After all the requests and feedback, I am back with my review on another holy place-Hardwar (Must say with the kind of feedback I got, I am considering a career in travel!!!)
No, Haridwar is not a new place for me, I was born there, have lived there for more than 10 years (before shifting to Rishikesh), my father has been here for the past 35 years or so, all this boils down to the fact that I know every nukkad (corner) of this place, and without wasting any more time and space, am going to take you to a small journey of this small, but beautiful place….
Naming of Haridwar:
Hardwar, or Haridwar, is one of the holiest places for Hindus in India. It is significant that pilgrims often go from Haridwar to the two great Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath, as Har means Shiva (the deity of Kedarnath), Hari means Vishnu (the deity of Badrinath), and Dwar means gate. Hardwar is thus the gateway to the two holy shrines of Shiva and Vishnu. The town has also been called Gangadvar, meaning ’Door of the Ganga’ as it is here that the sacred river Ganges leaves the mountains to flow out upon the Indian plains. Many years ago it was also called Kapilsthan after the great sage Kapil, who lived and meditated here.
History of Haridwar:
In the Hindu mythology Haridwar is known as Kapilsthan. According to the legends, Prince Bhagirnath of Suryavanshi, performed a penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors, who had perished, due to the curse of the sage Kapila. The penance was answered, and the river Ganga trickled forth from Lord Shiva’s locks, and its bountiful waters revived the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara.
Haridwar is also called the Gangadwar, Tapovan and also Mayapuri (in the Puranas). The place is also mentioned in the books of Hieun Tsang the famous Chinese traveller. Legends also have it that nectar churned out from the ocean fell at the four sites of the Kumbh fair, including Haridwar. The Kumbh, and the Ardh Kumbh fairs are grand events, when millions of devoted Hindus take a holy dip in the Ganga.
So, what’s there to see: Innumerable temples, the Ganges river in all its mightiness, ashrams, ancient universities, wildlife sanctuaries---Haridwar seems to have it all…Have a look below:
Har Ki Paudi: This sacred Ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. It is believed that Bhartihari eventually came to Haridwar to meditate by the banks of the holy Ganga. When he died, his brother constructed the Ghat in his name which later came to be known as Har-Ki-Pauri. This sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahmakund. The reflection of golden hues of floral diyas in the river Ganga (as seen in the photo above) is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga Arti Ceremony. It is the most important ghat on the river Ganga, where a holy dip is a must for every devotee. It is said that taking bath here purifies the soul and opens the way for the ultimate freedom, Nirvana . No doubt this is one of the most famous spots of this holy place…
Temple of Mansa Devi: It is an ancient temple of Maya Devi the Adhishtkatri deity of Haridwar, known as one of the Siddhapeethas. It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati had fallen at this ancient saktipeeth, located to the east of Har-ki-Pauri. This temple is on the Bilva Mountain. To go up, a trolley ropeway can be used or one can walk up the rock stairs. The view of Haridwar and the Ganges is absolutely mind-blowing, and something that I haven’t forgotten even now—reason enough to visit it again and again and again..
Chandi Devi:The temple of Chandi Devi atop the Neel Parvat on the other bank of river Ganga was constructed in 1929 AD by the King of Kashmir – Suchat Singh. The temple is a 3 km trek from Chandi Ghat. Legend has it that Chanda-Munda the army chief of the local demon king, Shumbha-Nishumbha, was killed by Goddess Chandi here after which the place got the name Chandi Devi. It is believed that the main statue was established by the Adi Sankaracharya in 8th Century AD. Chandi Devi Temple is now accessible by a ropeway also, which starts near Gauri Shanker Temple.
Daksha Mahadev Temple and Sati Kund: Four kms from Haridwar is a town called Kankhal. Mythology says that the king of this place King Daksha Prajapati performed a yagya. His daughter, Sati was married to Lord Shiva. But Daksha was not happy with this marriage and did not invite Shiva-Sati in the Yagya. But Sati came and was insulted by her father. She could not take the insult and burnt herself in the yagya kund. On hearing this the followers of Shiva killed Daksha. But later Mahadeo (Shiva) brought Daksha to life. The Daksha temple is an attribute to this legend. This place is one of the five sacred places in Haridwar.
Gurukul Kangri: This university is known for its unique system of education. it is located on the Haridwar-Jwalapur bypass road. This old institution follows the ancient tradition of Guru-Sishya pattern of education. The institution also has the Ved Mandir Museum which is has a very good collection of archaeological exhibits and displays artifacts which are of historical value.
Cheela: 6 kms from Haridwar in the midst of the Shivalik Mountains is Cheela which is a must for nature lovers. Cheela comes in the periphery of the Rajaji National Park. The Tourism Department has a guest house here. In summer this is an excellent picnic spot.
BHEL: Bharat Heavy Electricals LTD. has its factory in Haridwar. Built on many acres of land, BHEL is 4 kms from Parisar railway station. Here heavy duty motors, turbines, generators and machines are manufactured.
Bharat Mata Temple:This is one of the important temples of Haridwar. It has eight stories in which the images of cities, heroes and great men are installed. There are 28 other temples (including a fabulous Vaishno Devi temple) in the vicinity of this huge temple and I will surely run out of space if I describe all of them. In one word-they are all unique and have their charm—visit as many as you can..
Bhimgoda:Legend has it that while the Pandavas were here, Bhim with one blow of his horse’s hoof drew water from the rocks at this spot
Apart from this situated on the Rishikesh road are Shanti Kunj, Pavandham and the Ashram of Bhupatwala, which I love. I have jotted down every single spot worth visiting. For a peek on the two famous fairs, PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT THE COMMENTS SECTION..
As far as climate of Hardwar goes, expect the temperatures to soar as high as 40 degrees in summers and as low as 2 degrees in winter. Rainfall is in abundance but only in July-Spetember. Shopping can be done for handicrafts made with shells, pearls, rudraksha beads and cane, hand woven mats, baskets and woollen clothes. Nearby excursions include places like Rishikesh, and of course the Char Dhams.
So, there you have a place which can be called holy in the true sense of word. Every spot, every temple here has a strong mythological background to it, and hence it’s a very highly recommended holy spot for every Indian. Why I haven’t given it 5 stars is because its become crowded, polluted and very commercialised in the past 5 years (almost a mini city now!), but that should not deter you to visit all the famous spots described above. But if you are looking forward to a peaceful holiday, just travel 24 kms more and you have Rishikesh, which still is as serene as it was 30 years ago…
Hope you enjoyed the review. Comments are WANTED like always..