Haridwar Travel Guide - Things to Do in Haridwar

The ancient city of Haridwar is known for being the gateway to Lord Vishnu. With the holy River Ganga making its way through the holy town the entire town remains engulfed in deep spiritualism. The entire town is dotted with numerous age-old temples and structures which look like they have been frozen in time. By availing of a Haridwar Sightseeing Tour one can witness and be a part of the grand and glorious Ganga Aarti which takes place with great pomp and show during the evening on the colorful and teeming Ghats that line the banks of River Ganga. Regarded as one of the holiest places in India and a part of the Sapta puri, Haridwar is one of the chief pilgrimage destinations for people and individuals looking for some spirituality in their lives.

Nearby Temples

Har-Ki-Pauri

Har-Ki-Pauri - (footprint of Hari), is the Haridwar focal point, where devotees gather to bathe and worship the Ganges. According to legend Lord Vishnu left his footprint at Har-ki-Pauri. This is the same place where a drop of Amrit got from the churning of the oceans fell. The Kumbh Mela is held here.

The ghat is on the western bank of the Ganga canal about 1.5 km from the railway station and bus stand. (Rs 5 for shared auto). Part of this sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahma Kund - where Ganga enters from one side and exits from the other. King Vikramaditya constructed the sacred Ghat in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. There are five bridges across the river. Round the clock, religious rituals such as 'Upanayanam' or the initiation rite, 'mundan' or the head tonsuring rite, ' Asthi Visarjan' or immersing the ashes of the dead and 'Shraddha' or prayers propitiating one's ancestors are performed here. Apart from taking a holy dip on this site, you can also savor the spectacularly mesmerizing views of the Ganga Aarti in progress in the evenings.

Tips:

• Driving around Hari ki Pauri is very difficult/ impossible during peak time.
• Pilgrims are required to take a bath at Hari Ki Pauri before proceeding to Chardham Yatra.
• You may be forced or talked into making a donation if you linger for too long near the ghats. Beware of con artists posing as officials.
• Though non-Hindus are not allowed onto the main ghat, they can watch the proceedings from the clock tower near the ghat.

Udan Khatola Ticket Rates
Type	Fare	Details
Single	Rs. 48	One to & fro journey per person on Mansa Devi
Combined	Rs. 123	One to & fro journey per person on Mansa Devi and One to & fro journey per person on Chandi Devi Validity 3 days from the date of issue
Package	Rs. 152	Same as in combined ticket + to and fro transportation between Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi Validity 3 days from the date of issue
Concession	Rs. 31	For physically and visually handicapped persons and war widows.
Free Rides For
Children below 110 cm in height

Timings of Udan Khatola

April to March 6.30 am to 8.00 pm

December to March 8.30 am to 5.30 pm

Chandi Devi

Chandi Devi along with Mansa Devi and Maya Devi temple from a Siddha Peeth triangle in the holy city of Haridwar. Chandi Devi temple is perched high up the Neel Parvat on the bank of river Ganga. The King of Kashmir - Suchat Singh had this temple constructed in 1929 AD. According to legends, Chandi Devi killed demon kings Shumbh and Nishumbh, who captured the kingdom of Lord Indra from here. It is believed that the Adi Shankaracharya consecrated the main statue of the temple in the 8th Century AD.

The temple is located at a trekking distance of 3 km trek from Chandi Ghat. The climb is tough, especially for elderly people. Kamraj ki Kali temple is on the walking route to Chandika Devi temple. The temple can also be accessed by ropeway (Udan Khatola) starting near Gauri Shankar Temple. The overall length of the Ropeway is 740 mts and the height is 208 Mts.

Two hundred meters from Chandi Devi temple is the temple of Anjana Devi, mother of Hanuman.

Timings: 5 am to 8 pm

Tips:

• Be careful of monkeys. Don’t feed them.
• Chandi Devi Temple is about 4 km from Manas Devi Temple. If you buy a package tour ticket from Udan Khatola station transportation by tempo will be arranged by the cable car operators.
• Priests tie a thread on your hand and demand money-many of they are not approved by the temple.
• Drinking water and toilet facilities are available at the waiting halls attached to Udan Khatola station.
• Photography is prohibited inside the temple.
• Good video CDs are available for sale in the shops near the temple. Rs 80-100 for English and Rs 30 for Hindi versions.

