Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
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
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
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
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.
Saturday, January 19, 2019
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