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the Bay
of Bengal. The River Ganga irrigates its vast expanses
of land with the help of canals and wells. Haridwar is a
very old town that belongs to 1400 AD and was mentioned
by the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang. The wealth of
Haridwar attracted the attention of Timur who sacked it
in 1399 during his bloodthirsty foray into North India.
Various episodes from the Mahabharata were set here.
Festivals of Haridwar
Haridwar receives thousands of pilgrims every year and
the numbers of pilgrims increases to almost 100,000 when
the birth of the river (Dikhanti) is celebrated in
spring. The Kumbha Mela is also held here in the month
of April. During the Kumbha Mela, the thousands of
devotees gather at the confined area near Har-ki-Pauri
to bathe in the waters.
Shopping in Haridwar
The bazaar is interesting, colourful, invariably crowded
and clean and tidy. There are stalls with piles of
coloured powder piled high in carefully made cones,
stalls selling saris, jewellery, brass and aluminium
posts, sweets and snacks.
Tourist Attractions in Haridwar
The main tourist attraction in Haridwar is the
Har-ki-Pauri. Har-ki-Pauri is the place where Lord
Vishnu is believed to have left his footprints. Some
part of the Ganga has been diverted here and this later
becomes the canal. Bathing here is believed to cleanse
all sins. There is a modern clock tower and some temples
which surround the steps. Besides this, there are
various other temples in Haridwar like Mansa Devi
Temple, Kankhal. The Mansa Devi Temple is worth visiting
for the view of the city of Haridwar. This temple is set
on the southernmost hill of the Siwaliks and can be
reached by chairlift.
More....
How to reach Haridwar
By Air:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, situated about 16
kms. from Rishikesh.
By Rail:
There is a branch line from Haridwar to Rishikesh.
By Road:
Haridwar is connected by road to Rishikesh, Dehra Dun,
Delhi and Mussoorie and various other parts of the
country. |