Maya Devi Temple

This ancient and age-old temple shrine of Maya Devi is also the Adhisthatri deity in Haridwar. It is a popular belief that when Lord Shiva was carrying his wife Sati through the earth, who had burnt herself to keep the honor of her husband intact, her heart and navel had fallen at this very spot. The main Prathishta of the temple includes Mahamaya, Chamunda Durga, and Bhadrakali. On the corridor of the temple, a small image of Devi is placed on a swing. Devotees swing it for attaining moksha.

Important festivals of the temple area during Navratri and Shravan months Location: 1 km from the railway station. Get down at the post office junction and walk 5 minutes to reach the temple.

Auto Charge: Rs.5/

Daksha Mahadev Temple

Daksha Mahadev also known as Shri Daksheshwar is an ancient shrine located at Kankhal. Queen Dankaur constructed this temple in 1810 AD. As per Mythology King Daksh Prajapati, father of Sati (Lord Shiva's first wife) had performed a Yajna at this place, but didn’t invite Lord Shiva. This act of Sati’s father insulted Sati greatly and she burnt herself in the same yajna kund. Instigated by this act, the Gangas who are considered to be the followers of Lord Shiva killed King Daksha. After some time, Lord Shiva brought him back to life. The temple is dedicated to this legend. The temple has a gilded image of a serpent symbolizing Shiva.

Location: 4 Km from Haridwar railway station

Auto Charge: Rs.30/ from the Railway station

Ashrams, Mediation and Yoga Centres

Dedicated to Mother India, this is a temple as well as a nation-building exercise. The eight floors of this building are racked neatly with deities, saints, and secular heroes belonging to all Indian faiths. Sri Satyamitranand Giri Ji conceived this in 1971 and was inaugurated by Indira Gandhi in 1984. Here India is given an imaginary form of a deity that bares a tri-colored national flag in her hand a tri-colored sari decorating her radiant-looking idol. The first floor is called Bharat Mata Mandir. The second to eighth floors are respectively called the Soor Mandir, Mathura Mandir; Sarnath Mandir; Satsang Bhawan, Shanti Mandir; Vishnu Mandir, and Shiv Mandir.

Location: 5 kms north of the Railway station

Timings: 8 am to 8 pm from April to September and 8am to 7 pm from October to March

Tip:

• Lift operates only up to 6^th floor, and they charge Re 1/ per person-
• Don’t miss the Kalpa Vriksha on the top floor.

Bharat Darshan and Shivanand Dham

These two museums like places are located near Bharata Matha temple. There are images of Gods and Goddesses in both of these places.

Entry Fee: Rs. 2/

Sapt Rishi Ashram and Sapt Sarovar

According to legend, the Saptarshis (seven sages-Kashyap, Vashisht, Atri, Vishwamitra, Jaindayani, Bhardwaj, and Gautam) were meditating at this place. The Ganga not wanting to disturb them split herself into seven different streams (Sapt Sarovar) around each of the meditating rishis. Thus Ganga River flows in the form of seven streams in front of this Ashram. Ganga again reunites into a single channel called Neel Dhara as it enters Haridwar.

Location: It is located right on the Haridwar-Rishikesh Highway (7 Km from the Railway station)

Auto Charge: Rs 50/

Bhimgoda

As per the epic Hindu mythology Mahabharata, the ultimate Pandava hero Bhim had drawn water from the rocks by creating a pool by striking his horse’s hoof. The canal, which is constructed here, bifurcates the water of the Ganges into the Bhimgoda Head Works. The dam is worth a visit. It looks gloriously magnificent while the surplus water is left to flow out of the dam producing soft unique-looking foam.

It is about half a km upstream from Hari-ki-Pauri Ghat.

Sivananda Ashram

This is one of the oldest and most active ashrams in this area. The ashram was founded by Swami Sivananda and is being run by Devine Life Society. Spiritual and Hindu ritualistic activities are performed here. It also runs Hatha yoga and meditation courses and a well-equipped charitable hospital.

Located on the right bank of the Ganga at a distance of 3 km from Rishikesh Town and can be reached by autos or taxis. Note: Even though the ashram welcomes everyone, due to a shortage of space and accommodation, visitors should obtain prior permission from the general secretary well in advance (usually two months). Even though the facilities are neat visitors are advised to take their own linen. Ashram serves food thrice daily.

