Gods Gateway -Haridwar

HARIDWAR:-


Haridwar meaning ‘Gateway to God’ is one of the seven holiest places of the Hindus, located on the banks of River Ganges. It is the place where river Ganga descends to the plains. Haridwar is also spelled as Hardwar or Hari-Dwar.


A paradise for nature-lovers, Haridwar presents kaleidoscope of Indian culture and civilization. Haridwar also termed as 'Gateway to Gods' is known as Mayapuri, Kapila, Gangadwar as well. The followers of Lord Shiva(Har) and followers of Lord Vishnu(Hari) pronounce this place Hardwar and Hardwar respectively as told by some. It is also a point of entry to Dev Bhoomi and Char Dham (Four main centers of pilgrimage in
Uttarakhand) Viz. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Haridwar is a typical place to start a pilgrim's journey.
Haridwar is also known as the home of Devi Sati and the palace of her father Daksha. In ancient times, the town was referred to as Gangadwára  the place where the Ganges descends to the plains.


History of Haridwar:-
Archaeological finding have proved that terracotta culture dating between 1700 B.C. and 1200 B.C. existed in this region.

Legendary king Bhagirath is said to have brought the river Ganga from heaven to earth in order to provide salvation to his ancestors. It is also said that Haridwar has been sanctified by the presence of three Gods; Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Lord Vishnu is said to have his foot print on the stone that is set in the upper wall of Har-Ki-Pauri where the Holy Ganga touches it all the times . Devout believers feel that they can go to heaven by getting their salvation after a dip in the sacred Ganga at Haridwar.
Ganga trickled forth from Lord Shiva's locks and its bountiful water revived the sons of King Sagara. In the tradition of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their ancestors.

Haridwar is also one of the four places where drops of Amrit or nectar fell from the pitcher which was being carried by Garuda, the heavenly bird and the spot is known as Brahma Kund or Har-ki-Pauri.

Har-ki-Pauri is the most holy place in Haridwar where thousands of devotees take a dip. It is believed that Prince Bhagirath served self-punishment here to rescue the souls of his ancestors who had died due to the curse of Kapil Muni. His prayers were answered and Ganga flowed from the locks of Lord Shiva and revived the sons of King Sagara. Therefore, according to the Hindus salvation of the ancestors can be reached by standing on the holy waters at Har-ki-pauri.

Har-ki-pauri is the most important place of Haridwar where thousands of people take a dip in the holy waters of the Ganges. At twilight, when evening aarti is performed the reflection of the golden diyas that keep floating on the river offers an enchanting view of the ghat to the visitors.

As per the Hindu mythology, Haridwar is fortuned with the footprints of the angelic Gods, thereby representing the land as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, and Mokshadwar. This prominent Hindu pilgrimage destination is the gateway to other three prominent holy chardham destinations of Uttrakhand namely, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath. The godly land scintillates during the famous Kumbh mela, organized by devotees after every 12 years and also with the similar Ardha Kumbha Mela is held after every six years. Pilgrims welcome the daily dusk with an eventing aarti on the bank of the pious river Ganga, which is believed to carry the stone cuts marked with the footprints of Lord Vishnu. This beautiful has been grabbing million people since the period of Lord Buddha and till today, the place holds all its religious and cultural aspects in a unique style.



Kumbhamela in Haridwar:-
Hardwar town is the gateway to the abode of Gods. The mythological and religious importance of Hardwar is well known.  The 'Kumbh' and the 'Ardh Kumbh' fairs are held periodically, every twelveth and sixth year in Hardwar, when a large number of pilgrims and devotees converge to commemorate this divine event.

According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. According to mythology, 'Devas' (Gods) and 'Asuras' (Demons) churned the ocean to obtain

Nectar and when the coveted 'Kumbha' (pitcher) of Nectar (Amrita) which gave immortality was obtained from the depths of ocean, one of the 'Devas' whisked away the 'Kumbha' from the 'Asuras' and evading from the 'Asuras', stopped at four places viz. Hardwar, Allahabad (Prayag), Nasik and Ujjain before he finally arrived into the safety of heaven. It is referred as the Mayapuri, Gangadwar, Mokhsadwar in ancient writings.
A few drops of Nectar are supposed to have spilled over on the water at these four places and sages, saints and pilgrims started periodically to flock to each of these 'Tirthas' to celebrate the divine event. In fact , it is a unique event that blends religious and social features alike.



Though the Ganges does not lose its rapids completely nevertheless it becomes very quite and calm here. The water is clean and people prefer taking bath on the numerous ghats built on the river shores. It is said that taking bath here purifies the soul and opens the way for the ultimate freedom, Nirvana.
Haridwar has earned fame as being the place which has been blessed by the trinity of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It is also one of the major Shaktipeeths.

