Haridwar, also spelled Hardware, is a city in the state of Uttarakhand.
Understand
Haridwar, literally Gateway to God, is one of the Hindu holy places in India and a center of Hindu religion and mysticism for centuries. Located on the banks of the River Ganges, at the point where the Ganges down from the mountains of the north Indian plains, Haridwar attracts a large number of Hindu pilgrims from all over the world.
Festivals
Haridwar is the site of many religious festivals. Remarkably, every twelve years is the venue for the Kumbh Mela, humanity's largest festival, which drew a record 70 million 2003rdThe Ardha Mela, or "half mela", held every six years. Both will be held in Haridwar to the next in 2010.
Other annual festivals include:
Baisakhi, April.
Kanwar Mela, July. The largest annual festival, drawing up to 300,000 visitors.
Somwati Amavasya, July. Almost as large as the Kanwar Mela.
Kartik Purnima, held 15 days after Diwali on the first night of full moon in November.
See Haridwar city website for a complete list. While festivals are colorful and fascinating, they also strain the city's limited infrastructure to breaking point and sometimes incomprehensible. Book rooms and tickets well in advance and avoid travel by road traffic congestion can be horrendous.
Come in
Haridwar is about 200 km from Delhi, capital of India and is well connected to road and rail from all parts of India.
By plane
Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, with twice daily service to Delhi, Air Deccan, is 20 km from Haridwar.
By train
There are daily Rajdhani and Shatabdi express from Delhi to Dehradun. But the buses are faster and more frequent. The train station is located on the south side of town, within walking distance of most hotels, but a 2 km trek to the Hari-ki-Pairi.
By Bus
Haridwar's bus station, a stone's throw from the railway station, is chaotic and has no signage whatsoever in English. There are regular bus services from Delhi, Rishikesh and other major cities in North India to Haridwar. Although they claim they reach New Delhi in 4-5 hours they will take at least 6-7 hours. Because of traffic jams on roads leading in and out of Delhi on can take 7-8 hours. Before booking the bus check the bus condition. Always go to the secure and push-back seats. The long and winding ride will take a toll on your mood and body.
Climate
Central Haridwar can be reasonably comfortably covered on foot. Cycle rickshaws abound, and most trips in the city should not cost more than Rs. 20th Taxis and auto rickshaws gather at train and bus stations.
See
Hari-ki-Pairi.In the north of the center, this is Haridwar's focal point where devotees gather to bathe and worship the Ganges. According to legend, this is a drop of nectar fell from the churning of the ocean when the world was created, and a stone wall has Vishnu footprint. Every evening around 7 PM, thousands gather and worship the river Goddess by putting diyas in the river. You may be asked to make a donation if you wait near the Ghats. Beware of con artists posing as officials. To make a donation there are boxes in the middle of the ghats around the light poles.
Mansa Devi Mandir, atop a hill near the center of town. Can be reached by cable car or by a road that winds gently upwards, from Railway Road. The temple is esthetically not particularly remarkable, but the views are grand. Expect to queue up to board the cable car and once again go into the temple: despite some rudimentary attempts to visitors, spectators jostling supporters can make this a pretty intense experience.
Bharat Mata Mandir, 5 km north of the center.Dedicated to Mother India, this is half temple, half a nation building exercise, with seven floors stacked with deities, saints and secular heroes of all Indian religions. A few signs in English.
Chandidevi Mandir ,8-9km from the railway station, you can combine packages to see both temples by AC bus including the bus and cable car fees
Daksh Mandir 0.7 to 8 km from the railway station you get rick show, or you can rent a car, close to many mandir to look at kankhal.
Do
Divya Yog Mandir Trust University, 16 km from Haridvar. Founded by Baba Ramdev.
Premnagar Ashram, 2 km from Haridvar. Founded by Shri Satpal Maharaj Ji.
Buying
Eating
Sindh dugdh Bhandar, Rly. vp. Haridwar, ☎ 320209th A swing in this city since 1948. But well maintained and a multi cuisine restaurant with very good service a key that is air conditioned unlike the other restaurant in town.
Haridwar is a purely vegetarian town.
Hoshiyarpuriwala, This shop is old and claim to have started in 1935.Its 7-8 minutes walk from the Hari-Ki-Pairi. It has many different North Indian delicacies but I would recommend Thaali for all. It costs Rs. 80.00. But its so much that it requires a special effort to end it. And if a grand finish a sweet dish, you cannot resist. Khaao India Khaao.
Chotiwalas, Subhash Ghat. The closest Haridwar get McDonald's, serves a broad menu of South and North Indian favorites, with some Indian-Chinese thrown in. Most meals around Rs. 60th
Chotiwalas Asli, Subhash Ghat. Claiming to be the original, unfranchised Chotiwalas, it's first store below steps when walking south from Hari-ki-Pairi. The "Chotiwalas Special" is a super-filling concoction of paneer and veggies in a creamy tomato base, topped with cheese and yogurt.
