Haridwar
Location
About
The 'Gateway to God' (Hari-dwar) is where the Ganges River descends from the Himalayas onto the plains of India. One of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism, Haridwar is the host city of the Kumbh Mela — the largest religious gathering in human history, drawing up to 60 million pilgrims in a single event. The Har Ki Pauri ghat is believed to bear a footprint of Lord Vishnu.
Significance
Haridwar is where millions of Hindus come to bathe in the sacred Ganges emerging fresh from the Himalayas, believed to wash away all sins and grant liberation. The city is the starting point for the Char Dham pilgrimage route to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The Kumbh Mela held here every 12 years is the single largest peaceful gathering of human beings on earth.
History & Historical Arc
Haridwar appears in ancient texts including the Mahabharata and the Puranas as Kapila (after the sage Kapila who meditat…
Archaeological Notes
The ancient Daksha Mahadeva Temple on the site of the mythological sacrifice of Daksha has yielded early medieval artifa…
Key Features & Structures
- Har Ki Pauri (Vishnu footprint ghat)
- Ganga Aarti at sunset
Visitor Information
Open year-round. Best during Kumbh Mela (every 3/6/12 years) or Ganga Dussehra. 200 km from Delhi.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Skanda Purana, Kashi Khanda
- Mahabharata, Vana Parva 89