haridwar’s primary attractions is Har Ki Pauri, A ghat on the banks of river Ganges. It is believed that taking a dip in this holy water can wash away sins and bring salvation. Every evening, Priests perform rituals with fire lamps while chanting hymns dedicated to Goddess Ganga during a grand ceremony called Ganga Aarti at this ghat. Mansa Devi Temple is another famous attraction dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi who fulfills wishes for her devotees. Visitors can reach this temple by climbing stairs or taking a cable car ride that offers breathtaking views.
Apart from these religious sites, There are several other places worth visiting such as Chandi Devi Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir etc., Which attract tourists worldwide. The Kumbh Mela held every 12 years also draws millions of pilgrims from all over India and abroad to Haridwar each time it takes place. Besides its spiritual significance, Haridwar offers natural beauty too; Rajaji National Park located nearby provides opportunities for wildlife safaris where visitors can spot tigers, Elephants & leopards etc., While hills surrounding offer trekking opportunities like
Neer Garh Waterfall & Chilla Range etc.. Haridwar is well connected by road, Rail, And air. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, Which is around 35 km from Haridwar. The city has a wide range of accommodation options ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts. Haridwar holds great significance for Hindus and offers a unique blend of spiritual solace and natural beauty that leaves an indelible impression on visitors’ minds.
- Har Ki Pauri
- Chandi Devi Temple
- Mansa Devi Temple
- Maya Devi Temple
- Bharat Mata Mandir
- Daksha Mahadev Temple
- Shantikunj Ashram
- Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri
- Rajaji National Park
- Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar (Bird Sanctuary)
- Pharmaceuticals: Haridwār is a major hub for the pharmaceutical industry, with several large companies such as Ranbaxy Laboratories, Himalaya Drug Company, and Dabur India Limited having manufacturing units in the city.
- Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG): FMCG companies like Patanjali Ayurveda and Baidyanath have their headquarters in Haridwār.
- Heavy industries: The city has a number of heavy industries such as Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), which is one of the largest manufacturers of power generation equipment in India.
- Tourism: As a religious destination, Haridwār attracts millions of tourists every year who come to take part in various Hindu rituals and ceremonies.
- Handicrafts: The city is also known for its handicrafts industry which produces items like wooden toys, brassware, and handloom textiles.
- Food processing: There are several food processing units located in Haridwār that produce items like packaged foods, confectionery products, and snacks.
- IT/ITES services: A growing number of IT/ITES companies have set up operations in Haridwār due to its proximity to Delhi-NCR region and availability of skilled workforce at lower cost compared to other cities nearby.
- Kumbh Mela: Haridwār is one of four sites where the largest Hindu pilgrimage festival, Kumbh Mela, is held every 12 years. Millions of devotees from all over India visit Haridwār during this holy event.
- Adi Shankaracharya: The great philosopher and theologian Adi Shankaracharya visited Haridwār in the 8th century AD and established his monastery here.
- Bharat Mata Mandir: The Bharat Mata Mandir was built in Haridwar in 1983 to honor Mother India or Bharat Mata as a symbol of unity and nationalism.
- Swami Vivekananda: The great Indian spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda visited Haridwar several times during his lifetime to seek spiritual guidance from various gurus.
- Ganga Aarti: The famous Ganga Aarti, a ritualistic prayer offered to River Ganges, takes place every evening at the Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar.
- Mahabharata: According to Hindu mythology, King Bhagiratha brought River Ganges down to earth at Gangotri near Haridwar to purify his ancestors who had perished due to a curse from Sage Kapila.
- Raja Vikramaditya: It is believed that Raja Vikramaditya ruled from his capital city Ujjain but often visited Haridwar for religious purposes.
- Rajaji National Park: Located near har ki pauri, Rajaji National Park was established in 1983 which homes tigers, leopards, elephants & deers.
- Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat located on the banks of the Ganges River, where people come to take a dip in the holy waters.
- Chandi Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandi and situated atop Neel Parvat hill, accessible by cable car.
- Mansa Devi Temple is another temple dedicated to Goddess Mansa and situated atop Bilwa Parvat hill, accessible by cable car.
- Haridwar Museum showcases the history and culture of Haridwar.
- Bharat Mata Mandir is a unique temple dedicated to Mother India, featuring a map of India carved out of marble.
