Haridwar

Haridwar is the gateway to the four pilgrimages of Uttarakhand. It’s also your starting point on the journey to the sacred sources of the rivers Ganga and the Yamuna. According to legend, Prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to sage Kapil’s curse. The penance was answered and the river.

Ganga trickled forth from Lord Shiva's locks and its bountiful water revived the sons of King Sagara. In the tradition of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their ancestors.

Air :The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Bhaniawala, Dehradun, 41 km.

Rail : Connected with all important cities of India viz., Mumbai, Delhi, Agra. Howrah, Varanasi, Allahabad. Ujjain, Amritsar. Dehradun, Lucknow and Kolkata.

Road : Haridwar on National Highway no. 58 is well connected to all major cities and other parts of the state viz. Delhi (214 km). Agra (386 km). Ambala (168 km). Badrinath (325 km). Dehradun (52 km). Kedarnath (250 km). Saharanpur (81 km), Nainital (286 km)

Local Transport Services : Private bus services, tempos (vikrams), auto rickshaws. cycle rickshaws and taxis.

• Hotel Alaknanda Ph: 01334 226379
• Rahi Motel Ph: 01334 228686
• Field Hotel Ph : 01334 226724
• Canal House Damkothi Ph: 01334 225982
• PWD Haridwar Hotel Ph: 01334 227446

Har Ki Pauri : Har Ki Pauri or Brahm Kund is the main ghat of Haridwar. It represents the point where River Ganga descends from the mountains to the plains. It is so named. as it is believed that it is Lord Vishnu‘s footprint that is imprinted on one of the stones here and which is visited regularly by a number of devotees, who come here to pay their homage to this footprint of God and take a dip in the sacred waters of Ganga. Ganga aarti held

Mansa Devi Temple : A cable-car (Udan Khatola) ride to the Mansa Devi Temple. is very thrilling. especially, when you look down from above. Another option is to climb up the 1.5 km stretch to the temple. Goddess Mansa, one of the incarnated forms of Goddess Durga said to have power to grant your wishes. This is an ancient temple of Mansa Devi. the reigning deity of Haridwar. regarded as one of the Siddhpeethas. Said to be the place where the heart and navel of goddess Sati had fallen. Situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat. here one statue of the Goddess has three mouths and five arms while the other statue has eight arms. The beautiful view of the city can be seen from this place.

Chandi Devi Temple : The temple of Chandi Devi atop the Neel Parvat on the other bank of river Ganga was constructed in 1929 AD. by the king of Kashmir- Suchat Singh . It is a 3 km trek from Chandighat Legend has it that the army chief Chanda-Munda of the demon King Shumbh- Nishumbha was killed by goddess Chandi here after which the place got the name Chandi Devi . It is believed that the main statue was established by the Adi Shankracharya in 8th century AD. Chandi Devi is a deity who is fierce to the sinners and kind to those who are devoted to her. She is also one of the varied forms of Goddess Durga .The temple is situated on a hilltop just like that of Mansa Devi. However. the climb here is much more steep than that of the Mansa Devi Temple and only meant for those who love outdoor exercises. For those who would like to visit the temple and yet save themselves from such a tiring journey. cable cars may prove to be a better option. One can reach here by Trolley through ropeway or on foot.
Ph. no. of ‘Udan Khatola‘ (Ropeway) is 01 334220324. Time-8.30 AM to 6 PM.

Sapt Rishi Ashram : 5 km from Haridwar. Sapt Rishi Ashram is the point where River Ganges flows in seven little streams. It is believed that seven great saints prayed here for the wellness of humanity. It is believed that a constellation of seven stars is actually the saints who took this form after leaving their mortal bodies for the heavenly abode.

Pavan Dham : 3 km from the most famous ghat of Haridwar. Har Ki Pauri. Pavan Dham has become a major tourist attraction. The temple has most beautiful glass interiors. From this place, one can also go to the nearby Vaishno Devi Temple, which is a lesser version of the renowned temple of Vaishno Devi of J&K.

Lakshml-Narayan Temple : The temple bears a sign indicating to have been built in 1867. The smaller of the two spires lies over the footprint of Vishnu from which Har-KiPauri gets its name. Local tradition recounts that it was built by Raja Man Singh who was a vassal of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Although this claim cannot be historically verified. archaeologists believe that this is one of the oldest temples in Haridwar and the bathing pool to the left of the temple is the most important bathing place.

Bharat Mata Temple : Bharat Mata temple is one of its own kind. It is an impressive multi storeyed building and each of the floors has been dedicated to N diflerentgods. Here. the mother India, the prime deity is depicted with, lndian national flag in her hand and a tri-colored sari adorning the idol. It represents the'Unity in Diversity’ in India and the oneness of India.

Daksha Mahadev Temple : This ancient Shiva (Mahadev) temple is located in the south Kankhal town. The mythological legends state that King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati (Lord Shiva's consort) performed a Yagya here but didn‘t invite Lord Shiva. Sati was offended by her father‘s behaviour and sacrificed her life by jumping into the fire of yagya. Infuriated Lord Shiva killed King Daksha but later brought him backtolife.

Sati Kund : This is the holy place where the wife of Lord Shiva, Mata Sati is believed to have done the ritual of self-immolation. The ghat here is thus famous today as Sati Kund.

Rajaji National Park / Chila Wildlife Sanctuary : The Rajaji National Park, spread over an area of 240 sq km, houses the Chila wildlife Sanctuary and is situated at a distance of 10 km from Haridwar. Situated on the banks of River Ganges, the sanctuary is a haven for a large number of animals. This biodiversity park boasts of nearly 23 mammals and about 315 fauna species. The river in the park houses large number of fishes and fauna in the water. At Chila you can have the pleasure of spotting leopard, tigers, jungle cat, herd of elephants, wild boar, stags, spotted deer, sloth bear, langur, monkeys, woodpecker, king cobra etc. During the monsoons the park remains closed and otherwise it is open after sunrise and closed after dusk.

Rishikesh : Rishikesh is another popular Hindu pilgrimage center located along the right bank of the River Ganga. A breath-taking experience of natural beauty and undiscovered wildlife waits at Rishikesh. Main attractions at Rishikesh are the Ghats. temples. Ashrams and Laxman Jhoola. Rishikesh is also a center for learning and research in yoga and meditation. the renowned Indian methods for mental and physical health. The week long International Yoga festival, that attracts participation from all across the world. is held here.

Dehradun : Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand State. It is an important business, educational and cultural destination of north India. The climate and strategic 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 of India and the world.

Piran Kaliyar : It is 23 km south of Haridwar, on the outskirts of Roorkee. The ‘Dargah' of Hazrat Makhdum Allauddin Ali Ahmed Shah ‘Sabir‘ here is a shining example of communal harmony and peace. It is believed that the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled here and large number of devotees from all faiths and religions visit the dargah from all over the world. The annual ‘Urs' is celebrated from 1 st day of sighting the moon to 16th day of Rabiul month in Islamic calender.