Haridwar: An Immortal Land of Faith and Spirituality

Why Haridwar?

The place is the best choice for firm believers of God, and the ones with traditional values; and even if you’re not the kind who likes to immerse yourself in a holy river, you can still do a lot in one of the oldest cities of India- Haridwar.

Haridwar is well-known for its history, art, religion and culture. This place is said to be blessed by all the three Gods from the Hindu trinity- Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar.

Haridwar, the welcome junction of Deva Bhumi Uttrakhand, is prominently located at the point where the River Ganges exits the foothills of the Himalayas, thereby making it one of the most sought destinations for devotees. They can dunk in the rivers in the pursuit of unadulterated peace and offer their prayers.

If you are a preacher of Hindu religion, you might think that Haridwar is all about visiting the five pilgrimages- Gangadwar (Har-Ki-Pauri), Kushwart ghat, Kankhal, Bilwa Parvat (Mansa Devi) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi), but believe me, the place has a lot to offer than just a feeling of God’s presence.

If you’re planning to visit Haridwar, you must take plenty of your time out because the temples, rivers, ghats and places of architectural importance await you with open arms.

Five pilgrimages first

If you’re high on the vibe that Almighty has communicated to you to visit this Holy place, you should start your auspicious journey with Har-ki-Pauri ghat, which itself translates to the “Footsteps of God.” Here, you can observe the majestic dance of the fast-flowing river, which often glistens with orange-yellow sun rays, and sings a song of immortality.

A Hindu myth strongly suggests that this revered place was sprinkled with the nectar of immortality or amrita, by the Gods from the heavens, during Samudra Manthan.

Brahma Kund is considered to be the most sanctified spot on Har-ki-Pauri, and it’s believed to wash off your accumulated sins and cleanse your karma. Hindu Mythologies state that Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva visited Brahma Kund during the Vedic period.

You might want to take a religious, ritualistic dip in Brahma Kund on a scorching hot summer and experience the inexplicable joy inside you, physically as well as spiritually.

The spectacular Ganga-Aarti at Har-ki-Pauri

Imagine this scenario: the large three-tier diyas set ablaze with faith and fire rotating clockwise, burning incense, lips chanting and repeating mantras, prayers dedicated to Goddess Ganga, bells ringing in enchanting rhythm, floating flower petals and diyas, and reflections of sparkling diyas dancing in the waves of the river.

Yes, the above picturesque scene in your head becomes real in Haridwar, without being deterred a single day, as soon as the dusk descends. Just being a part of Ganga Aarti and offering prayers once you’re in Haridwar might give you a lifetime of experience, as a devotee.

If you’re the one who likes to collect souvenirs from the places of travel, the gullies behind the ghats sell anything and everything, starting from handicrafts and clothes to flavoursome snacks and sweets.

Kankhal – where a goddess burned

The other pilgrimage you must go to is Kankhal. The place is famed for its Daksheswara Temple and ashrams. As per Hindu mythology, it’s a place where Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva, set herself to the fire in Yajna-Kunda.

The next teerth to visit is the famous Chandi Devi Temple, which is situated on the top of Neel Parvat. It’s a place where two of the demon kings, Shumbh and Nisumbh were beheaded by Goddess Chandi.

The best way to arrive at Chandi Devi temple is by taking a ropeway cable car so that you can enjoy the spectacular view, calm and quietude of Haridwar from a height. You might get the privilege of bursting into laughter at the sight of mischievous monkeys scaring people away from ghats.

Who doesn’t want their prayers to get answered? Let’s take you to another divine shrine called Manasa Devi Temple. Situated on Bilwa Parvat, opposite to river Ganges, is one of the three Siddh Peethas, the place where even one’s whisper is heard in the form of a wish and gets fulfilled.

If you believe in the concept of life after death and that death is just another journey, a path to moksha, you might wanna visit the KushavartaGhat, where you can see people performing rituals and floating the last remains of their loved ones. This place is not very much far away from Har-ki-Pauri.

Of Temples and ghats

Talking about the sites of religious importance, Parshad Shivling or Mercury Shivling, located in the Harihar Ashram draws many devotees like you. It’s made up of 151 kgs of Mercury, which makes it one of the major tourist attractions.

What’s branded better than the prayer bead of Rudraksha to fix one’s problems? Situated in the Harihar Ashram is a Rudraksha tree, which is believed to take all your problems away and give you peace in life. If you happen to visit the ashram, don’t forget to collect Rudraksha seeds from this tree.

Among all the famous shrines in the hub, the eight-storeyed, beautifully architectured building of Bharat Mata Mandir is what makes it unique. The most astounding thing about this temple is that here, our country, the Bharat Mata or Mother India is worshipped as a Goddess. If you happen to visit this place, you get to see mythological heroes, an allopathic dispensary, diagnostic camps, cow shelter, an old age home, and a Vedshala, all in one place.

