Haridwar

Bathing in River Ganga is one of the must-do lists of every Hindu. Haridwar is considered as one of the holiest cities in India. The city is well known because it is the primary area from where river Ganga emerges. The city is known to reaffirm every devotee's wandering faith in God. Bathing in river Ganga not only gives a sense of purity but also is a starting point for many. Many people believe that one dip in the holy river and all your sins get washed away.

In every 12 years in Haridwar, Kumbh Ka Mela is organised. This is a mass Hindu devotee gathering in Haridwar. The number of people is in millions. The gathering is one of the most peaceful gatherings and is also considered as the World’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims. People take a dip, light lanterns and diyas and pray to gods and goddesses. It is one of the most religious gatherings in India. This mela is considered as one of the holy rituals of Hindus. The mela also has many games, shops, eating facility, rides and much more.

Haridwar, known as the ‘doorway for the gods’ is a city located in the state of Uttarakhand and is home to the famous Ganga river. According to ancient stories, the city came to be when a drop of Amrit, a potion for immortality being made by the gods and demons together, fell on the earth. Haridwar was one of the four sites where the Amrit was spilt. This city has a very interesting and rich mythological background. It is considered to be one of the holiest places in India. The city was first mentioned in the scriptures of the Mauryan empire in 322-185 B.C and then of in the travelogue written by Hiuan Tsang in the 629 A.D. Emperor Akbar, kept jars of the water from River Ganga and drank from it during his travels as the water of the river was said to grant immortality. Raja Maan Singh laid the foundation of the Haridwar that exists today. He built two dams on the Ganga river which severely affect the course of the river.

Har ki Pauri is a ghat located on the banks of River Ganga. Har is the name of Lord Shiva and Pauri means footstep. During the Vedic period, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu were said to have visited this place. There are footsteps of Lord Vishnu that are embedded in a stone wall there. Hence, this place holds a great religious importance and is visited by pilgrims from all around the country.

Death rites are carried out in the city of Haridwar as it is a holy site. Immersing the ashes of the deceased in the river Ganga is said to grant them an entry into heaven. Hence, many people visit Haridwar to carry out death rituals for their deceased family members. Due to this, the Pandits who carry out this rituals, started keeping a record of the family's trees gotra, marriages and other crucial information. With this, intricate genealogical information of families was recorded over centuries and has now become a source through which one can track history of their family.

Har Ki Pauri is, of course, the most visited place in Haridwar. Har ki Pauri is essentially a ghat built by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother, and the location is thronged by devotees all year round. Every evening, as the sun goes down, the Ganga aarti is performed at the ghat, turning the place into a glittering, sensory spectacle. With flaming torches and ringing bells wherever you look, the evening aarti at Har ki Pauri is a mesmerising event that should in no way be missed out on. Other ghats in Haridwar that you can visit are the Gau ghat and the Vishnu Ghat. A place of historical significance in Haridwar is the Bhimgoda Kund/Tank. Situated a short distance away from Har ki Pauri, legend has it that the Pandavas stopped to drink water in Haridwar on their way to the Himalayas, and Bhimgoda was the place where Bhim drew water using just his knee, thus giving birth to its name. It is a famous tourist attraction in Haridwar and draws intrigued visitors all year round. Haridwar has a plethora of temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. The most famous of these temples include the Mansa Devi temple, the Maya Devi temple, the Chandi Devi temple, the Bharat Mata temple, and the Anandamayi Ashram. A lot of these temples are located on hilltops and offer stunning views of the entire city. A very popular tourist attraction in Haridwar is the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and National Park, which is spread out over an area of 1000 square kilometres and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Another attraction that nature lovers will enjoy is the Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar, which is a natural park renowned for being an excellent spot for bird-watching. If you’re lucky (and on time), you might even catch a glimpse of the Siberian Crane inside the park!

Haridwar's platter is dominated by vegetarian North Indian food, you will not run out of choices to flatter your appetite with South-Indian, Bengali, Chinese, Continental food as well as an elaborate and delicious assortment of delicacies, forming a staple meal, 'Thali', which is popular all over.
Other than the mouthwatering Chole Bhature, delicious Dosas and lip-smacking Indian Chinese food that the town offers, what you just cannot miss is the rich, colorful street food, which has some of the best preparations of the city. It is from the streets, that Haridwar gets its most popular and delicious items that almost define the food here. Don't miss the popular Aloo Puri, Kachori, Lassi, Parathas and a huge variety of traditional sweets.
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Day 1 - After reaching Haridwar, go to the Holy River Ganga for a dip. After that enjoy the Desi breakfast and go to Mansa Devi temple. The goddess is very famous as it is believed that she grants wishes. You should also visit Maya Devi temple and Chandi Dev temple. After that, in the evening you should visit Har ki Pauri Ghat. It is very well known holy bank of river Ganga. During sunset every day, Ganga aarti is performed here and you should not miss it.
Day 2 - Beginning with another holy dip in river Ganga start your day by visiting the beautiful ashrams in Haridwar. Shanti Kunj Ashram is built in a beautiful garden where many spiritual activities are organised for the purity of souls. From there you can go to Patanjali Yogpeeth for stretching of your body by doing yoga. The trips to ashrams can be life changing for many. Haridwar is known for yoga practice and for finding inner peace.
Day 3 - You can explore the adventurous side of yours. Haridwar also hosts activities like trekking, bird watching, river rafting and much more. Rajaji National Park is another major attraction here for having a large population of elephants and tigers. In the evening, you can enjoy the famous aloo puri at Mohanji Puriwale and Kachoris at Kashyap Kachoriwala. The desi cuisine is better than any other place.