Haridwar – Gateway of Ganges

Haridwar is an ancient city and municipality in the state of Uttarakhand, India. The River Ganga, after flowing for 253 kilometres from its source at Gaumukh at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time at Haridwar. This gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwara (Gateway of Ganga / Ganges). It is regarded as one of the seven holiest places (Sapta Puri) to Hindus and is Uttarakhand’s holiest Hindu city.

Pilgrims arrive here in droves to bathe in the fast-flowing Ganges. The sheer number of people gathering around Har-ki-Pauri Ghat (steps) every evening for the Ganga aarti gives it a chaotic but reverent feel. Within the religious hierarchy of India, it is much more significant than Rishikesh, an hour further north, and every evening the river comes alive with flickering flames as floating offerings are released onto the Ganges.

Haridwar has been an abode of the weary in body, mind and spirit. It has also been a centre of attraction for learning various arts, science, and culture. The city has a long-standing position as a great source of Ayurvedic medicines and herbal remedies and is home to the unique Gurukul (school of traditional education), including the Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, which has a vast campus, and has been providing traditional education of its own kind since 1902. Development of Haridwar took an upturn in the 1960s, with the setting up of a temple of modern civilisation. BHEL, a ‘Maharatna PSU’ in 1975, brought along not just a its own township of BHEL, Ranipur, close to the existing Ranipur village, but also a set of ancillaries in the region. The University of Roorkee, now IIT Roorkee, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutes of learning in the fields of science and engineering.

Another popular attraction at Haridwar apart from the Ganga aarti is Mansa Devi temple. Situated at the top of Bilwa hill, the temple of Goddess Mansa Devi, literally meaning the Goddess who fulfills desires (Mansa), is a popular tourist destination, especially because of the cable cars, which offer views of the city.