Haridwar – The Door to Heavens
Welcome to Haridwar – a vedic heritage of India. Long known for its holy connection, this north Indian city presents an excellent tourism opportunity in India. A city blessed by the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva rests at the foot of the Shivalik Range and is the destination of thousands of devout Hindus in India. The mighty Ganges leaves the mountains to begin her journey through the plains of India. Hundreds and thousands of pilgrims flock to Haridwar to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganga in search of nirvana.
Pick Your Trip- Indian tour operator, profiles this spiritual town – discover tranquility, harmony and ancient traditions of India. This is a destination not to be given a pass when travelling to India.
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Place to visit
Best seasons to visit
How to get there
Events and festivals
Places to visit
The Har Ki Pauri ghat, said to be built by Vikaramaditya to the memory of his brother Bhartrihari, is one of the most sacred places in not only Haridwar, but also in India. The 'Maha Aarti' (prayer) performed every evening is a must see delight for the visitor.The ancient temple of Maya Devi is dedicated to Sati, the spouse of Lord Shiva who immolated herself to preserve his honor. As narrated in the legend, Sati married Lord Shiva against the will of her parents. King Daksha arranges for a 'maha yagya' and invites all the deities except Lord Shiva and his daughter Sati. But, her father insulted Sati, who went nonetheless, and unable to bear it burnt herself alive. When Lord Shiva finds out he reaches for her out of the flames and carry her all through the Himalayas. Wherever parts of her body fell a temple has been situated thereafter. (Naina Devi is the temple where her eyes fell.)
Experience the ancient Indian Educational Sytem of a gurukul at the Gurukul Kangri University. Sapt Rishi, an awesome sight of beauty, is where the Ganges divides into seven small streams. Thus this place is also known as Sapt Sarovar. The Sapt Rishi Ashram is situated along the Haridwar-Rishikesh road.Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar is the ornithologists' eden. It is an excellent point to watch migratory birds. The Siberian Crane is the most illustrious visitor to these shores.
The Daksh Mahadev Temple is an ancient shrine situated to the south of Kankhal town. Queen Dhankaur constructed this temple in AD 1810. Kankhal has several other temples and ashrams too. The Kanva Rishi Ashram is situated around 42 km from Haridwar. The ashram is on the banks of the Malini River along the forest road to Kotdwar.
Rishikesh, the land where the Gods meditate, is 24 km from Haridwar and is a major pilgrimage center for the Hindus.Dehradun at 54 km and Mussorie at 89 km have hill locks for scenic view lovers.
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Best times to visit
Even though it is situated at a height of 300 meters, Haridwar is hot in summer (mid April till June) where temperature rises to 40 degree Celsius and very cold in winter (November till February) with the temperature dipping to a low of six degrees Celsius. During the monsoons from mid-June to end-August it is a place best avoided.
The best months for a visit are between September and June.
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How to get there
The Indian city of Haridwar is easily accessible through air, road and rail from the other major Indian cities and states. Indianvisit can arrange for you all types of transport for your comfortable journey to and in Haridwar and throughout the Indian state of Uttaranchal.
By Air - The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant in Dehradun, but it is preferable to use the roads or rail to Delhi and then take flights to the destination of ones choice.
By Rail - The major pilgrimage center of Haridwar is well connected by trains to almost all the major cities in India. In fact, trains are the major source of the tourist inflow to Haridwar.
By Road - The National Highway no.45 crosses the city of Haridwar, so it is connected to other cities of the state as well as those in the other states too. The excellent road network links Haridwar with Delhi for a smooth and comfortable travel journey.
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Events and Festivals
Several festivals are celebrated in Haridwar. Haridwar, one of the oldest and holiest pilgrim centers of India, is also the place that plays host to around eight to ten million devotees during the Kumbh melas. The history of the Kumbh Mela dates back to the creation of the Universe and as a show of their faith, Hindus from all over the country assemble to take a holy dip in the Ganges.
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