Down the ages, Haridwar has purified the mind, the body and the soul. Not only in spiritual or religious terms Haridwar has come up as a major learning center for arts, science and culture. This place has maintained the Gurukul tradition of teaching. This ancient tradition of teaching has maintained its fervour in Haridwar.
Haridwar has since ages been a source of Ayurvedic medicines and has been providing herbal remedies. Haridwar one of the first towns to be developed on Ganges is still lush and green with forest and trees. With Rajaji Park in the vicinity Haridwar has also been the destination for the wildlife and nature lovers. The city acquires a unique charm in the evening when the ghats become breath takingly beautiful with thousands of Diyas and Marigold floating in the waters of Ganges.



Haridwar is one of the first towns where Ganga emerges from the mountains to touch the planes. And that's why the water is crystal clear and cool. Lush green forests and small ponds add to the scenic beauty of this holy land. The Rajaji National Park is just 10 kms from Haridwar. Its an ideal destination for wild life and adventure lovers. In the evening the ghats look breathtakingly beautiful as thousands of diyas (lamps) and marigold flowers float and illuminate the holy waters.

Temples in Haridwar:-

The temple is more popular among visitors because it completes the Siddhapeeth Triangle in Haridwar along with the temples Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi. A pilgrim's visit to Haridwar is deemed to be incomplete without visiting the Mansa Devi Temple.

Manasa Devi Temple:-
It was buit in 1811-1815 A.D by Maharaja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra.The Mansa Devi temple happens to be one of the oldest holy places in the town of Haridwar. It is visited by tourists from all corners of the world. Dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi, the temple occupies a wonderful position atop the Bilwa Parvat. The temple is mostly popular for having wishes fulfilled. It is said that pilgrims who pray to the goddess with a pure heart can get their desires fulfilled by the blessings of goddess Mansa Devi.
While visiting the temple, you can never miss a visit to a holy tree which lies close by. Pilgrims don't forget to tie threads around this tree. It is said that tying threads around the tree can fulfill one's wishes by the grace of goddess Mansa Devi. In addition to paying a visit to the temple, visitors and pilgrims can also enjoy a heart-stirring view of the entire Haridwar town from the top of the Bilwa Parvat.



Maya Devi Temple:-
The temple has an ancient history. It's mythological history goes long back to the 11th century. Maya Devi, to whom the temple is dedicated, is believed to be the goddess of shakti (meaning power).
Sati's navel fell down where the Maya Devi temple is located today. That's how the Maya Devi Temple came into existence. It is due to this reason that Hindus from all parts of the world hold this temple in high regard.



                                         








Chandi Devi Mandir:-
It was built in 1929 by Suchat Singh by Adi Shankaracharya.The temple carries a lot of significance, as it has the privilege of being counted among the famous Shaktipeethas in Norther India. If you want to have a wish fulfilled, you can pay a visit to the holy temple of Chandi Devi and pray to goddess Chandi Devi. Both Hindus and foreign tourists from all around the world visit the temple of Chandi Devi to see the goddess'
blessings.

The temple has a wonderful legend associated with it. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Indra's kingdom was taken over by two demon kings named Shumbh and Nishumbh. When the demon kings crossed their limits, Chandi Devi was given birth from the cells of goddess Parvati.


Parad Shivling:-
The words 'Parad Shivling' have been derived from 'parad' (meaning mercury) and 'shivalinga' (a sacred symbol of Lord Shiva). That's why, the Parad Shivling is also sometimes referred to as the Mercury Shivalinga. Among other holy sites of Pilgrimage in Haridwar, this shivlingam has a lot of religious significance. Since Lord is the supreme god in the Shiva tradition, Hindus can never afford to miss a visit to
the Parad Shivling.

Though the shivlingam is the major attraction here, visitors also view the Rudrakhsha tree which has stood here for many years. Hindus believe that rudraksha (the seeds of the holy tree) can heal a wide range of ailments. Devotees who come here don't miss to collect the rudraksha from this tree. They wear the rudraksha to get rid of multiple problems in their lives.



