Haridwar - Fact File
Location : Uttaranchal, India.
Main Languages : Hindi and English.
Major Attractions : Har-ki-Pairi, Chanda Devi Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Sapt Rishi.
Climate : Extreme type of climate, Summer temp : 40°C and 30°C, Winter temp : 24°C and the minimum is 5°C.
Ideal Time to Visit : September to June.




Haridwar - The door of Hari
Haridwar literally means the door of Hari, is located in the state of Uttaranchal. The picturesque town is situated at the foothills of the Shivalik Hills, where the Ganges River, coming down from the majestic Himalayas. Haridwar derives its name from two words - 'Har' means Shiva (the deity of Kedarnath), 'Hari' means Vishnu (the deity of Badrinath) and 'Dwar' means gate. The town is the gateway to the holy mountains and the holy shrines of Shiva (Badrinath) and Vishnu (Kedarnath). It is one of the seven puris of India and a sacred place of Hindu pilgrimage. Haridwar is a town of great importance as it is blessed by the trinity of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. The town houses several ashrams, temples, the hermitages and places for meditation. Thousands of pilgrims throng the city every year to bathe in the holy river Ganges. It is believed that a dip in the river Ganga purifies the mind, body and soul and it opens the way for the Nirvana, the ultimate freedom. A large number of visitors come to the town during the great festival of Kumba Mela and the annual Kavand Mela. Besides a pilgrmiage centre, Haridwar is also known as a major learning centre for arts, science and culture.
Attractions of Haridwar
Har-ki-Pairi
Har-ki-Pairi also called the Brahmakund is one of the most sacred Ghats in India. Legeds goes that, Amrita, the food of the gods, was spilled here on 13th day of Vaishakha, and a bath here on that particular day earns the devotees not only virtue but also ensures him a place in heaven. It is believed that Har-ki-Pairi ghat was construted by Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartihari. Everyday in the evening the Maha Arti is performed on this ghat, which one should not miss. An imprint of Lord Vishnu's feet on a stone is in evidence, that why the ghat receives its name Hari-ki-Pairi or the foot-print of Hari.

Ganga Aarti
Ganga Aarti is celebrated every day in the evening at 7 p.m. The priests offer their oblaction of 1008 lighted lamps chanting Jay Jay Ganga Mata. The devotees may also make their lamp-offering to the Mother Ganga. Ganga Aarti is an enchating sight to see thousand of floating lamps slowly carried with the current of the river.

Chandi Devi Temple
The Chanda Devi Temple is located 5 km east of Haridwar on the top of Neel Parvat hill. This temple was built in 1929 by Suchat Singh, the king of Kashmir. The Chanda Devi Temple can be visited either by climbing the hill on foot or by the ropeway.

Mansa Devi Temple
Mansa Devi Temple is situated on snow-white top of a hillock Bilva Parvat. Mansa Devi, the symbol of power is actually a form of Goddess Durga. Tongas go upto a certain distance and the rest of the portion has to be covered on foot. One can also reach the temple by the ropeway which is available from Upper Road. As one reaches the temple one can have a superb view of the Ganga and Haridwar town from the temple countryard.

Daksha Mahadev Temple
The temple is situated at Kankhal, 4 kms away from Haridwar. Daksha Mahadev Temple is the site where King Daksha the son of Brahma perfore his yagna. The mercury Shiva Lingam and Rudraksha tree at Harihar Ashram are worth seeing.

Sapt Rishi
Sapt Rishi is the place where the river Ganga has been diverted into seven streams. It is here that the seven sages were involved in meditation and a Ashram was built to commemorate the occasion.

Maya Devi Temple
The ancient emple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths (Places of special religious importance) in India. Maya Devi is also the presiding deity of Haridwar town. It is beleived that when Lord Shiva was carrying his burnt wife Sati then her heart and navel had fallen over this place.

Kankhal
Kankhal is 5 km to the south of the town. The places of interest at Kankhal are Durga Temple, Daksha Mahadev Temple, Satikund etc.

Accommodation
Haridwar is the town of Dharamshalas, more than 500 Dharamshalas are there, which offer good accommodation facility. Apart from Dharamshalas, the town has a wide variety of hotels. Most famous hotels of the town are Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Hotel Classic Residency, Hotel Midtown, Sagar Ganga Resorts and Hotel Haveli Hari Ganga.

How To Reach Haridwar
By Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (52 kms). Domestic airlines operate flights to Dehradun from different cities of India.

By Rail : Haridwar is well-connected by trains to major towns and cities of India. From Delhi trains are available for Haridwar.

By Road : National Highway - 45, connects Haridwar with important places of India. Frequent buses ply from Delhi to Haridwar. The state transport and private buses run to nearby destinations and also on the long distance routes.