Haridwar - Gateway to God
Located in Uttarakhand, Haridwar is one of the seven holiest towns in India. It is situated where the holy Ganga River first meets the plains of the Indo-Gangetic region. Replete with shrines, retreats, and winding streets all throughout the city, Haridwar is a well-known Hindu pilgrimage destination where millions of followers gather to bathe in the sacred Ganges. It is said that bathing in the holy Har Ki Pauri absolves one of all sins.
The renowned Ganga Aarti, which takes place every evening at the Har ki Pauri Ghat, is the main attraction in Haridwar. Floating diyas and offering prayers to the Ganga river bring thousands of people together. Every twelve years, Haridwar, together with Ujjain, Nasik, and Allahabad, are the four cities that play host to the Kumbh Mela. Here, too, the annual Kanwar Mela is held during the saawan (rainy season). In addition, it serves as the entry point to Uttarakhand's Char Dham and the starting point for several other popular tourist destinations, including Rishikesh and Devprayag.
Hindu customs state that Haridwar is home to the Panch Tirth, or five pilgrimages. These are Mansa Devi Temple (Bilwa Tirth), Chandi Devi Temple (Neel Parvat), Ghat (Kushwart), Har ki Pauri (Gangadwar), and Kankhal. Globally, Haridwar is renowned for its Ayurvedic, meditation, and yoga practises. It is a religious centre, hence non-vegetarian food and drink are not allowed. The city has excellent bus and train connections, although from May to October—the yatra season—it gets extremely busy.
More on Haridwar Travel
Bathing in River Ganga in Haridwar
For every Hindu, taking a dip in the Ganga River is a must-do experience. One of India's holiest cities is thought to be Haridwar. Because it is the main location where the Ganga River emerges, the city is well recognised. The city is renowned for reinforcing the roving faith in God of all its devotees. In addition to offering a sense of cleanliness, taking a bath in the Ganga river serves as a springboard for many. Many people think that you may wash away all of your sins with only one dip in the holy river.
Family Genealogy Registration in Haridwar, India
Due to its spiritual status, death rites are performed in the city of Haridwar. It is believed that burying a deceased person's ashes in the Ganga river will allow them to enter paradise. As a result, a lot of people travel to Haridwar to perform funeral rites for departed family members. As a result, the Pandits who perform these rites began documenting marriages, the family's gotra, and other important details. Due to this, detailed family genealogy was documented for centuries and is currently a source that allows people to follow the history of their own family.
Hardwar - The Land of Lord Vishnu
A ghat called Har ki Pauri is situated alongside the Ganga River. Pauri signifies footsteps, while Har is the name of Lord Shiva. It was stated that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu had visited this location during the Vedic era. There, etched on a stone wall are the footsteps of Lord Vishnu. As such, this location is highly sacred and is frequented by pilgrims from all around the nation.
History of Haridwar
The renowned Ganga river is found at Haridwar, a city in the state of Uttarakhand that is referred to as the "doorway for the gods." Ancient legends state that the city was created when a drop of Amrit, an immortality potion created by the gods and devils together, landed on Earth. Among the four locations where the Amrit was divided was Haridwar. This city has a rich and fascinating mythological past. It is regarded as one of India's holiest locations. The city was initially recorded in the Mauryan empire's scriptures between 322 and 385 B.C., and then again in Hiuan Tsang's travels in 629 A.D. Because it was believed that the water from the Ganga would bring immortality, Emperor Akbar carried jars filled with the river's water and drank from them when travelling. Raja Maan Singh established the current Haridwar's foundation. He constructed two dams on the Ganga, which had a negative impact on the river's flow.
Kumbh Mela in Hairdwar
Kumbh Ka Mela is held in Haridwar once every twelve years. This is a large-scale assembly of Hindu devotees in Haridwar. There are millions of individuals involved. In addition to being the world's largest crowd of religious pilgrims, the gathering is regarded as one of the most tranquil. People pray to the gods and goddesses, light lamps and diyas, and take a plunge. It is among India's most revered assemblies. Hindus see this mela as one of their sacred rites. The mela offers a tonne of rides, games, shopping, and dining options.
How to Reach Haridwar
Road and rail systems from all over India connect Haridwar to other parts of the country. The closest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is roughly 40 kilometres distant. Haridwar is 200 miles away from Delhi, which has another nearby airport.