Bharat Mata Mandir (Mother India):-
It was built by Swami Satyamitranand Giri in 15 May 1983 .Height 180 feet (55 m).
ft. The first floor or storey features the statue of Mother India, hence named Bharat Mata Mandir. The second floor is dedicated to all the freedom fighters of India. The third storey stands in dedication of some of the most revered women of India including Meera Bai, Savitri and Maitri. The fourth floor, named Sant Mandir, features all the great saints of Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

The fifth floor of the Bharat Mata Mandir is known as the Assembly Hall. The floor is representation of the co-existence of all the faiths followed in the Indian subcontinent. The sixth storey of the Bharat Mata Temple is dedicated to Hindu goddess of Shakti.The eight floor, which is the uppermost in the Bharat Mata temple, is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

 Daksha Mahadev Temple:-
 Daksha Mahadev Temple (Daksh Prajapati Mandir) Year 1810 by the queen of Dhankaur.
The ancient temple of Daksha Mahadev is situated in the south Kankhal town .The mythological story about this place is that King Daksha Prajapati, father of Sati (Lord Shiva 's first wife ) performed yagya at this place. Daksha Prajapati did not invite Lord Shiva and Sati felt insulted . Therefore she burnt herself in the yagya Kund . This incident provoked the disciples and followers of Mahadev who killed King Daksha, but later on Lord Mahadev brought him back to life. Daksha Mahadev temple is thus a tribute to this legend.


Pawan Dham Temple:-
Pawan Dham Temple (a branch of Geeta Bhawan Trust Society (Redg.) Moga Punjab
Founder: Swami Vedantanand ji Maharaj.The fascinating beauty of the temple itself defines the great work of
art. The wonderful work of glasses and artistically designed walls are the main reasons of its popularity. Ultimately, the aesthetical work describes the rich culture and heritage of the ancient India. A holy visit of to the ancient temple is believed to make oneself free from one's sin.


Doodhadhari Barfani (Mandir):-
The temple is visited both for its spiritual significance and architecture. Occupying a position in the Doodhadhari Barfani Ashram, the temple features a number of smaller temples inside the complex. These temples remain dedicated to different gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Hanuman Mandir and Ram Sita Mandair are also located inside the temple complex.


Shri Bilvkeshwar mahadev mandir:-
Shri Bilvkeshwar mahadev mandir is situated in the valley of Bilv parvat (bilv hill).Bilv is a tree which is quite sacred to Hindus.Its leaves represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.It is the place where Mata Parvati worshiped for Lord Shiva for some 10,000 years.After completion of which she was married to Lord Shiva.The temple is situated near the haridwar railway station.

Shri Neeleshwar mahadev Mandir:-
Shri Neeleshwar mahadev Mandir is quite old temple,which is said to be built in Sat-Yuga.This temple is situated in the valleys of Neel parvat or the Blue hill and is the temple of Lord Shiva.





Maa Kali Mandir:-
Maa Kali Mandir is situted in a cave just 800 m east of Har ki Pauri.It is one of the oldest temples of
Haridwar. "Haridwar is home of countless temples. Some old, some new. Each and every temple is special in some or another way "





Sureshvari Devi Temple:-
Haridwar from Chilla Range, Rajaji National Park
Temple of Goddess Sureshwari, situated in midst of beautiful Rajaji National Park. Serene and religious
makes this temple abode of worshipers, saints etc. Located at outskirts of Haridwar in Ranipur and permission from forest rangers is necessary.



Famous Ghats:-
Haridwar is marked with some famous Ghats which have been drowned with the sacred belief of the devotees. One among the many is the Gau Ghat and a shower here is believed to washes away all the sins of slaughtering cows. Other religious Ghats are Kankhal, Nila Parvata, Bilwa Theertha, Gangadwara, Kusavarta and Hari-ki-Pauri. Every year lakhs of pilgrims visit the banks, splurge themselves into the holy water and receive a feeling of contentment and achievement.



Har-ki-pauri:-
The sacred ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother Bhartrihari. The  
 golden reflection of floral diyas in the river Ganges is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga's aarti ceremony at the ghat.




Gau Ghat:-
The Gau Ghat is situated on the southern part of the Subhash Ghat. Mythologically, the cow is known as "Kamadhenu". That fulfills the wishes of the desires. The people reach at this site to grant forgiveness for the sin of cow killing for foods. These formal events were celebrated with the holy act of a donation of a cow.
The act of killing of a cow is similar, of killing to a Brahmin. On any religious occasion people crowds the Gau Ghat for prayer. There is a fact that the ashes of Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi were blew at this ghat.



Asthi Parvath Ghat:-
The Asthi Parvath Ghat is located in the south of the Ganga temple. Peoples float the ashes of the dead persons in the sacred water of Ganga at this Ghat. They believe that as the 60000 thousand sons of Sagara got salvation in the cool water of Ganga. People first do the prayer and then they blow the ashes of their kin in the river. When the cannel is closed the beggars started finding the coins and gold which is blown in the river with the ashes.

Subhash Ghat :-
The Subhash Ghat is close to the Harki Pauri Ghat with a statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, one of the great freedom fighter of India. There is a voluntarily organized Sewa Samiti which provides helps to the pilgrims as a dispensary.

Sapt Rishi Ashram:-

Sapt Rishi Ashram is so named, as it is the place where sapt (meaning seven) rishis (meaning sages) had once performed meditation. The Hindu mythology records the names of these seven sages as Kashyapa, Vashisht, Gautam, Jamadagi, Vishwamitra, Bhardwaja and Atri.

