Haridwar, A Place Of Peace And Power

At Haridwar – the Gates of God – 214 km northeast of Delhi, the River Ganges emerges from its final rapids past the Shivalik Hills to begin its long slow journey across northern India to the Bay of Bengal. Stretching for roughly 3 km along a narrow strip of land between the craggy wooded hills to the west and the river to the east.

 

Haridwar, or Hardwar, as it is often called, is one of the holiest places for Hindus in India. It is significant that pilgrims often go from Haridwar to the two great Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath, as Har means Shiva (the deity of Kedarnath), Hari means Vishnu (the deity of Badrinath), and Dwar means gate. Hardwar is therefore the gateway to the two holy shrines of Shiva and Vishnu.

 

Many years ago it was also called Kapilsthan after the great sage Kapil, who lived and meditated there. Today, Hardwar is the home of many Ashrams (hermitages and places for meditation) and Dharamshalas (rest houses for pilgrims) that have been established by various swamis, yogis and religious institutions. These are amongst the most popular places to visit in Haridwar and indeed worth visiting. Throughout the year large numbers of pilgrims come to bathe in the Ganges, especially at the Hari-ke-charan ghat (also called Hari-ki-Pauri), where a footprint of Vishnu is worshipped. Pilgrims also consider it important to visit the beautiful Shiva temple of Dakshineswar.

 

It is also one of the four venues of the Kumbh Mela, which occurs after a rotation of every twelve Years and Ardh Kumbh, celebrated after every six years. According to mythology drops of Amrit (Elixir) fell into the Brahm Kund or Har-Ki-Pairi, therefore a dip in the Brahma Kund on this particular day is considered very auspicious. Haridwar links the Gangetic plains with the mountains of Uttarakhand and their holy pilgrimage (yatra) network.

 

Twenty-four kilometers north of Haridwar is another holy town named Rishikesh, meaning “abode of the mystic sages”. These two places, Haridwar and Rishikesh, have place-names that indicate their spiritual rather than secular attributes. Nowadays both towns are bustling social centers; in ancient times, however, they were quiet forests groves, nestled along rushing mountain rivers - the perfect place for contemplation and a life in harmony with the way of nature.

 

Around 10 km from Haridwar there is the Rajaji National Park, which is a popular reserved area rich with flora and fauna. You ought not miss this spot when you are in Haridwar. Taxis and cabs are easily available. It is an ideal destination for wildlife and adventure lovers. One may watch a herd of elephants roaming majestically in the jungle or may find oneself excited by wildlife of many kinds including tigers, leopard, jungle cat, Himalayan yellow throated marten, sambar, cheetal, barking deer, wild boar, langoor, ghural, sloth beer, king cobra, woodpecker etc.

 

Besides, if you have some additional time to spare before your trip gets over head to Dehradun. Although, not exactly a part of Haridwar tourism, it has a completely different charm and feel and is one of the most gone-by places in North India. It is the capital of Uttaranchal state. It is an important and popular tourist destination of North India. The climate and location of Dehradun makes it a popular tourist destination. Mussoorie, the queen of hills and many nearby places attract a large number of tourists from different parts.