Top 5 Places to See in Haridwar Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas along the holy River Ganga, Haridwar is known as the gateway to the land of Gods. The small town in Uttarakhand is one of the holiest temple towns in India. The very air of the town reverberates with spiritual bliss. Hear the chimes of the temple bells and the religious chanting of the priests.
Revered as a holy pilgrimage, the town has religious significance as the holy river Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time in Haridwar. Famous attractions include the Chandi Devi temple, Maya Devi temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, etc. Each of the temples have deities worshipped according to Hindu Mythology. For the quest for peace and spirituality, this town blessed visitors with a rare experience. Go temple-hopping to centuries’ old temples, stroll along the river banks, have a holy dip in the Ganges, walk through the town markets replete with eateries and more.
Every evening, Haridwar is witness to Ganga Aarti. The daily ritual of worship of the River Goddess is similar to the famous Ganga Aarti held in Varanasi. Held at the Ghats (River Bank) at Har ki Pauri it is a sight to behold. Thousands of devotees flock to the ghats to appease the Gods, they float tiny diyas bedecked by flowers. Another unique feature about the town is that, once in every twelve years, Haridwar hosts the religious mega-gathering, the famous Kumbh Mela. Along with Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain, Haridwar is one of the only four cities in India which host the Kumbh Mela, which is inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO Haridwar Tour Packages.
Rishikesh, another holy town in India is hardly an hour’s drive away. Known for sacred Hindu temples and ashrams, Ayurveda and Yoga centers, it is one of the must visit places along with Hardiwar. SImilary, Rajaji National Park, a wildlife haven lies close by. To feel spiritual bliss amid nature’s lap it is one of the best places to visit in India.
Har Ki Pauri
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 holy city of Haridwar. Literally, “Har” means “Lord Shiva” who is the god according to shaivite Rishav 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 Pauri in the Vedic times. There is a large footprint said to belong to Lord Vishnu on a stone wall Haridwar Tourism.
It is believed that it is precise spot where the Ganges leaves the mountains and enters the plains. The ghat is on the west bank of Ganges canal through which the Ganges is diverted just to the north. Har Ki Pauri is also the area where thousands of pilgrims converge and the festivities commence during the Kumbha Mela, which takes place every twelve years, and the Ardh Kumbh Mela, which takes place every six years and the Punjabi festival of Vaisakhi, a harvest festival occurring every year in the month of April .
Mansa Devi Temple
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is located atop the Bilwa Parvat on the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas. The temple also known as Bilwa Tirth is one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar.
The temple is known for being the holy abode of Manasa, a form of Shakti and is said to have emerged from the mind of the lord Shiva. Mansa is regarded as the sister of the Naga (serpent) Vasuki. The term Mansa means wish and it is believed that the goddess fulfils all the wishes of a sincere devotee. Devotees who want their wishes to be fulfilled by Mansa tie threads to the branches of a tree located in the temple. Once their wishes are fulfilled, people come back again to the temple to untie the thread from the tree. Mansa is also offered coconuts, fruits, garlands and incense sticks in order to appease her.
Mansa Devi Temple is a Siddh Peetha which are the places of worship where desires get fulfilled. It is one of three such Peethas located in Haridwar, the other two being Chandi Devi Temple and Maya Devi Temple. The inner shrine has two deities installed, one with eight arms and the other one three headed with five arms.
Maya Devi Temple
Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Maya in the holy city of Haridwar of Uttarakhand state in India. It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati fell in the region where the temple stands today and thus it is sometimes referred to as a Shakti Peetha Top 5 Places to See in Haridwar.
Goddess Maya is the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar. She is a three-headed and four-armed deity who is believed to be an incarnation of Shakti. Haridwar was previously known as Mayapuri in reverence to this deity. The temple is a Siddh Peetha which are the places of worship where desires get fulfilled. It is one of three such Peethas located in Haridwar, the other two being Chandi Devi Temple and Mansa Devi Temple.
Chandi Devi Temple
Chandi Devi Temple,Haridwar ( is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is situated atop the Neel Parvat on the Eastern summit of the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas. Chandi Devi Temple was built in 1929 by Suchat Singh in his reign as the King of Kashmir. However, the main murti of Chandi Devi at the temple is said to have been installed in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, one of the greatest priests of Hindu religion. The temple also known as Neel Parvat Teerth is one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) located within Haridwar.
Chandi Devi Temple is highly revered by devotees as a Siddh Peetha which is a place of worship where desires get fulfilled. It is one of three such Peethas located in Haridwar, the other two being Mansa Devi Temple and Maya Devi Temple Top 5 Places to See in Haridwar
Bharat Mata Mandir
Bharat Mata or Mother India has a temple dedicated to her by devoted patriotic nationals. The Bharat Mata temple is a religious shrine, founded by Swami Satyamitranand Giri. This temple was inaugurated by Late Prime Minister, Smt Indira Gandhi, in the year 1983.Located in Sapt Sarovar near ashram at Haridwar, Bharat Mata Temple is a holy place of its own kind. One of the most unique places to visit in the town of Haridwar is the Bharat Mata Mandir or the Mother India Temple. Consisting of eight stories, the temple is a major attraction for travellers in Haridwar.
Bharat Mata is the representation of India in the form of a mother goddess. The Goddess of India or Mother India is generally illustrated as a woman dressed in a saffron-colored sari and holding the flag in one of her hands. Every single floor of this eight-storey building is devoted to representing a specific theme. The temple building is elevated to a height of 180 ft.This eight-storied temple is tall to the approximate height of 180 feet. Elevators are installed in the temple to aid the pilgrims.
Each storey of the temple is based on a particular theme, housing figures of many mythological legends, religious deities, freedom fighters and leaders. It is a kind of reverence to all those, who played a vital role in the formation of the country.On the first floor, Statue of Bharat Mata adorns the hall, where the Goddess is holding a milk pot in one hand and stack of grain in the other hand. This image of Goddess represents the nurture granted by the Mother as a toddler and as an adult Top 5 Places to See in Haridwar.
This floor also comprises a huge map of India on a raised platform. It also has a big picture of Indira Gandhi, inaugurating the temple. Shoor Mandir is the title granted to the second floor and it is dedicated to the legendary heroes of India.The third floor is known as ˜Matru Mandir that celebrates the achievements of honored women like Meera Bai, Savitri and Matiri etc.˜Sant Mandir is the fourth floor that features great saints from different religions of India.
The fifth floor has an assembly hall, where all the practicing religions in India, are represented in a harmonious manner on the walls. It also reveals the historical facts and paintings screening the natural beauty of India.On the sixth floor, Goddess Shakti is represented in different forms like Durga, Parvati, Sati, Radha, Saraswati, Kali etc.
