Leaving her holy mountain abode in the Himalayas, Ganga River makes her way to the plains, with the first stop being at Haridwar. Sanctified by the presence of the lifegiving river Ganga and home to important legendary events and a rich history background, Haridwar has a vibe of its own. Lovingly referred to as a gateway to the gods due to its religious significance and gateway to the Garhwal due to its geographical value, it is a place like no other. The culture and life of the people in Haridwar is tightly bound to the well-preserved traditions whose roots dig deep into the ancient ages, to the time when gods once walked the earth.
Haridwar is a Sanskrit term where ‘Hari’ means ‘Vishnu’ and ‘Dwar’ means ‘gateway’. Haridwar or often also pronounced as ‘Hardwar’ by staunch devotees, this place is extremely unique for a multitude of reasons. One of the main reasons being, Haridwar is the only place that has been lucky enough to be sanctified by the presence of the holy trinity of gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Dotted by temples, old and new and lined by stunning Ghats, the holy town of Haridwar should be on everyone’s bucket list. It is also one of India’s 4 important religious places that hosts the holy Kumbh Mela, making it even more important.
Every Ghat, temple, lane and shrine in Haridwar has a story to tell. The Brahma Kund in Haridwar especially holds a special place as it is said that drops of elixir or Amrit had fallen in the Kund. Devotees on their way to the holy Char Dham Yatra or even the devotees on a trip to Haridwar make sure to take a dip in the holy waters of Ganga. This act of taking dips in the river is believed to cleanse the soul and wash away sins. Other than taking holy dips, temple hopping in Haridwar should not be missed.
Ancient temples to new ones, each temple in Haridwar is awe-inspiring and is supported by an important mythological event or a cause. From the hillock temples of Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi to Maya Devi, Daksha Mahadev, Bharat Mata Temple, Bilkeshwar Mahadev and many more, the temples in Haridwar are extremely powerful. Other than the religious and spiritual significance, these temples are located on some of the most stunning locations in Haridwar. For example, the Har Ki Pauri temple is located on the Ghat, just next to the gushing Ganga River. One thing is for sure, your Haridwar trip will remain incomplete if you don’t go for temple Darshan.