One of the holiest pilgrimages in India, Haridwar, or the ‘gateway to gods’, is located where Ganga, the sacredest of all Indian rivers, enters the Indo-Gangetic plains. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Haridwar is a city of temples and ashrams and its pious ambience envelops everyone. Haridwar is one of the four holy Indian cities that host the Kumbh Mela, a pious gathering of millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years. The Ardh Kumbh is organised here every six years.
It also hosts the Kanwar mela every year during the rainy season. The ‘Panch Tirth’ or the five pilgrimages located within the periphery of Haridwar, are Gangadwara (Har Ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat), Kankhal, Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi). Haridwar serves as the gateway to the Char Dham of Uttarakhand as well.
An ancient city, Haridwar's roots are steeped deep in culture and traditions of the ancient Vedic times, and there are several institutions here imparting traditional knowledge of wellness. If you want to know more and experience the ancient methods of healing, there are many certified Ayurvedic clinics in Haridwar that you can visit. Ashrams also offer sessions in Ayurveda, meditation and yoga. Every morning and evening, the ghats (stepped banks of a river) of River Ganga witnesses the blissful Ganga aarti, which attracts devotees and tourists. The evening ritual being more popular, it makes for a mesmeric sight to see the river being vene
The serene Sapt Rishi Ashram, one of the oldest in Haridwar, welcomes devotees looking for peace and spirituality. It also runs a Sanskrit school. It is said to be standing at the site where the holy River Ganga divides herself into seven streams
A paradise for bird watchers and trekkers, this forested area offers abundant flora and fauna. Situated just 3.5 km from Haridwar, the park attracts thousands of migratory birds in winter.
This Lord Shiva temple is located on the outskirts of Haridwar and is said to have been constructed at the site where King Daksha performed a yagna.
This old temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is located on the outskirts of the city.
Devoted to goddess Maya Devi, the temple is considered very sacred by devotees.
This temple located atop the Bilwa Parvat on the Shivalik mountain range is considered to be one of the most scared shrines of Haridwar.
Chandi Devi temple, located on the top of Neel Parvat, is one of the major tourist attractions of Haridwar. With Goddess Chandi as its presiding deity, the temple is one of the Siddhapeeth.
Har Ki Pauri, meaning 'the footsteps of gods' is the one of the most well-known ghats of Haridwar, and it's always bustling with pilgrims and tourists, who come to take a dip in the holy Ganga.