Haridwar Tour And Sightseeing
As you come into the city of Haridwar you’ll be welcomed with the chimes of the temple bells and the spiritual chanting of the priests. The city has a spiritual implication as the sacred river Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time in Haridwar. Thereby making its former name 'Gangadwara' ideal in every intelligence. Respected as one among the seven holiest places of India, Haridwar that accurately suggests the ‘Gateway to Lord Vishnu’ is cradled on the banks of river Ganga. Haridwar is also spelled as Hardwar or Hari-Dwar.
Haridwar Pilgrimage Importance
Haridwar is frequently mentioned in early scriptures and even referred throughout the British times. With Ujjain, Nasik and Allahabad, Haridwar forms the four significant pilgrimage centres of India where Kumbh Mela is celebrated here after every 3 years rotated over these 4 destinations.
Maha Kumbh Mela will be detained in Haridwar in 2022. Haridwar is referred as the Mayapuri, Gangadwar, Mokhsadwar in antique writings.
Haridwar is one of the most excellent places to head to if you are in a mission for peace and spirituality. One can do shrine hopping, stroll along the river banks, have a sacred dip in the Ganges or enjoy the serene atmosphere of the wonderful place. You can visit some of the blessed Hindu temples and ashrams or rejuvenate your senses at the Ayurveda and Yoga centres. The favorable Ganga Arti held at Har ki Pauri is a sight to observe, as the city is drenched in the heavenly aura of the glittering diyas and the ambiance is accentuated by the chanting of the mantras to appease the gods.
History of Haridwar
Haridwar is a livelihood example of one such historical city that hasn’t been erased by the tides of time. The city has been mentioned in several Hindu texts, scriptures and books from the times of Buddha to the British attack. It was ruled by the Maurya Empire (322-185 BCE), followed by the Kushan Empire.
In the Archaeological surveys, it was establish that terra cotta civilization thrived in Haridwar between 1700 BCE and 1200 BCE. Haridwar also finds its mention in the travel journals of the well-known antique explorers.
Mythology about Haridwar
As per the Hindu legends, through the Samudra Manthan or the churning of the ocean, the valuable drops of elixir or Amrit which accepted the benefit of immortality were by chance spilled at four sites i.e Ujjain, Nasik, Allahabad and Haridwar. To honor this event, Kumbh Mela, and Maha Kumbh Mela, the mass Hindu pilgrimages of faith is celebrated once in three years and once in 12 years at one of the four places in that order. It is supposed that Brahma Kund located at Har Ki Pauri is the position where the drops of elixir fell.
Haridwar - The Business Hub and Industrial Town
Haridwar is an very old city and a Municipality in the Haridwar region of Uttarakhand. It is also the head office and the major city of Haridwar region. Haridwar showcases a vivid scenery, with the mighty Himalayas on one side and the plains on the other. This sacred city is emerging as a rising industrial estate as the State Industrial Development of Uttarakhand SIDCUL, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and other affiliated ancillaries are situated here.
Activities in Haridwar
Shopping in Haridwar
Haridwar offers some of the most attractive and well-crafted items, carved stone idols, beads, copper and brass puja utensils, glass bangles, cane baskets and jewellery are some of the most well-liked buying items in Haridwar. But before that, you will actually need to know where to go to stuff your bags with these items.
Popular Markets in Haridwar for Shopping.
Bara Bazar : The market is located on the Railway Road. Rudraksha seeds are on display here in plenty. But before you make a buy, do make sure that you are buying genuine seeds. Apart from this, you can buy Ayurvedic medicines as well.
Government Handloom , Handicraft Emporium : The pilgrimage town of Haridwar also features a number of government-run emporiums. At these shops, you can find a wide variety of religious as well as stone and wood handicrafts.
Moti Bazar : The market lies on the Upper Road towards the north of the canal. Here, you will find a number of stalls in series selling wide range of Pooja articles and other accessories.
Kankhal : Walking 3 miles south of Haridwar takes you to the historical town of Kankhal. Here you can shop for Rudrakash.
Jwalapur : Apart from buying souvenirs at the market here, you can also check out various pure veg restaurants and sweetmeat shops. Shops in the market sell a wide variety of mouth watering delicacies here.
Pilgrimage : Haridwar is one of the seven holiest places in India, and lakhs of devotees flock at Haridwar to wash their sins and seek blessings from the divine. People visit Haridwar to perform the last rites of their loved ones.
Shopping : There are large number of bazaars where one can purchase devotional items ranging from ornaments, idols and pictures of religious deities. Bara Bazaar and Moti Bazaar are known for their garment shops.
Wildlife Safari : The famous Rajaji National Park is just a drive away from Haridwar where one can partake in safari and spot deer, elephants and panthers.