Haridwar

Haridwar or 'the Gateway to the Gods' is located at a distance of about 214 km from Delhi and 28 km from Rishikesh. Haridwar contains two words Hari & Dwar. Hari means God & Dwar means gate. The Ganges, India’s holiest river descends from the Himalayas and begins its journey through the plains at Haridwar. This gives the town a unique status, making a pilgrimage to Haridwar every devout Hindu’s dream. Haridwar is considered as one among the ‘sapta-puris’ (seven sacred cities) and is an important pilgrim destination. Haridwar stands as a gateway to the three other Char Dham destinations of Uttarakhand which are Rishikesh, Badrinath, and Kedarnath. Haridwar is the place where people from across the India visit for pilgrimage and to take a holy dip into the holy river Ganges. The diverse nature of the Hindu religion has attracted foreign visitors from all around the world. Foreigners always attracted to Haridwar because here they can closely experience India's complex culture, various Hindu rituals and the ancient civilization.

Tourist Attraction

Har Ki Pauri

Har Ki Pauri ghat was created by King Vikramaditya in 1st century BC in the memory of his brother Bhatrihari who during his lifetime used to meditate on the banks of river Ganga and it is one of the most famous places in Haridwar. It is named after a supposed imprint of Vishnu’s feet at the site. Har Ki Pauri is believed to be the exit point of River Ganges from the mountains and entry into the plains. In addition, this sightseeing is also among one of the five main holy sites of Haridwar. The Ganga Aarti (prayer) that takes place at Har Ki Pauri every evening after sunset is popular amongst pilgrims and tourists all over the world. The priests perform the Ganga Aarti at the ghat amidst thousands of devotees. People gather on both sides of the banks of the river to sing its praises. 

Chandi Devi Temple

It is located on the top of Neel Parvat (hill) at a distance of 6 km from the main city of Haridwar. This temple is also known as Siddh peetha, as it is believed to have powers to fulfil the wishes of devotees. In 1929, Chandi Devi Mandir was built by Suchat Singh, the king of Kashmir. However, it was believed that the idol present in the temple was installed in 8th century, by Adi Shankaracharya. According to legend, it is believed that Goddess Chandika Devi rested for a short while on Neel Parvat. This happened after she killed demon kings, Shumbh and Nishumbha. This temple was constructed to welcome her back. It is one of the most famous temples of India and the place is of great religious importance. 

Mansa Devi Temple

Mansa Devi Temple is dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi and is located atop the Bilwa Parvat on the Sivalik Hills. It is at a distance of 2.5 km from the main township of Haridwar. The temple also known as Bilwa Tirth is one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar. The temple is known for being the home of Goddess Mansa, who was the wife of Nag Vasuki and also the brainchild of Saint Kashyap. The term Mansa means wish and it is believed that the goddess fulfills all the wishes of a sincere devotee. One of the famous rituals performed by the devotees visiting the temple is to tie holy threads to the sacred tree, which is believed to fulfil wishes of devotees. Once the wishes are fulfilled, devotees need to untie the holy thread. This temple has two idols of the presiding deity, one with three mouths and five arms and the other with eight arms. Mansa Devi is one of the most visited temples in North India.