Hotel Alpana, Ram Ghat. Claiming to be new, clean, 400 meters from Hari-ki-Pairi. The "Alpana Meal" Nice decent place to relax
Drinking
Alcohol is banned in Haridwar.
Sleeping
For most of the hotels check-in time is 12 Noon.Much to Dharmshalas are also available in Haridwar.
Budget
Hotel Ganga Azure, Railway Road, +91 334-220938/9,. Small, not completely clean rooms. Hot water from 6-8 PM only, but the shower may be defective. The hotel restaurant is well liked, but no prize. Rs 700/1500.
Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram, 511-A, Sapt Sarovar Marg, Bhopatwala, tel. +919810011735,. Rooms available at nominal maintenance costs.
Nightlife
Bhaj-Govindam, near Bhimgoda Bridge, +91 1334 261682nd Charming, hut-like accommodation, with a common lawn of over-looking the river. Rs 900/1550. .
Teerth, Subhash Ghat, Hari-Ki-Pairi, tel. +91 334 225211,. Riverside accommodation adjacent Hari-Ki-Pairi, the main selling point is the great river views from the balconies. Rooms are ac, spacious, clean. Rooms from Rs 1200th
Neighborhoods
Haveli Hari Ganga, 21 Pilibhit House, Ram Ghat, +91,334 226443rd A comfortably appointed hotel / spa with a private ghat and balconies overlooking the river. Rs 2800 and up.
A group of new, modern hotels have sprung up in Bhopatwala, about 5 km north of the city center.
County Inn & Suites, Haripur Kalan, Motichur, tel. +91 13 52485900,. Run with Carlton group, this is the only international branded hotel in Haridwar and probably the best in the bunch. The main disadvantage is the place, about 6 km outside the city.
Alpana Haridwar, Ram Ghat, Haridwar, tel. +91 1334 224567,. Clean, in the heart of the city's hotel run by Paliwal chain.
Ginger Haridwar, opp. Dudhadhari Temple, Bhopatwala, tel. +91 13 34263333,. Clean, minimalistic hotel operated by Ginger chain.
Get out
Rishikesh - "Haridwar lite" 26 km upriver, popular with backpackers
Haridwar, also spelled Hardware, is a city in the state of Uttarakhand.
Understand
Haridwar, literally Gateway to God, is one of the Hindu holy places in India and a center of Hindu religion and mysticism for centuries. Located on the banks of the River Ganges, at the point where the Ganges down from the mountains of the north Indian plains, Haridwar attracts a large number of Hindu pilgrims from all over the world.
Festivals
Haridwar is the site of many religious festivals. Remarkably, every twelve years is the venue for the Kumbh Mela, humanity's largest festival, which drew a record 70 million 2003rd The Ardha Mela, or "half mela", held every six years. Both will be held in Haridwar to the next in 2010.
Other annual festivals include:
Baisakhi, April.
Kanwar Mela, July. The largest annual festival, drawing up to 300,000 visitors.
Somwati Amavasya, July. Almost as large as the Kanwar Mela.
Kartik Purnima, held 15 days after Diwali on the first night of full moon in November.
See Haridwar city website for a complete list. While festivals are colorful and fascinating, they also strain the city's limited infrastructure to breaking point and sometimes incomprehensible.Book rooms and tickets well in advance and avoid travel by road traffic congestion can be horrendous.
Come in
Haridwar is about 200 km from Delhi, capital of India and is well connected to road and rail from all parts of India.
By plane
Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, with twice daily service to Delhi, Air Deccan, is 20 km from Haridwar.
By train
There are daily Rajdhani and Shatabdi express from Delhi to Dehradun. But the buses are faster and more frequent. The train station is located on the south side of town, within walking distance of most hotels, but a 2 km trek to the Hari-ki-Pairi.
By Bus
Haridwar's bus station, a stone's throw from the railway station, is chaotic and has no signage whatsoever in English. There are regular bus services from Delhi, Rishikesh and other major cities in North India to Haridwar. Although they claim they reach New Delhi in 4-5 hours they will take at least 6-7 hours.Because of traffic jams on roads leading in and out of Delhi on can take 7-8 hours. Before booking the bus check the bus condition. Always go to the secure and push-back seats. The long and winding ride will take a toll on your mood and body.
Climate
Central Haridwar can be reasonably comfortably covered on foot. Cycle rickshaws abound, and most trips in the city should not cost more than Rs. 20th Taxis and auto rickshaws gather at train and bus stations.
