Haridwar : A holy place in India

Shopping centers in Haridwar

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Haridwar, the holy city is one of the most renowned pilgrimage centers in India. Pilgrims from all over the world flock to this sacred city to take a dip in the holy waters of River Ganga.Being a destination for pilgrimage tourism, shopping in Haridwar is not on the itinerary of the tourist.

However shops in Haridwar have some interesting things to offer to the tourist. The main shopping centers are Moti bazaar, Upper Road, Jwalapur and Kankhal. You can also check out the Government Handloom and Handicrafts Emporiums and the Gandhi Ashram. Here you will find a range of handicraft decorative pieces. If you are interested in jewellery, then you can choose from a variety of imitation ones which make good fashion accessory.

In Haridwar, you will find neatly and intricately carved stone idols, which make unique souvenirs. It is fascinating that these stones have traversed with Ganga all along and they are eventually deposited in Rishikesh as the river enters the plains. This gives the stones amazing shapes and a natural polish. Besides idols, there are kitchen set toys made from stone, which are interesting buys.

Entry to Haridwar

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How to Reach Haridwar

By Air :- the nearest airport from Haridwar is Jolly Grant at Dehradun, the state capital. The Air Deccan, a private airline is the only one that operates flights to and from Dehradun and Delhi. Traveling up to Delhi by road or rail and then taking the flight to Dehradun is how to reach Haridwar by air most conveniently. By Rail :- Haridwar is a major railhead in the northern railways and is connected to major cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Ujjain, Kolkata, Gorakhpur and so on. Some of the trains that pass Haridwar are Upasana Express, Janashatabdi Express, Uttaranchal Express, Ujjain Express etc.

By Road :- the NH 54 passes through the city of Haridwar. The highway is connected to Delhi, Dehradun, Nainital and other major cities within the state and outside. Regular buses and taxis on hire are easily available in Haridwar.

Places of Interest in and around Haridwar

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HAR-KI-PAURI -1.5 km.

This sacred Ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya (1st century BC) in memory of his brother Bhrithari. It is believed that Bhrithari came to Haridwar and meditated on the banks of holy Ganga. When he died, his brother constructed a Ghat in his name, which later came to be known as Hari-Ki-Pauri.

This sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahmakund. The evening prayer at dusk (Aarti) offered to Goddess Ganga at Hari-Ki-Pairi (steps towards God Hari) is an enchanting experience for any visitor. A spectacle of sound and colour is seen when, after the ceremony, pilgrims float diyas (floral floats with lamps) and incense on the river, commemorating their deceased ancestors. A majority of present ghats were largely developed in the 1800s

CHANDI DEVI TEMPLE - 6 km.

The temple is dedicated Goddess, Chandi, sits atop the 'Neel Parvat' on the eastern bank of river Ganga. It was constructed in 1929 A.D. by the king of Kashmir, Suchat Singh. Skanda Purana mentions a legend, in which Chanda-Munda, the Army Chief of a local Demon Kings Shumbh and Nishumbha were killed by goddess Chandi here, after which the place got the name Chandi Devi [42]. It is believed that the main statue was established by the Adi Shankracharya in 8th century A.D. The temple is a 3 km trek from Chandighat and can also be reached through a ropeway, Ph: 01334-220324, Time-8.30 AM to 6 PM.

MANSA DEVI TEMPLE - 0.5 km.

Situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat, the temple of Goddess Mansa Devi, literally meaning the Goddess who fulfills desires (Mansa), is a popular tourist destination, especially because of the cable cars, which offer a picturesque view of the entire city. The main temple houses two idols of the Goddess, one with three mouths and five arms, while the other one has eight arms. Ph: 01334-227745.

MAYA DEVI TEMPLE - 0.5 km.

Dating to the 11th century, this ancient temple of Maya Devi, the Adhisthatri deity of Hardwar , is considered one of the Siddhapethas and is said to be the place where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati had fallen. It is one of few ancient temples still standing in Haridwar, along with Narayani Shila temple and Bhairav Temple

PARAD SHIVLING - 2 km

Situated in Harihar Ashram, Kankhal. Shivling weighing about 150 kg and Rudraksha tree are the main attractions here.

DOODHADHARI BARFANI TEMPLE

Part of the ashram of Doodhadhari Barfani Baba, this temple complex in white marble is one of most beautiful in Haridwar, especially the temples of Ram-Sita and Hanuman.

PAAVAN DHAM पावन धाम

A modern temple, made entirely of glass pieces, and now a popular tourist destination.

BHARAT MATA MANDIR

A multi-storey temple, dedicated to Bharat Mata, Mother India, with each floor depicting an era in the Indian History, from the days of Ramayan till India's independence.

Haridwar

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Haridwar is a holy city and municipal board in the Haridwar District of Uttarakhand, India. In Hindi, Haridwar stands for Dwar of Hari or Gateway to God, with 'Hari' meaning god and 'dwar' meaning gate . Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus.

After travelling, 253 km (157 mi) from its source, at Gaumukh, 3,139 m (10,300 ft) above sea level, situated at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plain of North India for the first time at Haridwar, [4], and this is what gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára (गंगाद्वार), as the place where the Ganges descends to the plains .

According to Hindu mythology, Haridwar is one among the four sites where drops of the elixir of immortality, Amrita, accidentally spilled over from the pitcher, in which it was being carried away by the celestial bird Garuda, after the Samudra manthan [3]. These four spots -- Ujjain, Haridwar, Nasik, and Allahabad -- have today become places, where the Kumbha Mela is celebrated once every 3 years in any of these 4 places and after a period of 12 years, the Maha Kumbha Mela is celebrated on the 12th year at Prayag in Allahabad. Millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists congregate here from all over the world to celebrate the event. They perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganga.

The spot where the nectar fell is considered to be the Brahma Kund at Har-ki-Pauri (literally, "footsteps of the Lord," and symbolically the footprints of the Amrita), the most sacred ghat of Haridwar; thousands of devotees and pilgrims flock here during festivals or snan from all over India to take a holy dip. This act is considered to be the equivalent of washing away one's sins to attain Moksha.

The Haridwar district came into existence on 28 December 1988 as part of Saharanpur Divisional Commissionary , and on 9 November 2000 , it became part of Uttarakhand, the 27th state in the Republic of India.

Today, it is developing beyond its religious importance, as a major industrial destination of state, with the fast developing Industrial Estate of State Infrastructure & Industrial Development Corporation, SIDCUL , and the close by township of BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) and its affiliated ancillaries.