About Haridwar
No spiritual journey can ever be considered complete without a visit to Haridwar, one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Literally meaning 'the abode of Lord Vishnu', Haridwar, located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, is a land of legends and myths. Considered as one of the seven holiest cities in India, Haridwar sees millions of people flock to it every year to pay their respects to the Lord, or to wash away their sins. However, with the passage of time, Haridwar has evolved from being a mere religious city to a multifaceted cultural and spiritual centre, and only after exploring Haridwar will you realize that there is a lot more to the city than just visiting temples and taking a dip in the holy Har ki Pauri. Haridwar has a perennial mystical air around i, and is the perfect holiday option for anyone seeking spiritual connection as well as a chance to indulge in and get closer to nature.
Har Ki Pauri is, of course, the most visited place in Haridwar. Har ki Pauri is essentially a ghat built by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother, and the location is thronged by devotees all year round. Every evening, as the sun goes down, the Ganga aarti is performed at the ghat, turning the place into a glittering, sensory spectacle. With flaming torches and ringing bells wherever you look, the evening aarti at Har ki Pauri is a mesmerising event that should in no way be missed out on. Other ghats in Haridwar that you can visit are the Gau ghat and the Vishnu Ghat.
A place of historical significance in Haridwar is the Bhimgoda Kund/Tank. Situated a short distance away from Har ki Pauri, legend has it that the Pandavas stopped to drink water in Haridwar on their way to the Himalayas, and Bhimgoda was the place where Bhim drew water using just his knee, thus giving birth to its name. It is a famous tourist attraction in Haridwar and draws intrigued visitors all year round.
Haridwar has a plethora of temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. The most famous of these temples include the Mansa Devi temple, the Maya Devi temple, the Chandi Devi temple, the Bharat Mata temple, and the Anandamayi Ashram. A lot of these temples are located on hilltops and offer stunning views of the entire city.
A very popular tourist attraction in Haridwar is the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and National Park, which is spread out over an area of 1000 square kilometres and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Another attraction that nature lovers will enjoy is the Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar, which is a natural park renowned for being an excellent spot for bird-watching. If you’re lucky (and on time), you might even catch a glimpse of the Siberian Crane inside the park!
Haridwar is renowned for its street food trail, and some of the must-try dishes include kachoris at Kashyap Kachoriwala and the aloo puri at Mohanji Puriwale.
Place to must visit in Haridwar
- Chandi Devi Temple
- , Ganga Aarti
- , Mansa Devi Temple
- , Har Ki Pauri
- , Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary
- , Vaishno Devi Temple
- , Local Markets
- , Bharat Mata Mandir
- , Daksha Mahadev Temple
- , Maya Devi Temple
- , Bara Bazar
- , Sapt Rishi Ashram
- , Kumbh Mela
- , Shanti Kunj
- , Ma Anandamayi Ashram
- , Pawan Dham
- , Vishnu Ghat
- , Patanjali Yog Peeth
- , Birla Ghat
- , Gau Ghat
- , Swami Vivekanand Park
- , Bhuma Niketan Temple
- , Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar
- , Parad Shivlinga
- , Jai Ram Ashram
- , Bilkeshwar Mahadev Temple
- , Doodhabhari Barfani Temple
- , Bhimgoda Tank
- , Sureshwari Devi Temple
- , Kushavarta Ghat