See
Hari-ki-Pairi. In the north of the center, this is Haridwar's focal point where devotees gather to bathe and worship the Ganges. According to legend, this is a drop of nectar fell from the churning of the ocean when the world was created, and a stone wall has Vishnu footprint. Every evening around 7 PM, thousands gather and worship the river Goddess by putting diyas in the river. You may be asked to make a donation if you wait near the Ghats. Beware of con artists posing as officials. To make a donation there are boxes in the middle of the ghats around the light poles.
Mansa Devi Mandir, atop a hill near the center of town. Can be reached by cable car or by a road that winds gently upwards, from Railway Road. The temple is esthetically not particularly remarkable, but the views are grand. Expect to queue up to board the cable car and once again go into the temple: despite some rudimentary attempts to visitors, spectators jostling supporters can make this a pretty intense experience.
Bharat Mata Mandir, 5 km north of the center. Dedicated to Mother India, this is half temple, half a nation building exercise, with seven floors stacked with deities, saints and secular heroes of all Indian religions. A few signs in English.
Chandidevi Mandir ,8-9km from the railway station, you can combine packages to see both temples by AC bus including the bus and cable car fees
Daksh Mandir 0.7 to 8 km from the railway station you get rick show, or you can rent a car, close to many mandir to look at kankhal.
Do
Divya Yog Mandir Trust University, 16 km from Haridvar. Founded by Baba Ramdev.
Premnagar Ashram, 2 km from Haridvar. Founded by Shri Satpal Maharaj Ji.
Buying
Eating
Sindh dugdh Bhandar, Rly. vp. Haridwar, ☎ 320209th A swing in this city since 1948. But well maintained and a multi cuisine restaurant with very good service a key that is air conditioned unlike the other restaurant in town.
Haridwar is a purely vegetarian town.
Hoshiyarpuriwala, This shop is old and claim to have started in 1935. Its 7-8 minutes walk from the Hari-Ki-Pairi. It has many different North Indian delicacies but I would recommend Thaali for all. It costs Rs. 80.00. But its so much that it requires a special effort to end it. And if a grand finish a sweet dish, you cannot resist. Khaao India Khaao.
Chotiwalas, Subhash Ghat. The closest Haridwar get McDonald's, serves a broad menu of South and North Indian favorites, with some Indian-Chinese thrown in. Most meals around Rs. 60th
Chotiwalas Asli, Subhash Ghat.Claiming to be the original, unfranchised Chotiwalas, it's first store below steps when walking south from Hari-ki-Pairi. The "Chotiwalas Special" is a super-filling concoction of paneer and veggies in a creamy tomato base, topped with cheese and yogurt.
Hotel Alpana, Ram Ghat. Claiming to be new, clean, 400 meters from Hari-ki-Pairi. The "Alpana Meal" Nice decent place to relax
Drinking
Alcohol is banned in Haridwar.
Sleeping
For most of the hotels check-in time is 12 Noon. Much to Dharmshalas are also available in Haridwar.
Budget
Hotel Ganga Azure, Railway Road, +91 334-220938/9,. Small, not completely clean rooms. Hot water from 6-8 PM only, but the shower may be defective. The hotel restaurant is well liked, but no prize. Rs 700/1500.
Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram, 511-A, Sapt Sarovar Marg, Bhopatwala, tel. +919810011735,. Rooms available at nominal maintenance costs.
Nightlife
Bhaj-Govindam, near Bhimgoda Bridge, +91 1334 261682ndCharming, hut-like accommodation, with a common lawn of over-looking the river. Rs 900/1550. .
Teerth, Subhash Ghat, Hari-Ki-Pairi, tel. +91 334 225211,. Riverside accommodation adjacent Hari-Ki-Pairi, the main selling point is the great river views from the balconies. Rooms are ac, spacious, clean. Rooms from Rs 1200th
Neighborhoods
Haveli Hari Ganga, 21 Pilibhit House, Ram Ghat, +91,334 226443rd A comfortably appointed hotel / spa with a private ghat and balconies overlooking the river. Rs 2800 and up.
A group of new, modern hotels have sprung up in Bhopatwala, about 5 km north of the city center.
County Inn & Suites, Haripur Kalan, Motichur, tel. +91 13 52485900,. Run with Carlton group, this is the only international branded hotel in Haridwar and probably the best in the bunch. The main disadvantage is the place, about 6 km outside the city.
Alpana Haridwar, Ram Ghat, Haridwar, tel. +91 1334 224567,. Clean, in the heart of the city's hotel run by Paliwal chain.
Ginger Haridwar, opp. Dudhadhari Temple, Bhopatwala, tel. +91 13 34263333,.Clean, minimalistic hotel operated by Ginger chain.
Get out
Rishikesh - "Haridwar lite" 26 km upriver, popular with backpackers
