Haridwar - A kaleidoscope of Indian ethnicity and tranquility of life

Haridwar also spelled as Hardwar is a prehistoric and city antediluvian in Uttarakhand, India. The River Ganges from its originate pla...

Haridwar also spelled as Hardwar is a prehistoric and city antediluvian in Uttarakhand, India. The River Ganges from its originate place  Gaumukh at the circumference of the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India  after flowing for 253 kilometers entered at Haridwar, which gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára. Haridwar is also acknowledged as the domicile of Goddess Sati and the palace of her father Daksha.

This sacred place called Hardwar/ Haridwar instigate disagreement on “What is the exact name of the town and Why? Is it the place of Visnu or Shiva?  Two spellings Hardwar and Haridwar, each has its own implication. Hari means "Lord Vishnu". So, Haridwar stands for “The doorway to Lord Vishnu". This essentially signifies that it is the first step to reach Badrinath the temple of Lord Vishnu, one of the four Char Dhams. According to other opinion, Hara means "Lord Shiva" in Sanskrit and Dwar means "doorway". Hence, it stands for "Doorway to Lord Shiva". Hardwar is the auspicious place to start a pilgrim's journey to reach at Mount Kailash, the eternal abode of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath and eminently auspicious northern most Jyotirlinga.

  

Haridwar/Hardwar is considered as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. According to Mythology Haridwar along with Ujjain, Nashik and Prayag (Allahabad) is one of four sites where Amrit (the elixir of immortality) accidentally spilled over and dropped at the time of Samudra manthan. So it is the sole evident reason of Kumbha Mela (Purna Kumbha) celebrated in every 12 years in these 4 places. Millions of Pilgrims visit Haridwar in the time of Kumbh Mela to perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganges to wash away their sins. Brahma Kund, the holy spot where the Amrit dropped, is located at Har ki Pauri (accurately means “footsteps of the God") and is considered to be the most blessed ghat of Haridwar/ Hardwar. From Haridwar/Hardwar you can step in to sacred divine places loke Rishikesh, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Tanganath, Valley of Flower, Govindh Ghat, and others frequently reaching altitudes of 12,000 feet. Many places among them are strenuous trek on foot. It is possible to reach by car to some places though hazardous. 

This place is especially busy during the yatra (pilgrimage) season from May to October, specifically in July, when hundreds of thousands of devotees descend upon the city.  

Eminent places of  –

·   Sati Kund, on Kankhal Jwalpur Road is one of the oldest of the momentous places in Haridwar. This place is the spot where Sati (Durga) left her body and where she burned herself after being affronted by her father, all of which is described in the Srimad Bhagawatam.  

·  Manasa Devi Temple-One popular temple is the Manasa Devi temple, another form of Durga, located on the hill above the city.  You can reach the temple by foot l or by cable car. Both way give you exotic view of the mountains amazing view of the city plains that surround it.

·   Another auspicious temple named Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is devoted to  Lord Shiva. The temple is situated at a height of 1330 meters and is located about 32 km from Rishikesh in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India. This place is quite reachable from Haridwar/Hardwar. Apart from the spiritual richness and natural beauty of this place is unquestionable. 

Har-ki-Pauri is the holiest place of Haridwar/Hardwar

where all pilgrims come to bathe in the water of the Ganga River.  Devotees should hold chains placed by the side of the river to protect themselves from taken away by the river current. Bathing beyond the chain area is strictly prohibited. The Ganges at Har-ki-Pauri is in reality a canal that the waterway to the side of the city.    There are many little shrines and place of worship of Vishnu, Shiva, Parvati, Ganga Devi, Haricharan and others.  Other holy temples in Hardiwar include the Chandi Devi, Hanuman and temple to Hanuman's mother, Anjani Devi. One can also reach these hill top temples by means of a cable car.  Also, the Narayana-shila, Bhairava, and the Mayadevi temple, Shraannath Mahadeva temple, Bharata Mata (Mother India) Mandir is also very popular in the tourists.

Bhimgoda Barrage:-

The Bhimgoda Barrage is a situated on the Ganges River at Har ki Pauri near Haridwar in Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, India. The major reason for the barrage is irrigation but it also provides water for hydroelectric power production and control floods. The place is very popular for its scenic beauty and for Neel Dhara Bird Sanctuary which is situated behind the barrage. This Sanctuary is favorite place for many migratory birds.

Vivekananda Park-:

One can get most beautiful view of Har ki Pauri from this place. Park  has make its entry free but very  well conserved. Sit peacefully and enjoy the clam and quite atmosphere of Haridwar/ Hardwar and auspicious sound of flowing holy river Ganges. Gigantic Lord Shiva idol enhance the beauty to this place.

Rajaji National Park-:

Rajaji National Park is 24 km away from Hardwar/ Haridwar. This is an Indian national park and tiger reserve that encompasses the Shivaliks, near the foothills of the Himalayas. Apart from Wild Boar,  antelopes , Cheetal, Barking deer, Sambar deer, and Elephant this park is also the home of birds like Black-necked Stork, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Scaly Thrush, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Rusty-flanked Tree creeper, Greater Scaup, White-naped Woodpecker, Great Hornbill, Black-bellied Tern, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Tytler's Leaf Warbler, Green Avadavat and Reed Bunting.