- Shantikunj Ashram was founded by spiritual leader Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya that promotes spiritual and social upliftment through various programs and activities.
- Rajaji National Park is located on the outskirts of Haridwar that is home to a variety of wildlife including tigers, elephants, leopards, and more.
- Maya Devi Temple is one of the oldest temples in Haridwar dedicated to Goddess Maya or Shakti.
- Swami Vivekananda Park offers scenic views of the Ganges River and surrounding hills named after Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda.
- Kankhal Mahadev Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kankhal town near Haridwar.
- India has a long-standing tradition of traditional sports like kabaddi, kho-kho, and gilli-danda.
- Cricket has taken over as the most popular sport in recent years with millions of fans across the country.
- The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league that attracts players from all over the world.
- Football is also gaining popularity among young people in India.
- The Indian Super League (ISL) is the top professional football league in India featuring some of the best players from around the world.
- Although there may not be specific sports teams with extensive histories based solely out of Haridwār itself, it’s worth noting that there are many talented athletes throughout India who represent their communities proudly through various leagues and competitions.
- Kumbh Mela is the largest religious festival in the world, held every 12 years in Haridwar. The next one will take place in 2022.
- Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha (May/June) to mark the descent of River Ganges from heaven to earth.
- Kanwar Yatra is a pilgrimage where devotees carry holy water from River Ganges and walk barefoot to offer it at Lord Shiva temples.
- Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus, usually falling on April 13 or 14.
- Diwali is the festival of lights celebrated with great enthusiasm and fireworks display.
- Holi is the festival of colors, celebrated by throwing colored powder and water at each other.
- Makar Sankranti marks the end of winter solstice and beginning of longer days, observed on January 14th or 15th.
- Janmashtami celebrates Lord Krishna’s birthday with devotional songs and dance performances.
- Buddha Purnima commemorates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death; observed with prayer meetings and meditation sessions.
- Teej Festival- Women fast for their husbands’ long life during this monsoon festival which also marks Goddess Parvati’s reunion with Lord Shiva.
- Chotiwala: This is a famous restaurant in Haridwar known for its vegetarian food, especially the North Indian dishes like dal makhani, paneer tikka, and tandoori roti.
- Hoshiyar Puri: This is a popular street food stall in Haridwar that serves delicious puris with spicy potato curry and chutney.
- Mohan Ji Puri Wale: Another famous street food stall that serves crispy puris with aloo sabzi and kachori.
- Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukaan: This is a sweet shop that sells traditional sweets like peda, laddu, barfi, and rasgulla.
- Big Ben Restaurant: A multi-cuisine restaurant that serves Indian, Chinese, and Continental dishes.
- The Great Kabab Factory: A restaurant that specializes in kebabs from across India.
- Bhagwati Chole Bhandar: A small eatery known for its spicy chole bhature (chickpeas curry with fried bread).
- Pandit Sevaram Sharma & Sons: Another sweet shop famous for its mouth-watering gulab jamun (deep-fried dough balls soaked in sugar syrup).
- Kanhaiya Lal Durga Prasad Dixit Paratha Wale: A popular eatery known for its stuffed parathas (Indian flatbread).
- Sardarji’s Chaat Corner: A chaat stall serving delicious chaat items like papdi chaat, dahi bhalla, and samosa chaat.
- Har Ki Pauri is a popular ghat located on the banks of the Ganges river, where people come to take a dip in the holy waters.
- Rajaji National Park is a wildlife sanctuary that is home to tigers, elephants, leopards and many other animals.
- Chandi Devi Temple is a temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi located atop a hill in Haridwar.
- Mansa Devi Temple is another temple located on a hilltop that offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas.
- Kankhal is a town located near Haridwar that is home to several ancient temples and ashrams.
- Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar is a bird sanctuary that houses several migratory birds during winter months.
- Patanjali Yogpeeth is an ashram founded by Baba Ramdev that offers yoga classes and Ayurvedic treatments.
- Gau Ghat is one of the ghats on the banks of the Ganges river where people come to offer prayers and perform rituals for their ancestors.
- Bharat Mata Mandir stands out as it’s dedicated uniquely to Mother India, featuring an impressive map made out of marble depicting India’s geography.
- Shanti Kunj Ashram has gained popularity for its spiritual teachings & practices such as meditation & yoga sessions offered for visitors seeking solace.
