Haridwar Gateway to the Gods

Haridwar

The holy city of Haridwar is located in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand at a distance of 214 km from Delhi. Haridwar extends from latitude 29° 58' in the north to longitude 78°13' in the east. The place is well connected to other cities of north India by road and train.

Climate 

Haridwar is situated at a height of almost 300 meters above sea level and the temperature usually hovers around 40°C during summers. Winters see the mercury dipping to as low as 6°C. The best season to visit Haridwar is between October and March.

History & Legends

Haridwar or ‘the Gateway to the Gods’ is one of the seven holiest places according to Hindu mythology, as the Gods are believed to have left their footprints in Haridwar. Due to its geographical location too, Haridwar stands as the gateway to the other three important pilgrimages of Uttrakhand namely, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Referred to as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, and Mokshadwar in the ancient scriptures and epics, Haridwar has always remained a major pilgrimage for the Hindus.

Sites to Visit

King Vikramaditya constructed Har-Ki-Pauri, the sacred ghat in the memory of his brother Bhartrihari. The golden reflection of floral diyas in the river Ganges is the most enchanting sight during the Ganga aarti ceremony in the twilight at the ghat.

Suchat Singh, the then King of Kashmir, constructed the temple of Chandi Devi, atop the Neel Parvat on the other bank of river Ganges in 1929 A.D. The temple is a 3-km trek from Chandi Ghat and it is believed that the Adi Shankaracharya established the main statue in 8th century AD. The Chandi Devi Temple is now also accessible by a ropeway, which starts near the Gauri Shankar Temple.

The temple atop the Bilwa Parvat is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi. One can have a panoramic view of Haridwar, the Ganges, and the countryside from this place.

The Vaishno Devi temple here is newly constructed and a true replica of the original Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Gurukul Kangadi University is a center of learning where education is imparted in the traditional Indian way. Within the precincts of the University is the Veda Mandir, which houses many archaeological exhibits. It is situated on the Haridwar-Jwalapur bypass road.

Other important places to visit are the Bharat Mata Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Bhimgoda, and Shanti Kunj.

Sites Nearby 

Rishikesh, around 28 km off Haridwar, is at the base of the Himalayas and it is where the Ganges comes down to the plains from the hills. A breathtaking experience of natural beauty and undiscovered wildlife awaits here. Not to mention the peace and tranquility of a landscape associated with sages and meditation.

The Daksh Mahadev Temple is an ancient shrine situated to the south of Kankhal town. Queen Dhankaur constructed this temple in AD 1810. Kankhal has several other temples and ashrams too.

The Sapt Rishi Ashram is situated along the Haridwar-Rishikesh road. The Ganges flows in seven streams in front of this Ashram, hence this place is also called Sapt Sarovar.

The Kanva Rishi Ashram is situated around 42 km from Haridwar. The ashram is on the banks of the Malini River along the forest road to Kotdwar.

The Chila Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Rajaji National Park, covers an area of around 240 sq. km. It has 23 species of mammals and 315 fauna species. Lucky tourists can catch glimpses of elephants, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, Himalayan yellow throated martens, sambers, chitals, barking dears, wild boars, langurs, ghurals, sloth bears, king cobras, woodpeckers, etc. Fishing in the river there is allowed with permits only.

The Triveni ghat is an interesting place to be at dawn, when people make offerings of milk to the river and feed the fish. After sunset, priests set floating lamps on the water during the Aarti ceremony.

The temple of Neelkanth Mahadev, a place associated with Lord Shiva, is situated at a height of 1700 meters. It is a 4-hour walk from Rishikesh and a not-to-be-missed destination away from the maddening crowd.

Fairs and Festivals

Haridwar, one of the oldest and holiest pilgrim centers of India, is also the place that plays host to around eight to ten million devotees during the Kumbh melas. The history of the Kumbh Mela dates back to the creation of the Universe and as a show of their faith, Hindus from all over the country assemble to take a holy dip in the Ganges.

