Haridwar Tourism has fascinated people from all over the world with her secularism and her traditions. There are historical monuments, temples, places of religious interests, Asharam, ghats, hotels, ganges river, Yoga & Meditation, etc. that attract tourists everyday. Tourism in Haridwar is identified with its handicraft, fairs, folk dances, music and its people.
Tourism in Haridwar is the feeling of the pilgrimage centers of Uttarakhand. Haridwar is as well known as Ganga-Dwara, because the holy Ganges enters the plains here. The well-liked centers of pilgrimage of Haridwar are namely the Gangadwara, Neel Parvat, Kushwart, Bilwa Teerth and Kankhal. Some of the accepted temples of the area are Gauri Shankar Temple, Vaishno Devi temple and Temple/Mandir. There are several spiritual places in Haridwar which gives relief and mental peace to the visitors.
On your tour to Haridwar, you must not forget to do such things in this holy destination. Haridwar Tourism has significant role to attract tourists among the whole world along with pilgrims who have faith on god. Haridwar Rishikesh Tourism offers these categories, to take the Haridwar Tourism more up to next level in India and Uttarakhand.
Ganga Arti Haridwar
Ganga Aarti means prayer for River Ganga. Prayers are dedicated to gods and godesses. River Ganga is not just a river in India, It is Divine Mother. River Ganga gives life in the form of water. The same water also removes sins when you take a dip in its holy water. River Ganga also gives liberation to souls. Its not just a river but whole culture itself. Historically millions of people are living on the bank of the river ganga. For agriculture her water is still precious for India. River Ganga is considered godess which was originally living in heaven. Saint Bhagirath made a long meditation to give liberation to his ancestors (reduced to ashes due to curse of sage Kapil). He was blessed with Ganga by gods. Lord Shiva held her to reduce her mighty flow. When Ganga flow on the remainings of acncestors of Bhagirath they got Moksha (Liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth). Following the same tradition still Hindu people offer remainings of their dead relatives (after bunring the body) to the river Ganga and expect the moksha for them. In the name of the saint Bhagirath river ganga is known as Bhagirathi at the source and gets name Ganga when it is meeting Alaknanda River at Devprayag. Since hundreds of years people are considering river ganga as holy river and it became part of thier life where they come to get moksha for their relatives which passed away and to remove thier sins. The Ganga Aarti is kind of thanks giving to River Ganga.
Ganga Aarti is organized two times in a day, morning (at sunrise) and evening (sunset). Starting time will depand on sunrise and sunset timing at Haridwar. Morning Ganga Aarti is not as famous as evening one. Approx timings of Ganga Aarti you can see in below table. Minor diffreance of +15 mins or -15 mins can happen. You should reach at least 45 mins before the aarti time for morning Ganga Aarti and 75 mins before the evening Ganga Aarti Ganga
| Ganga Aarti | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Morning | 07:10 | 06:45 | 06:10 | 05:35 | 05:15 | 05:20 | 05:25 | 05:35 | 05:55 | 06:10 | 06:25 | 06:50 |
| Evening | 17:30 | 17:50 | 18:10 | 18:30 | 18:50 | 19:10 | 19:05 | 18:40 | 18:10 | 17:30 | 17:15 | 17:20 |
Har Ki Pauri
Haridwar is one of the most ancient pilgrimage centers in India that has been reverence from times immemorial. Hari means (Lord/God) and Dwar means Gateway. Hence Haridwar means Gateway to the Lord. According to the India mythology, it is one of the four places where drops of elixir, Amrita accidentally spilled over from the pitcher or Kumbha, in which it was being carried away by the celestial bird Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. These four spots have today become places where the is celebrated every 12 years in succession – Nasik, Ujjain, Haridwar and Allahabad. Millions of devotees and tourist congregate from all over the world to celebrate this celestial event and perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganges.
Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar in Uttarakhand state in India. This revered place is the major landmark of the holycity of Haridwar. Literally, “Har” means “Lord Shiva” who is the god according to shaivite school of Hindu theology, “ki” means “of” and “pauri” means “steps”. Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to have visited the Brahmakund in Har ki Paudi in the Vedic (ancient period) times. There is a large footprint said to belong to Lord Vishnu on a stone wall.
Places to Visit in Har Ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri is believed to be the exit point of the Ganges from the mountains and entry into the plains. Also known as Brahm Kund, where you can bath in the Ganges. Har Ki Pauri has a good market also you can enjoy by walk whole market. An evening ritual (Aarti) performed by the priests on the banks of river Ganga is a highly enchanting and divine experience. Lamps are seen floating on the river, immersed after the ritual. A splendid aura of lights and chants fills the atmosphere in the evenings.
Things to do in Har Ki Pauri
Devotees can enjoy a holy dip in the Har ki Pauri Brahamakund. Evening ritual (Ganga Arti) performed by the priests on the banks of river Ganga and enjoys some market near by the Har ki Pauri.
Chandi Devi Temple
The Chandi Devi Temple of Haridwar is a charming temple dedicated to the Chanda Devi Goddess, perched on the Neel Parvat of the Shivalik Hills. The Chandi Devi Mandir, also known as Neel Parvat Teerth, is one of the five pilgrimages of Haridwar and is also known as Siddha Peetha, a place where devotees worship to fulfil their desire. Because of its location, the Chandi Devi temple is also a preferred choice for trekking tourists. You can also reach the temple zenith by the means of a ropeway, the view from which is exhilarating.
The historic beauty of Chandi Devi Temple is best experienced as you hike your way up to the top. With the verdant greenery of the surrounding, you will certainly feel the presence of the divine around you. Being one of the oldest and revered temples in Haridwar, this shrine has a tremendous footfall throughout the year. One of the most festive time here is during the festivals of Chandi Chaudas, Navratra and Kumbh Mela when the temple sees amazing celebrations and massive participation. The Chandi temple during the festival time is a must visit.
The foundation of the Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar is believed to have been laid down by Adi Shankaracharya sometime in the 8th century, and it is believed that the great Hindu priest had installed the Goddess’s idol here himself. A formal shrine was built in the year 1929 by Kashmiri king Suchat Singh, after which the temple rose to great prominence as a revered shrine of Chandi Devi.
A convenient way to reach the top of the Chandi Devi Temple is by the means of a ropeway ride. It spans over the mountains for a distance of about 4-5 kilometres and takes you through a scenic route from where you can witness the beauty of this place first hand. Known as the Chandi Devi Udankhatola, a ride through the same costs about INR 84 per head.
Bharat Mata Mandir
The Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar is dedicated to India as a country and thereby gets its name from its purpose. Its name translates into “The Moth India Temple”. The multi-storey temple situated in Sapt Sarovar is not a temple that worships gods or has any religious inclination, but one that stands for the many freedom fighters and patriots of the Indian Struggle for Independence. The majestic temple Bharat Mata Mandir also celebrates the unique trait of India and its immense culture. The oneness of the country and its diversity are also a few aspects that the Bharat Mata Mandir brings to our attention.
The late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Bharat Mata Temple in 1983. The temple stands at a height of 180 feet and has a total of 8 floors with a specific theme. The temple has a massive map of the Mother India on the ground, denoting the statue of the mother of India depicted as a four-armed Hindu goddess wearing saffron-coloured robes, holding a book, sheaves of rice, a mala, and a white cloth. The statue has a design that indicates the Goddess of India for all the religious deities, freedom fighters and leaders. The Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar is dedicated to all those who took part in the formation of India as it was built before the partition of India. Elevators are installed in the temple to aid the pilgrims.
How to Reach ?
The temple is around 5 kilometres on the outskirts of Haridwar city and 25 kilometres from the Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun. Rickshaws can be taken to the temple. Buses from within Haridwar are available that drop off exactly in front of the temple.
Best Time to Visit
Afternoon time generally has lesser crowds, and a very beautiful view of the whole city and the Himalayas can be seen from the top as well.