Ganga Arati ceremony:-

Each day at 6.30 p.m the Arati ceremony to the Ganga takes palce in Har ki Pauri. Priests offer large ghee lamps/ diys to the river while devotional music goes on with banging hand cymbals and gongs.  This is a major event and lots of people turn out to see it.  It makes a celebratory atmosphere every night. Immense number of tourist comes very early to take best place to view the Arati and to photographs. Most of the visitors gathered on the reversed side of the Ganga where Arati take place.  If anyone crosses the path at the time Arti the flash of cameras reminds you of red carpet of any fashion award. Many well known

photographers nationally and internationally gathered here to take the best shot.   Many devotees offer flowers and a ghee lamp or a small leaf boat with flowers and lamp to the Ganges. The reflection of lamp light on the water of Ganges in peach black night is just heavenly.

Some areas on earth are more blessed than others, certain on account of their location, others because of their gleaming waters, and others for the reason that of the alliance of saintly people.

Food and Local market-:

The food habits of Haridwar/Hardwar people comprises of vegetarian flavor that speaks of their belief in the piousness and purity of life. Food in Haridwar/ Hardwar encompasses of a healthy and tasty vegetarian dishes that are prepared hygienically.  

Generally, either pure ghee or mustard oil is used for the purpose of cooking food. Use of tomato is minimal in the cuisines of Uttarakhand. 




Simple recipes of this state are made interesting with the use of hash seeds as spice. Some of the famous cuisines of this area are Jhangora ki kheer , Gulgula, Mandua ki roti, Bhatt ki Churdkani, Thagya roti, Kuladh ki dal, Swala, Palau, Kandali ka saag.

Haridwar/ Hardwar is the house many pilgrimages. The restaurants in Haridwar/Hardwar are also serving authentic vegetarian dishes.  Currently restaurants with South Indian and Punjabi cuisine have also emerged in Haridwar/ Hardwar. As people from all parts of India and also from outside of India often visit Haridwar so the demand for multi-cuisine restaurant rises frequently. But apart all changes Haridwar/ Hardwar tries to maintain its original vegetarian delicacy. The Ganges, Temples, Ghats, Saint, Arati, Mountain View, Greenery, Ashrams, food habits, and local markets offering products all together made this place of diverse from others with esteem admiration. 

Famous restaurants that fruitfully

amuse the taste buds of traveler in Haridwar/Hardwar comprise of Dada Boudir Hotel famous for offering Bengali cuisine, Ahaar, Bestee, Mohan's Fast Food, Motel Rahi's restaurant, Bridge Mathura Walla and Chotiwala. Café coffe Day situated so close to the Har ki Puari   you can enjoy the flavor of Irish coffee with stunning scenic beauty of river Ganges.

Markets Haridwar/ Hardwar -: 

Haridwar/ Hardwar also offer magnificent shopping opportunities for voyager. Apart from pooja items and idols others items like beaded accessories, wood carvings, stone carvings and a variety of jewellery items, copper and brass utensils, sweets, glass bangles, cane baskets, pickles and a range of Ayurveda products are also available here.  

Places for shopping in Haridwar/Hardwar are Jwalapur Market, Moti Bazar Market, Upper Road Market, Bara Bazar, Government Handlooms and Handicraft Emporium, The Pentagon shopping Mall and others. These are the main places to shop according to your mind and heart. 

All these market offers every day-use items like Food, clothes, jewellery, shoes, bags, cosmetics, Religious to branded, everything is covered adequately by this market. Most offering products of Haridwar/Hardwar are religious products and woolen/ winter wear from cap to blanket all.

Upper road market offers a collection of products including wall paintings, garments, winter wear, and wooden furniture among other things.  Bara Bazar provides religious as well as decorative items such as Rudraksha, Sweets, Ayurvedic products. Jwalapur market is most famous shopping place in Haridwar/ Hardwar. This market has a variety of craft items, small jewellery and religious items. 

 In Moti Bazar most of the stalls sited here to sell religious items include product to perform pooja and other related commodities. In addition, these shops also have on display items including copper and brass utensils, sweets, glass bangles, cane baskets, pickles. It is an attractive place with lots of shops offers household articles, handicrafts, blankets and winter garments, stuff that is used in Hindu worship and rituals, brass idols of Hindu deities, toys etc.

The wide range of the Khadis clothes, silk sarees and the Kurtas in the Khadi Bhandar, here you can also find the organic grocery, food items like Ghee, Pickle, Honey, jackets, wallets and also the chappals. There are many  emporiums selling handicraft items from Rajasthan, Kashmir and Tibet  where you can find semi-precious gems and astrological gems, product of Wool, pearls, beads and shells products,

Markets of Haridwar/Hardwar are incomplete if food offerings are not there. Food and shopping are conjoint with each other. Voyagers can make their shopping more enjoyable by visiting sweet shops, small eateries and restaurants serving variety of dishes placed in these markets.  One can take pleasure in shopping with cherishing their taste buds with Jalebis, Rasgullas, Gulab Jamun, Lassi, Samosa, Vegetable Pakora, Chole Bhature, Alu Chat, Chili Pakora, Panipuri, Halwa Kachuri  etc.  mouth watering foods.

Haridwar/Hardwar can fill you up with its every possible way from its scenic beauty to food items, clothes to religious items. You can take excellent memento which you can buy from markets and never ever forgettable inner peace as souvenir for your mind and heart. 




Haridwar or Hardwar, the place of Vishnu or Shiva will bless you with all its treasure.