Haridwar (UK) Tourism - History, Weather, Complete Tour Guide
Haridwar is a holy city located in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand and a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. Haridwar is governed by the Municipal Corp
Haridwar is a holy city located in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand and a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. Haridwar is governed by the Municipal Corporation Board. Haridwar is one of the Saptapuri, it is one of the seven holy cities of India. This is an ancient city. It is situated at a height of 39 meters above sea level. After traveling 253 kilometers from its source Gomukh, river Ganga first enters the plains in Haridwar, hence it is also known as Ganga and Haridwar. According to Hindu religious stories, Haridwar is the place where after the churning of the ocean, a few drops from the pitcher of Dhanvantari fall into Haridwar. According to the stories, drops of nectar had fallen at four places: Ujjain, Haridwar, Nashik, and Prayag. Mahakumbh is organized every 12th year at these four places. After 3 years of Mahakumbh at one place, Mahakumbh is organized at another place, thus after completing one cycle in 12 years, the time for Mahakumbh comes at the first place.
History of Haridwar?
According to ancient legends, this city came into existence when a drop of nectar fell at these places. Haridwar is one of the four sites where Amit fell. It is considered one of the holiest places in India.
It is believed. The city of Haridwar was first mentioned in the texts of the Maurya Empire (322-185 BC) and then in the travelogue written by the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang in 629 AD. It is believed that the water of the river provides immortality. Raja Mansingh laid the foundation of Haridwar which still exists today. They created two dams on the river Ganga which seriously affected the river's flow. Haridwar is mentioned in the Van Parva of Mahabharata where the sage Dhaumya tells Yudhishthira about the pilgrimage in India.
Top sights in Haridwar
1. Har Ki Pauri: Har Ki Pauri is a sacred and most important religious place in the religious city of Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand, which means the feet of Hari i.e. Narayan. This place is the main pilgrimage place of Haridwar, where everyone purifies themselves by taking a bath in the river Ganga.
2. Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple: After taking a bath in Har Ki Pauri, one has to go to the temple of Mata Mansa Devi. This temple is dedicated to Mansa Devi, located at an altitude of 1.5 kilometers on Mount Bilwa in the Shivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain range of the Himalayas, which is located along with Har Ki Pauri.
3. Shri Maa Chandi Devi Temple: Maa Chandi Devi Temple is situated on Neel Parvat on the other side of the river Ganga. This temple is dedicated to Mata Chandi Devi. This temple is situated on the Shivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain range of the Himalayas, on top of Neel Parvat, whose height is around 3 km.
4. Daksh Prajapati Temple: Daksh Mahadev Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the town of Kankhal, about 4 kilometers from Haridwar. The temple is named after Sati's father Raja Daksh Prajapati. The temple was built in 1810 by Rani Dhankaur and was rebuilt in 1962.
5. Maya Devi Temple: This Hindu temple is dedicated to Goddess Maya located in Haridwar. It is believed that the heart and soul of Goddess Sati fell in the area where the temple stands today and thus it is sometimes called Shaktipeeth.
6. Rajaji National Park: Rajaji National Park is an Indian national park and tiger reserve that covers the Shivaliks near the foothills of the Himalayas. This national park is spread over 820 square kilometers and includes three districts Uttarakhand, Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal.
Best Time to Visit Haridwar
The best season to visit Haridwar is from October to February. The weather in Haridwar is cool and pleasant during these months. During the summer season, Haridwar experiences extreme heat and humidity. In June and July, the temperature here rises up to 35 to 45 degrees Celsius which is not a good season to visit. Therefore, according to pilgrims and tourists, one should visit Mathura from October to February. There are many ashrams and hotels available to stay in Haridwar. Where you can book your room through offline and online mediums.
How to Reach Haridwar?
Haridwar is easily accessible by road, rail, and air. Haridwar is very well connected to all the cities of India by all routes.
By Road: Haridwar is very well connected to other cities of India by road. Haridwar is connected by National Highway 58. You can reach here by road, bus, taxi or vehicle.
By Rail: You can also reach Haridwar by rail. The nearest railway station here is Haridwar Junction which is connected to all the cities of India.
By Air: You can also reach Haridwar by air route. The nearest airport here is Jolly Grant Airport which is located 37 kilometers away from here. From the airport, you can reach Haridwar directly with the help of a taxi, bus, and train.
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