Festivals

In Haridwar festivals are organized around the year, such as Somvati Amavasya, Kartik Poornima, Shravan Poornima, and Ganga Dussehra among other vital bathing dates present in the Hindu calendar. Apart from this Kanwar Mela, Kumbh Mela, and Ardh Kumbh are also organized on a grand scale. Apart from these religious festivals the Haridwar District administration also organizes 'Haridwar Mahotsava’ and ‘Ayurveda Mahotsava every year.

Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is related to Samudra Manthan. The most important thing that came out of the ocean during Samudra Manthan was the Kumbh containing the nectar of immortality (Amrit). As Dhanwantari, appeared with the Kumbh a great fight followed between the Gods and the Asuras to take possession of the Amrit.

For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) at a stretch and continuously the gods and Asuras fought in the sky to claim possession of this holy pot of amrita. It is said that during the battle, drops of amrita fell at four places: namely Prayag (near the city of Allahabad) in the state of Uttar Pradesh at the confluence of three rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati); Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of Kshipra River), Nasik (in Maharashtra- on the banks of Godavari river) and at Haridwar. These four places ever since are believed to have acquired enchantingly mystical powers.

The last Ardh Kumbh Mela was held at Haridwar during January-May 2004. The next Kumbh Mela will be held in 2010.

Kanwar Mela (Kanvad Mela)

This important festival is held during the months of Shravan and Phagun, (July- August) - ten days before Shivteras. During the festival devotees of Lord Shiva collect water from Ganga at Haridwar and take it back to their places and offer it to the local Shiva temple. The person carrying the holy Ganges water during the period is called Kanwarias. More than seven million Kanwarias participated in the festival during the 2007 season. The legend says that during the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthan - several articles including Halahal (poison) came out from the ocean. Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat. To reduce the strong effect of the poison all the Gods, later on, started offering the water from holy Ganga to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Samudra Manthan took place in the month of Shravan and hence the Kanwar festival is conducted during this period.

Kanwaries take Ganga water in earthen pots and carry it in colorfully decorated Kanwars. During the season several shops spring up in Haridwar selling items required for Kanwarias.

Important Festivals / Fairs Held at Haridwar.

Month	Occasion		Approx. no. of Tourists
January	Makar Sankranti		2-2.5 lacs
Feb-March	Maha Shivratri		2 lacs
March-April	Ram Navami		3-4 lacs
April	Baisakhi		8-10 lacs
May	Buddha Poornima		3 lacs
May	Ganga Saptami		2 lacs
June	Ganga Dussehra		25-30 lacs
July	Kanwar Mela		25-30 lacs
July	Somvati Amavasya		20-25 lacs
August	Janmashtami		1 lac
October	Durga Puja		3 lacs
November	Kartik Poornima		7-8 lacs
Every Month	Ekadashis		2 lacs
Poornimas		2 lacs
Amavasyas		2 lacs
Whenever occurs	Surya Grahan		4-5 lacs
Whenever occurs	Chandra Grahan		4 lacs

Offerings

Ganga Aarti

The Ganga Aarti is celebrated every day as the evening turns into the night at Hari ki Pauri above Brahmakund. Thousands gather on both the banks of the river Ganga to sing its praises. Aarti ceremony is also performed at all Temples in Haridwar at the same instant. Priests perform deeply ritualistic worship of the river with the help of huge multi-layered lamps, the soothing sound of the conch shells, and the rhythmic ringing of the temple bells inciting peace. The pilgrims immediately following this ceremony make offerings of lamps and flowers to the river Ganga. A visit to Haridwar is incomplete if one does not participate in Ganga Aarti.

Tips:

• If you want to see Aarti clearly reach at least 45 minutes before the sun set and occupy a vantage point.
• Leaf baskets with flowers and a lamp used for floating after Ganga aarti is available for sale at the Ghat itself. Rs 5-10/
• During the Aarti ceremony several groups of people-many claiming to be NGOs- will contact you for donations. If you feel like donating give it to a blue uniformed official present at the Ghat. They will also give you a receipt for the donation.
• Many claiming to be genuine priests will pester you for conducting Ganga puja. Be careful. Fix the rate before starting the puja. Make sure that the priests are genuine. The maximum for the puja should not exceed Rs 200/.