About Haridwar
Haridwar — literally "Gateway to the Gods" — is one of seven holiest places in Hindu tradition. According to legend, when the divine bird Garuda was carrying Amrita (nectar of immortality) churned for the gods, it accidentally spilt at four places: Haridwar, Ujjain, Nasik and Allahabad. The spot where the nectar fell, named Brahma Kund, is today known as Har-ki-Pauri — the Footprints of the Lord.
Har-ki-Pauri and the Kumbh Mela
Har-ki-Pauri is the most sacred ghat in Haridwar, believed to bear Lord Vishnu's footprint on its upper wall stone. The Kumbh Mela — the world's largest religious gathering — takes place at Haridwar every 12 years, with the Ardh Kumbh every 6 years. Devotees believe that bathing here during these auspicious times smoothens the road to Moksha. The evening Ganga Aarti at Har-ki-Pauri, with thousands of lit diyas floating on the sacred river, is one of India's most moving spiritual spectacles.
The Sacred Ganga at Haridwar
The Ganga touches the 295-metre bank of Haridwar in a sharp, majestic flow. According to mythology, Prince Bhagirath cut a path from the heavens to bring Ganga to earth for the salvation of his 60,000 ancestors cursed by Sage Kapila. Haridwar is also known as Gangadwar, Mayapuri and Kapilsthan. Chinese traveller Huan Tsang documented the city in 629 AD, making it one of the earliest written records of Haridwar.
Historical and Cultural Heritage
Archaeological Survey of India findings confirm a terracotta culture dating to 1,700–1,200 BC in the Haridwar region. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, bathed at the famous Kushwan Ghat and created a lasting lesson about rationalism and social behaviour. Today, Haridwar is also a centre for Ayurvedic research, with institutions studying cardiology, neurology, biochemistry, phytochemistry and naturopathy. The regional engineering college at nearby Roorkee has been upgraded to an IIT.
How to Reach Haridwar
- By air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (35 km)
- By train: Haridwar railway station (nationally connected)
- By bus: Regular services from Delhi, UP and all north Indian states
- By taxi: Available from Delhi, Dehradun and all nearby cities
Nearby Attractions
- Har-ki-Pauri (evening Ganga Aarti)
- Chandi Devi Temple
- Mansa Devi Temple
- Maya Devi Temple
- Daksha Mahadev Temple
- Rajaji National Park
- Bharat Mata Mandir
- Pavan Dham
- Sapta Rishi Ashram
Related Reading
- Unheard Haridwar - 7 hidden temples - a slow walk through the lesser-known temples beyond Har-Ki-Pauri
- Kundi Soteshwar Mahadev - the cremation-ground Shiva shrine outside Haridwar
- Char Dham 2026 temple timings - opening dates and daily darshan schedules for all four dhams
Char Dham Helicopter Connection
Haridwar is a natural companion to the Char Dham Yatra. Most pilgrims arrive here first for the Ganga Aarti before proceeding to Dehradun (35 km), where Saffron Chariot's helicopter operations begin. We recommend spending an evening at Har-ki-Pauri before your helicopter pilgrimage.
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