Shopping

The main shopping centers of Haridwar are Moti Bazaar, Upper Road, and Jwalapur. One can shop for rudraksh, Gangajal (vessels containing Ganges water), kumkum (vermilion), Ayurvedic medicines and precious stones in and around Haridwar.

How to Reach

The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant in Dehradun, but it is preferable to use the roads or rail to Delhi and then take flights to the destination of ones choice.

This major pilgrimage center is well connected by trains to almost all the major cities in India. In fact, trains are the major source of the tourist inflow to Haridwar.

The National Highway no.45 crosses the city, so it is connected to other cities of the state as well as those in the other states too. There are regular buses available from Delhi to Haridwar. The state transport corporation has ordinary as well as deluxe and semi-deluxe buses on this route for long distance travel. There are private buses that take one to nearby places and also some of these private deluxe buses run on the long distance routes.

Auto Rickshaws and Cycle Rickshaws are the most convenient mode of transportation in and around the city. For covering longer distances, one can use taxis and buses.

Places to Stay

There are many places to stay in Haridwar, but it is hard to find any luxurious accommodation. Most of the hotels and resorts are in the middle range or budget categories. Many of the ashrams and dharmshalas also provide simple and cheap accommodation. The numerous resorts dotting the banks of the Ganges are also good options.

Information

The main bus stand is located on the Railway Road in the southwestern corner of the town and the railway station is just opposite to the bus stand. Money changing, Internet and STD/ISD facilities are available in the city.

Distances of some major north Indian cities and centers of pilgrimage from Haridwar are Delhi 214 km, Rishikesh 24 km, Musoorie 90 km, Yamunotri 240 km, Kedarnath 250 km, Badrinath 290 km, and Dehradun 52 km. nf

Pithoragarh

Geographical Information of Pithoragarh

Regarded as a gateway to the north, Pithoragarh is in the inner Himalayas at a height of 1,851 meters in a spectacular valley, called “Little Kashmir”, in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Some parts of the district are at a height of 3,000 feet while the others are at 4,724 meters. The area of the district is 8,856 square kilometers and one-third of it is covered by snow perpetually. It is the main town of a region that borders both Nepal and Tibet. Pithoragarh has a cool climate that makes it comfortable all year round. Pithoragarh, till recently, was part of Almora district, in Uttarakhand. It was given the status of a separate district on February 1,1960.

Strategic Importance

Pithoragarh is the entrance to Chota Kailash and Namik, which is the gateway to the marvelous Milan Glacier. The strategic importance of the Pithoragarh lies in the fact that six passes to Tibet are in this district. The local inhabitants carried lucrative trade with Tibet through these passes before 1962. With improvement in Sino-Indian relations, some of the passes have been re-opened for trade.

Flora And Fauna

It is rich in flora and fauna and is famous for its bugyals or pasture grounds of velvet-like green grass. The area was closed to tourists till 1981. But with the start of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, tourist interest in the area is increasing by leaps and bounds.

Fairs And Festivals

Pithoragarh is famous for its cultural-religious fairs. These are celebrated throughout the year. They are deeply rooted in the history, tradition and culture of this area. People celebrate them with gay abandon. Some of these fairs also serve the purpose of trade fairs.

At Jaul Jibi, a fair is held every autumn when woolens, copper pots and small, shaggy-maned Himalayan horses are bought and sold.

Sites to Visit

There are a number of lakes around Pithoragarh. Two of them, Jolingkong and Anchherital are situated at a height of 4,634 meters and 3,658 meters, respectively. Some beautiful old temples are also scattered around the district. A visit to the shrine at Purnagiri, 20 kilometers from Tanakpur, is believed to lead to fulfillment of one’s desires. There is also a Sikh shrine near Lohaghat called Ritha Sahib, associated with the visit of Guru Nanak. It is believed that the bitter ritha turned sweet after the touch of the Guru.

