Know 5 Best places to visit in Haridwar – Gateway of God
Know Haridwar First
India is a country of vast diversity and beliefs. There are several religious places in India out of which Haridwar is one of the holy cities. Haridwar in literal words means “Gateway of God’. It is considered to be a pilgrimage site in North India’s Uttarakhand state, where the River Ganges exits through the Himalayan foothills. Haridwar has a rustic charm that is irresistible for many people because of the typical culture and civilization it has, which is blended smoothly into each other giving a devoutly religious feel to the city. Haridwar is said to be a home of several temples of different deities in India. And this city mostly receives rainfall during the summer seasons.
Places to visit in Haridwar
- Har ki Pauri
- Mansa Devi temple
- Crystal world
- Chandi Devi temple
- Shanktikunj
- How to reach Haridwar
1. Har ki Pauri
It is a holy ghat situated on the banks of river Ganga. It is known to be one of the most sacred spots in the city. Its believed that the holy water of the river washes away the sins, and hence the devotees from all across the world come to this ghat to take a dip in the river. To get the best view and experience, one should visit the ghat during sunsets, then you can witness the famous evening aarti that is held here every day.
2. Mansa Devi temple
Mansa Devi temple is the most divine temple of goddess Mansa Devi located on the top of Bilwa parvat on the Sivalik hills which is the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas. This temple is said to have emerged from the mind of Lord Shiva. Mansa is known to be the sister of Naga (serpent) and is also believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva in his human incarnation. There are two ways to reach the Mansa Devi temple which is either to follow the trekking route up to this holy shrine or ride on rope-way service.
3. Crystal world
Crystal World is the ultimate option for you and your family when you are looking for a break from temple visits while you are in Haridwar. It is known as one of the best entertainment parks in the state of Uttarkhand. Crystal park consists of rides and slides giving you the complete dose of adventure and thrill.
4. Chandi Devi temple
This Chandi Devi temple is located around the top of the Neel parvat which is on the Eastern summit of the beautiful Shivalik Hills, that’s the southernmost part of the mountain chain of Himalayas. This temple is one of the biggest tourist attraction of Haridwar. This particular temple is devoted to Goddess Chandi who is also known as Chandika.
5. Shanktikunj
This place was founded by Pt.Shriram Sharma Acharya in 1971 as a spiritual site. Shanktikunj is located in this holy city, Haridwar. And a number of various spiritual practice camps are held here which are usually attended by several devotees who come and gather over here from all over the world. It serves as the headquarters of the social and spiritual organization called All world Gayatri Parivar. It is situated in the middle of Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas and on the bank of the holy river Ganga.
How to reach
By Airways.
Jolly Grant Airport which is in Dehradun is about 37 km away from Haridwar. You can take a flight from any location around the globe and directly reach Jolly Grant airport from where you can hire a cab or taxi to reach Haridwar directly.
By roadways
Haridwar is pretty well-connected to many major cities across India, through many highways. National Highway 58 which passes through Haridwar connects it to Delhi, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar, Roorkee, and Badrinath.
By railways
The main railway station that serves this area is the ‘Haridwar Railway Station’. It comes under Northern Railway Zone which is well connected to all the major cities and tourist destinations across India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Ahmedabad, etc.