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Haridwar Information
In the foothills of Himalayas, at the point where the sacred Ganga River reaches the plains, lies Haridwar, an ancient pilgrimage site that has been held in reverence for centuries. It is here that the famous Kumbha Mela is held, once in every twelve years, at the time when Jupiter transits to the zodiac sign of Aquarius. Haridwar has very rich ancient religious and cultural heritage. In the ancient scriptures of India, this place is well known by the name of Mayapur. This city is also well known for many other things apart from the holy river Ganges. Haridwar has privilege of having IIT at Roorkee, formerly known as University of Roorkee, founded in 1847 as a first technical institute of India.
The city has one of the "navratna PSUs of India" i.e BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals India Ltd.). The tomb Piran Kaliar of Shabir Shahib in Roorkee is a living example of religious harmony in India which is visited by the people of all religious sects from all over the world. There is another University in the city called Gurukul Kangri Vishva Vidyalaya apart from the head quarter of Uttaranchal State Public Service Commission also being established at Haridwar. Besides this, Kumbh fair is organized at the interval of every 12 years in this city in which about 1 crore pilgrims from all over the world participate.
"Among the many pilgrimages that dot the length of the Ganga, Haridwar ranks among the most holy in the land " Accroding to Hindu mythology Haridwar was known as Kapilsthan.
Lagend has it that the ancestors of Raja Bhagirath, were consumed by fire at this spot following a cused of rishi Kapil. For their salvation Raja Bhhagirath requested the ganga to descend on Earth.
Moti Bazaar situated on Railway Road is where the tourists will find some of the best bargains. Haridwar being the holy pilgrimage place, the most popular buys are 'rudraksh' beads used for making rosary or worn as a religious symbol and precious stones which play a great role in gem astrology. Pickles and ayurvedic medicines are also at their best in Haridwar. Some other notable shopping complexes are Bara Bazaar, and the modern shopping complexes that have recently sprung up near Ranipur Mod.
What to See?
Har Ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri or Brahm Kund is the main ghat of Haridwar. It is believed that it represents the point where River Ganges takes leave of the mountains and makes it way to the plains. It is so named, as it is believed that it is Lord Vishnu's footprint that is imprinted on one of the stones here and is thus visited regularly by a number of devotees, who come here to pay their homage to this footprint of God and take a dip in the sacred waters of Ganga. Ganga aarti held here every evening is famous because it quite a spectacle to see hundreds of tiny diyas and marigolds floating down the river as priests recite 'Om' on the Ghat steps.
Mansa Devi Temple
A cable-car ride to the Mansa Devi Temple, which is situated on a hill above the city can be very thrilling, especially, when you look down from above and someone starts telling you the horror story when a cable-car was stuck in the air for hours because of a power cut. However, there is no need to worry as it had been a singular incident and precautions are now taken to avoid any such instances. Another option is to climb up the 1.5 km stretch, to the temple of Goddess Mansa, one of the varied forms of Goddess Durga said to have power to grant your wishes.
Chandi Devi Temple
Chandi Devi, a deity who is said to be as fierce to the sinners as she is kind to those who are devoted to her. She is also one of the varied forms of Goddess Durga and her temple is situated on a hilltop just like that of Mansa Devi. However, the climb here is much more than that of the Mansa Devi Temple and only meant for those who love outdoor exercises. For those who would like to visit the temple and yet save themselves from such a tiring journey, cable cars may prove to be a better option.
Sapt Rishi Ashram
5 km from Haridwar, Sapt Rishi Ashram is the point where River Ganges flows in seven little streams. It is believed that seven greatest saints or holy sages prayed here for the good of humanity. These saints are the only seven saints that have reached that level amongst the innumerable others who tried to attain it across number of aeons since the world was made. It is believed that a constellation of seven stars is actually the saints who took this form after leaving their mortal bodies for the heavenly abode.
Pavan Dham
3 km from the most famous ghat of Haridwar, Har Ki Pauri, Pavan Dham has become a tourist attraction because of its temple, which has fabulous glass interiors and are a pleasure to look at. From this place, one can also go to the nearby Vaishno Devi Temple, which is a miniature version of the renowned temple of Vaishno Devi that has recently gained immense popularity among the devotees, despite the threat of terrorist attacks.
Bharat Mata Temple
Visible from a distance, Bharat Mata temple is one of its kinds. It is a rare multi-storeyed building and each of the floors in the building has been dedicated to different gods. Here the motherland India is given a form of a deity with the tri-colored national flag in her hand a tri-colored sari adorning her idol. It represents the 'Unity In Diversity' in India and the oneness of all Indians. Source: Indian Tourism Information
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