Haridwar

Haridwar, in Uttarakhand, is one of India’s most ancient and sacred cities, revered as the gateway to the gods (Hari-dwar). Situated where the Ganga emerges from the Himalayas onto the plains, it has been a major pilgrimage centre for thousands of years. Ancient texts like the Vedas, Puranas, and Mahabharata mention this region as Mayapuri and Gangadwar, highlighting its spiritual importance.

The city is deeply connected with the legend of the Samudra Manthan (churning of the cosmic ocean). According to mythology, drops of amrit (nectar) fell at four places—Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik—giving rise to the tradition of the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, held in Haridwar every 12 years.

Haridwar has been a centre for ascetics, yogis, sages, and scholars for millennia. The sacred Har Ki Pauri, believed to be touched by Lord Vishnu’s feet, is the heart of the city where the daily Ganga Aarti attracts thousands. During medieval times, Haridwar served as an important stop for traders and pilgrims moving between the plains and the Himalayan shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath.

Under British rule, it developed as an administrative town, and after Independence it became one of the seven holiest Sapta Puri cities.

Today, Haridwar remains a spiritual gateway, blending ancient rituals with a vibrant cultural heritage along the banks of the sacred Ganga.