Haridwar-The holy pilgrim centre on the mighty Himalayas

Invocative sloka

“Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā, Kāśī, Kāñcī Avantikā,

Purī, Dvārāvatī chaiva, saptaitā mokṣha dyikāḥ"”– Garuḍa Purāṇa

[Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar[ Maya], Kasi, Kanchi, Avantika and Dwaraka are the seven most holy places of pilgrimage for Moksha.]

Name

Haridwar or Hardwar

Other names

Mayapuri , Gangadwar,Kapilasthana.

Yes,eulogized in the epics & Puranas,Haridwar marks the vital take off point [char dham] for an adventurous pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Vishnu & Lord Siva-Badrinath, Kedarnath[ Mount Kailash] ,Gangotri & Yamunotri. on the mighty Himalayas.

Location

This very ancient town is the point from where we start our pilgrimage to Mount kailash considered the abode of Lord Shiva ,to Kedarnath which is the northernmost jyotirlinga & to Gomukh which is the source of river Ganga. It lies between the Shivalik hills in the North & the Ganges in the south.

Absolutely ravishing & - scenic ,Haridwar is located at an altitude of 314 meters from the sea level.Nature & divinity go hand in hand in this mountainous and wooded area thus making it one of the most popular pilgrim centres & tourist spots.Generally cold ,it can be best visited between May & September with the temperature hovering around the eighties & nineties ..

How to reach

The Haridwar Railway Station is well connected with all major cities of India .It can also be reached by air & the The nearest domestic airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun located 35 km from Haridwar. Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the nearest International Airport.It is also well approached by scenic roads.Buses & taxis are available in plenty.

Astonishing antiquity & ancient history.

It is said that it was on this hill that Lord Shiva stood as Gangadhara & heldon His matted hair , the gushing waters of the holy Ganga from Her heavenly abode .He is said to have brought down the heavenly Ganga to fulfil the penance of King Bhagiratha in order to give salvation to 30000 of his ancestors whose ashes were buried in the underworld[ Patala loka]. This is also the reason why Haridwar pilgrimage is popularly done to attain moksha. .Har ki pauri is the spot at which Hara stood at that time & is supposed to be the most sacred spot of Haridwar.Lord Vishnu is said to have left his footprint on the stone that is set in the upper wall of Har Ki Pauri, where the Holy Ganges touches it at all times.The Daksha yagnya & Sati story is also associated with this place & hence we find many Devi temples to be visited here. This being the Puranic reference to Haridwar,it is a matter of great pride that this place is referred to in the Magnum Opus Epic Mahabharata & wasone of the places suggested for Theerthayathra to Yudhishtira ,the eldest of the 5 pandavas. . Haridwar is also associated with Huing tsang,King Harsha vardhana ,king Chandragupta Maurya. & others .The 'Panch Tirth' (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar, are "Gangadwar" (Har ki Pauri), Kushawart (Ghat in Kankhal), Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat(Chandi Devi Temple). There are several other temples ,yoga spots and ashrams located in and around the city..

Other attractions

The Rajaji National park attracts many tourists young & old. Haridwar like Kasi has been a seat of knowledge ,culture & tradition . Many Sanskrit universities ,& schools exist even today's upholding this concept.The most important festival is the Haridwar Kumbmela.

All these & more make Haridwar,seated on the mighty Himalayas beside the perennial sacred river Ganga , a “must visit kshetra” of our Bharat.

Mangala Sloka

“Chalo manu, chalo manu,Haridwar chalo ;

Chalo manu,chalo manu , Haridwar Chalo;

Hari bolo,Hara bolo ,Hari Dwar chalo….;[2]

Chalke Ganga snan karo……………..[2]

Paap ,thaap chodo [owr]moksha milo.”[2]

[Oh!my mind!You shall go to Haridwar now ;

As you go, chant the Names of Hari & Hara;

As you chant ,take a holy dip in the sacred Ganga ;

& as you take a dip ,your sins & anxieties will melt in the chillness of the Ganga theertha ,thus elevating you to Moksha.]

A Hindi folk song in Raga Desh