Haridwar, also known as Gateway to the God, is one of the primary areas where river Ganges emerges from the mountains & enters to the plain areas. Lush green forests, clear water of river Ganges and background of mountains create the charming beauty of this holy city.
Haridwar - Places to Visit
The city has numerous temples with interesting legacies and is also known as great source of Ayurvedic and herbal medicines. The diverse nature of the Hindu religion has attracted number of visitors from all around the world.
Events in Haridwar
Haridwar Ganga Dussehra: June Mentioned in John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost, the holy river Ganga is considered to be one of the four holy rivers in the world for Hindus. This blessed river is said to be the incarnation of goddess Ganga and it is believed to bring with it purity of heaven. People from all over the country go to the banks of this divine river in the beginning of June to take a dip and vindicate their sins or to pay homage to their departed and forever cherished loved ones. Every day in the lives of people residing in nearby holy cities namely Rishikesh, Haridwar, Gangotri and Varanasi, give Ganga the utmost importance in their lives by spending their time in the worship and dedication of the river. Also, in the month of Jyeshta, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal get immersed in festivities, celebrating this holy river on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, also known as Dasar or Gangavataran. This year, the festival will fall on 18th June with the celebrations carrying on for almost ten days.Stay at OYO to not miss out on the evening aarti which is a sight to behold and will leave you in complete awe. Beginning before sunrise and stretching beyond sunset, the ghats echo of shlokas and chants of the river. Lighted diyas spread a golden-yellow light of divinity and faith as far as one can see. Travel to one of the ghats this year and experience the strength of belief while OYO takes care of your needs. With hotels situated right there and near all the pomp of the festival, the only worry you will have is figuring out a way to take all that divinity at once.
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Questions and Answers
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1.
What are some of the best accommodation options in Haridwar?
OYO Rooms has various accommodations options throughout the city. You can find a good place to stay based on what you plan to do in the city and also your budget
Haridwar is a paramount holy place for Hindus and this place has numerous temples and ashrams to seek blessings. One of the most famed attractions when in Haridwar is to visit the Har Ki Pauri near the Ganga Ghat which is thronged by devotees from all over the country. Do not miss out to take a holy dip in the sacred water and attend the grand evening aarti.
The travellers can visit Bharat Mata Temple and Daksha Mahadeva temple and Chandi Devi temple for a religious feel. Mansa Devi temple, Maya Devi Temple, Vaishno Devi temple are some of the other temples you can visit. If you are a peace seeker, Kanva Rishi Ashram is a perfect place to spend some time in solace and enjoy nature. Sapt Rishi Ashram is another fabulous place ideal for meditation. For seeking spiritual guidance, Shantikunj is a must-visit. Visit Patanjali Yogpeeth which is a popular medical and research institute in Haridwar. Apart from these, Chilla Wildlife sanctuary is a great place to visit while fun valley water park and Crystal world are some amusement places where you can enjoy water rides and other activities.
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3.
What is a good time to visit Haridwar?
You can visit Haridwar anytime during the year except for monsoon season as the torrential rains often cause overflowing of rivers and roadblocks. Summers although are very hot with temperatures reaching around 40 degrees Celsius, the nights are quite pleasant. Winters are also an ideal time which starts from October to February. The temperatures drop significantly to 17 degrees Celsius during daytime and to 6 degrees at night, so it is best to be prepared with proper clothes. However, if you are a pilgrim, you can also go during Annual Magh Mela or other festivals like Buddha Poornima, Kanwar Mela, Kumbh Mela or Ardh Mela and Diwali.
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4.
What are some of the budget and premium accommodation options in Haridwar?
What is the best food that you can eat in Haridwar?
Haridwar is a religious destination which is why the reason why the tourists have an endless variety of vegetarian delicacies. Chotiwala restaurant is a famous landmark and a popular eating place in Haridwar. One of the best choices for breakfast and lunch is Bhagwati's chole bhandar which serves delicious chole bhature, bun bread and chole, rice chole and more. You will also get fast food such as vada, pao bhaji at Mohan's fast food. For South Indian cuisine Dosa Plaza is a good place. Few best places to eat street food are Mohanji poori wale and Hoshiyarpuri. Other places for vegetarian lovers are Haveli Hari Ganga Restaurant, Ganga Lahari, Big Ben restaurant and Aura the restaurant which offers a variety of Italian, Indian and continental. You will love Punjabi dishes such as Makke ki roti, dal makhani etc at Aahaar restaurant. Captain's Cavalry Restrobar serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. For mouthwatering sweets go to Mathura Walton ki Prachin Dukaan. Go to Pandit Sevaram Sharma Doodhwale which is famous for its Kulhar milk.
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7.
Is Haridwar covered by the metro/bus network? What is the best way to travel across the city?
Local transport is easily accessible in Haridwar as there is a local bus network which costs around Rs 10 to Rs 20. Auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are popular and inexpensive modes of transport which will cost you around 35 to 50. You can also hire a car from rental agencies or opt for taxis and cabs for visiting temples and other popular tourist destinations.
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8.
What are the adventurous activities in Haridwar?
Apart from spiritual activities, there are some exciting and thrilling things to do in Haridwar. You can go out exploring the forest area of Chila Wildlife Sanctuary on the back of an elephant. For jungle safari, visit Rajaji National Park or go bird watching to a place called Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar which falls inside the Rajaji National Park. Haridwar also has trekking destinations like Auden Col's Pass, Kamini Khal trek, Roopkund Lake trek to name a few. You can do Bungee jumping, Giant Swing, Flying fox, at Jumpin Height premises at Mohanchatti in Haridwar.
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9.
What are the famous Ghats in Haridwar?
According to Hindu belief, to purify one’s soul and to achieve moksha, one needs to take a holy bath into the sacred water of Ganga. Har ki Pauri Ghat is the most famous Ghats in Haridwar. Asthi Prawah Ghat located in the south direction of the main Ganga temple is the place where ashes of the dead are immersed in the holy water of Ganga. Subhash Ghat is located near the Har Ki Pauri Ghat and is named after the freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Gau Ghat is another most prestigious and important Ghat and is used to get rid of cow killing sins. Vishnu ghat and Kusha ghat are the other important ghats in Haridwar.
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10.
What are the Ashrams to visit in Haridwar?
There are many ashrams in Haridwar where you get to know the true meaning of spirituality. Saptrishi Ashram is a must visit in Haridwar where seven great sages have meditated. Ma Anandamayi ashram located at Kankhal town is a centre of faith for many and attracts people from all over. Jairam Ashram attracts tourists to view the eye-catching statues of Hindu gods, Goddesses and demons. Kanva Rishi Ashram is located on the outskirts of Haridwar but a visit to this place promises you a feeling of peace and security. Prem Nagar Ashram is a spiritual sanctuary for those seeking peace. Soham Ashram and Santoshpuri ashram are other ashrams that you can visit while in Haridwar.