The white Manu temple is also a site often visited by religious travelers. In it, is enshrined a powerful goddess known to bring rain to these mountains if properly invoked. There is also a large swing erected on the field at the base of a flight of steps leading to the temple. Here the goddess and her sister from a distant temple swing playfully when the other goddess comes visiting. No one can see them, but the swing moves!

Sites Nearby

Baleshwar is 76 kilometers from Pithoragarh on the Tanakpur road. Its temples are the best examples of hill architecture. They were constructed by the early Chand rajas in the 8th century. At Gangolihat, 77 kilometers from Pithoragarh, is a Shakti peeth established by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple stands amidst a dense deodar forest. Two kilometers away is another temple - that of Chamunda Devi. It is believed that the evil forces conquered by the Goddess still dwell in the adjoining caves. Patal Bhubaneshwar, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is 14 kilometers from Gangolihat. The way to the temple is through a tunnel. Chemical reactions in the cave have given rocks the appearance of various Gods and Goddesses.

About 30 km from Pithoragarh on the crest of a ridge, is a market proclaiming Panchuli View. On looking straight ahead and one can see, rising against the distant blue sky, the five snow-covered peaks of Panchuli. About 62 km from Pithoragarh, is Lohaghat, an important historical center. About 2 km from here one can visit Abbot Mount and Mayawati. Abbot Mount is noted for its exceptional view of the northern hill ranges. A number of bungalows of the British Raj can still be found here. Mayawati, houses the headquarters of the Adwait Ashram. It was sanctified by Swami Vivekananda and is known for its scenic locales.

Chandak, 7 km from Pithoragarh, is a beautiful location, commanding a panoramic view of the Pithoragarh valley. It is 1.830 meters in altitude. An important fair is held at the Mostmanu temple in August. Thal Kedar, 16 km, from Pithoragarh is an important religious center and also noted for its natural beauty. A large fair is held on Shivratri. Dhwaj, 28 km from Pithoragarh, commands a wide view of the majestic snow-peaks of the north. It is also important for temples devoted to Lord Shiva and Maa Jayanti.

Champawat, 76 km from Pithoragarh, was once the capital of Chand Rajas, whose fort now houses a government office; the town has many architecturally beautiful temples. Of these, Baleshwar and Nagnath temples are noteworthy. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam maintains a tourist bungalow at Champawat. At 2,500 meters above sea level, Devidhura is known for its scenic beauty and the temple of Devi. It is the site of an important fair. 14 km from Gangolihat is Patal Bhuvaneshwar, an important archaeological and religious site.

Punyagiri is at a distance of 20 km from Tanakpur. Perhaps the most important religious center around Pithoragarh is the Punyagiri temple. Devoted to Maa Punyagiri, atop a rocky pinnacle, it is a noted pilgrimage center. Accommodation facilities are available in the numerous dharamshalas. The Shiva temple at Rameshwarghat, 36 km from Pithoragarh, at the confluence of Ramganga and Sarju rivers is held in great reverence.

There are immense possibilities for development of adventure sports like hang gliding, paragliding, river rafting, canoeing, skiing and trekking. Chandak (6,350 meters), Dhawj (2,134 meters), Munakot and Saleti present ideal spots for flying. Between Tanakpur and Pancheshwar (Kali Ganga), Jauljibi and Madkote (Gori Ganga) and Pawar to Ghat in Ram Ganga one could enjoy rafting and canoeing. Khaliya Top and Batulidhar are ideal for skiing and other winter sports. There are a number of rivers in the district that offer many good spots for fishing wild trout and mahaseer.

How to Reach & Where to Stay

Various centers of Pithoragarh are connected with good metallic roads and regular transport services. There are buses to Almora, Nainital, Haldwani, Delhi and Tankapur. However, to reach some far-flung areas, one has to still use horses, ponies, mules, yak and sheep. The nearest railhead is at Tankapur, at a distance of 151 km south. The nearest airport is at Patnanagar, 249 km from Pithoragarh. An all weather airstrip has been constructed at Pithoragarh. It is hoped that it will give a tremendous boost to tourism.

