The
sacred Himalayan town of Haridwar represents
a living lesson on Hinduism. Located at the
foot of the Shivalik Hills, the town
attracts hordes of tourists and devotees
from all corners of the world. Haridwar also
holds significance because it stands as the
gateway to the chardham, which includes
Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath Ji and
Kedarnath Ji. Haridwar finds its mention in
the ancient Hindu epics and scriptures as
'Mayapuri', Mokshadwar' and 'Gangadwar'.
Geographically, it is at Haridwar where the
sacred Ganga enters the northern Indian
plains. During the Kumbh Mela (held at the
interval of every 12 years), the population
of the town swells up to millions.
The next Kumbh Mela and the Ardh Kumbh Mela
(held at every 6 years) are scheduled to be
held in Haridwar in 2010. Today, Haridwar is
seen as a mystic centre for the rejuvenation
of the body, mind and soul.
POPULAR PLACE
Har Ki Pauri
Also known as Har ki Pauri, it is the centre
of attraction in the pilgrimage town of
Haridwar. Devotees gather here to take a
holy dip in the Ganges and to offer prayers.
The celebration Ganga Aarti is a sight to
behold here for tourists. The aarti ceremony
takes place here every evening at 7 pm. As
the river Ganga is worshipped, hundreds of
diyas are set afloat along the river.
According to Hindu mythology, Har ki Pauri
the place where a drop of the nectar fell
from the moiling oceans, when the world came
into existence.
Mansa Devi
One of the most visited temples in Haridwar,
Mansa Devi Mandir occupies a place on top of
the Shivalik hills. The temple is dedicated
to Goddess Mansa Devi, believed to fulfill
the wishes of those who visit here. It is a
tradition with the devotees to tie sacred
threads around the tree that stands within
the premises of the Mansa Devi temple. From
the temple, one can have heart stirring
views of the Haridwar town. Along with
Chandi Devi temple and the Maya Devi temple,
it completes the Siddhapeeth Triangle.
Chandi Devi
The temple stands in dedication to Goddess
Chandi. One of the most ancient in the
country, the temple can be reached either by
a ropeway ride or by undertaking a steep
climb, that takes up around 45 minutes. The
rituals at the temple begin as early as 4 am
in the morning. Visitors are required to
strictly follow the dress code before
entering the premises of the Chandi Devi
temple.
Daksha Mahadev
Temple
The temple is situated towards the south of
the Kankhal town. Built by Queen Dhankaur in
AD 1810, the Daksha Mahadev Temple is the
site where Daksha performed a yagna (a Hindu
ritual to invoke gods and seek their
blessings). In the Hindu mythology, Daksha
Prajapati is the father of Sati, the spouse
of Lord Shiva. The temple is just a few
minutes drive from the railway station.
Sapt Rishi
The ashram is both ancient and much popular.
The words Sapt Rishi is a combination of
sapt (seven) and rishi (sage). According to
the Hindu traditions, it is the place where
the sacred Ganga split herself in seven
streams to prevent any disturbance to the
seven sages (Kashyapa, Vashisht, Atri,
Vishwamitra, Jamadagi, Bharadwaja and
Gautam) who were deeply absorbed in
meditation. A 5 km drive from Har ki Pauri
takes you to the Sapt Rishi Ashram.
Maya Devi
Dedicated to goddess Maya Devi, the temple
is a major attraction for all visitors to
Haridwar. The temple is counted as one of
the shaktipithas in India. According to the
Hindu mythology, it is the place where the
heart and navel of goddess Sati fell down,
while Lord Shiva was carrying her burnt
body. Numerous festivals are held at the
Maya Devi temple in keeping with the customs
and traditions.
Kumbh Mela
Lakhs of tourists arrive in Haridwar during
the Kumbh Mela, held at the interval of
every twelve years. Devotees and pilgrims
arrive here to purify their should by taking
a holy dip in the divine water of the
Ganges. The highly revered Kumbh Mela begins
when the plante Jupiter enters Aquarius and
the Sun enters Aries.
Parad Shivling
The mythological site is located in the
historical town of Kankhal, at 6 km from the
town of Haridwar. The Parad Shivling remains
enshrined inside the premises of the Harihar
Ashram in Kankhal. Weighing 150 kg, the
shivling is major pilgrimage site for
Shaivites. Devotees worship the shivling to
seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Bhimgoda Tank
The tank is held in high regard by the whole
Hindu community. As per the Hindu mythology,
the Bhimgoda Tank was created when Bhim, a
legendary character of the Hindu epic
Mahabharata, hit his knee against the ground
while the Pandava brothers were heading
towards the Himalayas. The tank occupies a
position at a distance of 300 m from Har ki
Pauri in Haridwar. |
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