Haridwar – A Spiritual Journey

Haridwar, a small town nestled in Uttarakhand, is one of the consecrated places in India. Haridwar means Door to Hari. In Hinduism, Hari is another name for Lord Vishnu. Haridwar is of utmost importance for Hindus. People from all over India and around the globe visit this sacred place for salvation.

A Spiritual Walk At Haridwar

Haridwar is always revered as the most sacred site in India. The famous and one of the most crowded pilgrim sites in Haridwar is Hari-ki-Pauri. Har-ki-Pauri is a bathing ghat situated along the river Ganges. It is believed that these ghats have the footprints of Vishnu, and taking the holy dip in the river Ganges takes all your sins away and releases you from the cycle of life and death. 

Haridwar is a highly revered pilgrim site in Hinduism and is situated at the foothills of the Shivalik mountain range. This holy town is also identified as the gateway to Chardham Yatra of Uttrakhand, which is comprised of Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Yamunotri. 

When you visit Haridwar, you will discover various temples in the town dedicated to different Gods and Goddesses. These temples are situated at the hilltops giving a panoramic view of the complete city situated on the banks of the Ganges. Apart from temples, you will also find various Ashrams, where people come for meditation and peace. It might sound unreal, but various famous personalities have come to the Ashrams of Haridwar and Rishikesh and enlightened afterward.

Must read: Chandrashila Trek: An Unforgettable Expedition

Major Attractions In Haridwar

A heart filled with devotion will always embrace Hardiwar. People who come here once will love to revisit this place again and again. There are various events that take place in Haridwar; moreover, your spiritual trip to this place opens the door to more places where you will find peace and harmony. Let’s know more about the things you can do in Haridwar and places you should never miss when you come here. 

Ganga Aarti At Hardiwar

As said earlier, the river Ganges holds the utmost significance in Hinduism. It is one of the sacred rivers. Therefore, people who visit Haridwar always attend Ganga Aarti at Har ki Pauri. This Aarti is the worship of the goddess Ganga. Priests of the temples at Har ki Pauri chants mantras holding diyas in their hands and fills the atmosphere with the sounds of mantras and bells. Shri Ganga Aarti at Haridwar is a sight to behold. Every person chants the mantras in chorus and creates a euphoric aura. 

Timings of Aarti at Haridwar

The Ganga Aarti at Haridwar takes place twice a day. The morning time of the aarti is from 5:30 AM to 6:30 AM. The night time is 6 PM to 7 PM. 

Mansa Devi Temple

Mansa Devi Temple is a prominent Hindu temple of Goddess Mansa Devi. This famous temple is at the top of Bilwa Hills and is visible from Har ki Pauri as well at night. Goddess Mansa is a form of Shakti. It is believed that she appeared from the mind of Lord Shiva. To reach Mansa Devi temple, you have to drive by car to a certain point. After that, the ropeway will help you to reach the temple. Beware, you will find a lot of monkeys in the temple vicinity. Thus, keep your belongings like phones and other items in your bag. 

Chandi Devi Temple

Chandi Devi Temple is settled at the top of Neel Parvat in Haridwar. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi or Chandika. The temple is almost 4 Km away from Har-Ki-Pauri, and one can reach it simply by walking uphill to the temple or by ropeway as well. 

The epic of Chandi Devi goes like this, Shumbh and Nishumbh were two demons who were attracted by the beauty of Goddess Parvati, and they wanted to marry her. But, Goddess Parvati refused the proposal. To take revenge from Goddess Parvati, Shumbh-Nishumbh sent Chand-Mund. Goddess Parvati, in her avatar of Chandika, defeated all the demons. The battle took place over the Neel Parvat. This is the reason why the Chandi Devi temple was built on Neel Parvat. 

Kumbh Mela At Haridwar

Haridwar is also one of the four places where the drop of Amrit (Immortal elixir) is spilled; thus, once every 12 years, Kumbh Mela takes place in the holy ghats of Haridwar. Kumbh Mela is the largest human congregation. Devotees from around the globe come here and take a dip in the river Ganges. 

Places To Visit Near Haridwar

Rishikesh

Rishikesh is known as the capital of yoga and meditation. This is another holy site situated near Haridwar. This small town is famous for its beautiful location with a backdrop of the Himalayas. The beauty of the place is also accentuated by the pristine flow of the river Ganga. Rishikesh is a center for yogic practices and meditation. Not just from India, but a flock of people from around the globe comes to this place to learn yoga. There are many ashrams in Rishikesh, and one such famous ashram is the Beatles ashram. There are several other adventure activities one can do at Rishikesh. The place is famous for white water river rafting and camping. Enjoy the best night view at Rishikesh while staying in camps. 

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is another famous holy site near Haridwar and Rishikesh. The temple is just 4 Km away from Rishikesh. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Neelkanth is another name of Lord Shiva. This temple is worshipped by many, and people from different corners of India come here and offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

Suggested Reads: Kedarnath: A Union of Beauty and Spirituality

Dehradun

You might know this beautiful city through the novels of Ruskin Bond. He lived in this scenic town for most of the time of his life. He has written a lot about Dehradun in his novels. This beautiful city is just a few hours away from Delhi. Most of the people on weekends plan to visit here. Moreover, there are various places in Dehradun such as Sahastradhara, Forest Research Institute, Malsi Deer Park, Robbers Cave, Tapleshwara Mahadev Temple, Chandrabani, Lacchiwala, and many more. From Haridwar, it is just 50 Km away, and you can reach Dehradun in 1 hour. 

So this is all about Haridwar, a city of spirituality, devotion, and salvation. This place is surreal, and if you want to attain peace in your life and want to understand the true meaning of life, you must visit this place once. Haridwar is a simple yet impactful place present at the foot of the Shivalik range. 

If you have visited this place and want to share your experience, then connect with me or share your feedback in the comment section below. For more wonderful destinations, keep visiting Travelist. Keep reading and keep wandering.

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