Chaubattakhal Gadri Road

Uttarayani Uttarakhandi Mahotsav at Sector 14 Dwarka, New Delhi

Jain Temples In Aravali Rajasthan

Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It is home to an exceptionally beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges and a must visit for the tourists coming to this region.

Location

Ranakpur is tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range. It is situated around 60 km north of Udaipur in Pali district and boasts of one of the largest and most important Jain Temples in the country. The place is well connected through a road network to other places in the region.

Climate

The climate of Ranakpur is tropical with the mercury climbing up to a maximum of around 42°C and a minimum of around 22°C. Winters are only a little colder with a maximum of around 20°C and a minimum of around 11°C. The annual total rainfall is around 55 centimeters. Winter months (October-March) are the best for visiting this place.

The Past

Ranakpur is named after Rana Kumbha whom Dharna Sah, a Jain businessman, approached when he had the vision of his great temple to ask for the land for its construction. Renowned for some marvelously carved Jain temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five holiest places of the Jain community and exceptional in beauty. Situated at a distance of around 60 km from Udaipur, these temples were constructed in 1439 AD.

Sites to Visit

The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The main temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath.

The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are all well worth a visit. One kilometer away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata.

Sites Nearby

Kumbhalgarh is a historical site around 30 km northeast of Ranakpur. It is the most important fort in the Mewar region after Chittaurgarh. The other important place to visit in Kumbhalgarh is a wildlife sanctuary known for its wolves.

Sadri, 8 km away, is famous for some beautiful temples and an old dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar temple and the Chintamani Parsvanath temple are the oldest of the temples situated here.

Three temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata are among some noteworthy temples at Desuri around 16 km from Ranakpur. An old mosque situated here is also worth a visit. A temple dedicated to Parsuram Mahadeo, nestled in the hills, is also close by.

Another nearby place, Ghanerao, abounds in Hindu temples. Most notable is the temple of Gajanand with a life-size statue of the goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi. The statue in the main shrine is guarded by idols of Hanuman and Bhairon on either side.

The Muchhal Mahavir temple is situated about 5 km from Ghanerao in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. Its distinctive feature is the statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The two statues of elephants guarding the gateways are splendid examples of temple decoration. In the vicinity are the Garasia tribal villages famous for their colorful costumes.

Where to Stay

There are many places in Ranakpur that provide quality accommodation. The costs can range from an amount in four figures for the best double-bedded rooms to a donation of an amount one’s own discretion in a dharmshala. Heritage hotels are the best bet in this region, if one is interested in enjoying the royal hospitality and charm of the bygone era. Facilities in the major hotels are good and worth the money spent.

How to Reach

The nearest airport is Udaipur 60 km south of Ranakpur. There are regular flights to Delhi, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur, and Mumbai from Udaipur.

The nearest major railway station is Udaipur. There are trains for Delhi, Chittaurgarh, Ajmer, and Jaipur from this station. The nearest railway station from Ranakpur is Phalna but most of the tourists prefer going to Udaipur to catch a train as it offers more choice.

There are frequent express buses from Udaipur that take around three hours to reach Ranakpur. State transport corporation buses as well as private buses connect Udaipur to other cities in the region. Major destinations that are connected to Udaipur are Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota/Bundi, Jodhpur, Chittaurgarh, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, Delhi, Indur, and Mt Abu.

Informaton:-

Money exchange and banking facilities are available in Ranakpur. Otherwise one can use Udaipur as a base to avail all the necessary tourist facilities. STD/ISD facilities are available.

As Ranakpur is a religious place, one must take care that the religious sentiments of the devotees are not hurt. One should inquire about the local customs and practices before indulging in activities like drinking, gambling, or eating non-vegetarian food.

A Tourist Information Bureau of the Government of Rajasthan is situated at Fateh Memorial Suraj Pole in Udaipur and tourists should get all the necessary information there.