You go to Haridwar and don’t have the urge to take an early dip in a pristine riverside ghat – impossible! Birla Ghat is one of the oldest ghats in Haridwar which gives you a sense of solitude and hypnotic calm. The ghat is surrounded by a lot of eateries and food joints for you to enjoy an early morning snack.

You might have heard the delightful story of Ganga splitting itself into seven streams so as not to disturb the seven sages who were experiencing a deeper sense of themselves using meditation. Yes, we’re talking about Saptarishi Ashram. The ashram houses well-renowned rishis and sadhus from all over the world. For all of you who are seeking solace and want to do some yoga, no place other than Saptrishi Ashram can provide you with an ideal atmosphere for the same.

Spiritual renewal and aesthetics

If you’re the person who believes in spiritual renewal and moral well being, Shantikunj is going to be the best place for the rehabilitation of your mind and spirit. The place is visited by the commoners as well as the great spiritual gurus like Dalai Lama and Morari Bapu. The place offers teachings and training about the spiritual upliftment and transformation of a human being. Given a visit, this place can instil a positive ray of hope inside you.

Anyone who wants to embrace their spirituality in a more profound way must give a visit to Anandamayi Ashram located in Kankhal city. The ashram complex is named after the world-famous spiritual philosopher, Ma Anandamayi, whose remains are still buried at the ashram. One of the buildings in the ashram, Ari Rudra Yagyashala, has an akhand diya, which is believed to illuminate your soul and destroy the evil inside of you.

If you’re a lover of beautiful glasswork and traditionally done architecture, Pavan Dham is the place you’re looking for. It’s one of the oldest temples in India, which is adorned by gems and stones on its walls. In the daytime, the sun rays reflect all over the place, making your visit a serene experience.

Who doesn’t know about our very own yoga-guru, Baba Ramdev, who has freed people all around the country from diseases? Patanjali Yogpeeth, founded by Baba Ramdev is a must-visit place while being in Haridwar. The institute trains different yoga forms to students, travellers and patients. The place also has a hospital for ayurvedic treatment and a gurukul for students.

Satiate your cravings with fresh delicacies

After a long day of soothing your soul, you might want to satiate your hunger with scrumptious dishes served at restaurants and local streets.

As far as food is concerned, the place strictly commits to vegetarianism. But who doesn’t want to satisfy their palates with a delectable platter of mandua ki roti (millet flat bread) and alu jhol (potato curry)! You can also enjoy the hot samosas and suji ka halwa which you can easily find in the streets of Har-ki-Pauri – the place is also known for its khasta kachoris and chole-puri.

For all those who love desserts, exquisite rabdi and milk pedas being served round the corner is the best choice. If you are a lover of pickles and pickle brine, you can visit Haridwar Achar corner and take home all the pickles, starting from tried and tasted- common garlic pickle to unusual options like bitter gourd and rose.

Where to shop and where to stay

If you are the one who loves to shop, Bara Bazar, with its colourful decorations, is famous for its religious seeds like Rudraksha and handcrafted jewelry.

If you come to a place with religious fervour and not crave to buy intricately carved idols, brass and copper pooja utensils, how can you think of leaving the place? Moti Bazar is one of the main markets famous for pooja materials.

Jwalapur market and Kankhal market are great places to visit to buy glass bangles and other ornaments, including religious ones like Rudraksha pendants.

Visiting a pilgrimage doesn’t ask you to confine yourself to just an ascetic existence. What if some of you might want to experience a luxurious life in a deluxe room while staying in Haridwar? Yes, you’ve heard it right – there is no lack of luxury in Haridwar just because it’s a place of religious and spiritual importance.

Fixed amidst the tranquil nature and a landscape of lush greenery at the foothills of Garhwal Himalayas is one of the most exciting places to beat the summer heat. From a multi-cuisine restaurant to exhilarating rides and deluxe rooms, it has everything to give you a luxurious experience away from the urban hustle and bustle.

So much for nature lovers

If you’re a person with the love of flora and fauna ingrained inside you, Chilla wildlife sanctuary is a must-visit. The sight of tigers, bears, leopards and small cats will kill you with the thrill that you wouldn’t want to miss while being at this centre of religion and culture.

The famous bird watcher point, Neel Dhara Pakshi Vishar is a heavenly sight for the bird watchers. If you happen to visit the place in  winters, you can bless yourself with the sight of migratory species like Siberian Cranes roving from Rajliwala. For nature lovers and trekkers, this place is everything. The best time to visit this place is in winters as the view of snow covered Shivalik hills add to the glory of the place.

Whenever you’re not at home, you think a lot about, “did I close the door,” right? So, huts with no doors at Gujjar village are waiting just for you, my friend. Looking into the unique culture and traditions of the proud race of cattle herders might give you the inspiration to become independent, just in a day.

If you’re young at heart or a family with kids, you might want to visit Crystal World. This place is Uttarakhand’s largest destination for entertainment. The place has an amusement park with 39 water and thrill rides and two museums, one with silicon statues of Indian celebrities and another one with 3D paintings.