Therefore, the site of the temple is where those seven rishis had chosen to meditate. Devotees hold this ashram in high esteem due to its religious significance. Even today, the ashram is a regular haunt of rishis, saints and sages from different parts of the world.

Shanti Kunj Ashram:-
It was built by Pt. Shriram Sharma in 1971. The Shanti Kunj Ashram has spread its branches throughout India and the world. The ashram's major target is rural areas.

The biggest attraction at Shanti Kunj is the teaching of Sanjeevani Viday (meaning the art of living). The

Ayurveda practitioners at the Shanti Kunj Ashram are known to provide free treatment to people who need it. The spiritual sanatorium at the ashram is the place where people learn how to live a life of complete peace and joy. Researchers at Shanti Kunj do a great job of applying spiritual science to improve the everyday life of people. The ashram aims to eradicate the social evils that our modern-day societies are struggling with.

Apart from the spiritual sanatorium, Shantikunj in Haridwar is also quite popular for its research laboratory called Brahmvarchas. Patients suffering from a wide range of mental disorders can avail of the free relief services at this laboratory, a major attraction at ShantiKunj. The ashram is located at 6 km from the Haridwar railway stations.

Ramanand Ashram:-
Situated in shravan nath nagar of the town near railway station, this is the main ashram of Ramanand Sampraday in Haridwar. Mahant Bhagwan Das is the chief of this ashram.



Anandamayi Maa Ashram:-
Situated in Kankhal, one of five sub-cities of Haridwar, the ashram houses the samadhi shrine of Sri
Anandamoyi Ma (1896–1982), a noted saint of India.


Ganga Aarti in Har Ki Pauri Ghat:-
Ganga Aarti in Hardwar city starts at around 6.30pm. 1 to 5 times Aarti is performed daily at the Har ki Pauri Ghat.

Loud speakers blare songs in praise of Ganga Maiya and Shiva. Lots of babas or sadhu are seen sitting in corners, hoping to get some donations from the devotees. People keep walking in all direction trying to find a good place to sit or stand. Hawkers sell wick lamps or diyas to float in the Ganges.

Aarti symbolize 5 thing mainly these are 1) ether (akash) 2) wind (vayu) 3) fire (agni) 4) water (jal) and 5) earth (pruthvi). In Sanskrit the meaning of "Aa" is "towards or to" and the meaning of "rati" is right or virtue". The Aarti is done in a clock wise manner around the Lord.

Ganga Aarti is a devotional ceremony that uses fire as an offering. It's usually made in the form of a lit lamp, and in the case of the Ganges River, a small diya with a candle and flowers that's floated down the river. The offering is made to the Goddess Ganga, as well lovingly referred to as Maa Ganga, goddess of the most holy river in India.



Haridwar Travel  Route:-
By Air :The nearest Airport to Haridwar is the Jolly Grant in Dehradun and is 52 km away from the town.. Visitors can opt to reach Delhi by rail or road and then catch a flight from Delhi to Haridwar.

By Rail :Rail is the most convenient path to reach Haridwar. A number of railway junction connects the town with different parts of the country. Some of them are the Ujjaini Express, Uttaranchal Express, Haridwar Allahabad Express and many more.

By Road : You can also travel to Haridwar by road. National Highway 45 passes through the Haridwar town and connects Delhi. Also a number of State transport buses, delux buses and private taxis are available for a long distance travel from Delhi to the destination.

Haridwar from Major Cities
Delhi - 214 km
Rishikesh - 24 km
Dehradun - 52 km
Mussoorie - 90 km
Yamunotri - 240 km
Kedarnath - 250 km
Badrinath - 290 km

Haridwar Climate (Weather):-
Haridwar - has a pleasant climate for many months of the year. As its location is in the hilly terrains, the climate never becomes extreme type. Thus Haridwar is one such tourist spot that can be visited any time of the year. There are frequent precipitation that takes place. The annual mean rainfall in Haridwar is about 2136.7 mm.

Climate in summer:- In the months of summer the temperature in Haridwar varies from 35 degrees to 45 degrees Celsius. Summer season is mild and moderate followed by a good rainfall in monsoon.
Haridwar in Winters: The temperature ranges from 10 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius in the months of winter. The weather of Haridwar often becomes unpredictable. The winters are very cold in Haridwar. Wollen clothing is essential during this period.
Climate in Monsoon:- Monsoon season is from July to September and during this time most activities are suspended due to the heavy blast of rains. Rainfall is highest in the month of August. During the month of October and November the conditions are pleasant and temperate.
Best Time  to visit  Haridwar:-The ideal time to make a trip to Haridwar is between the months of September and April.