Haridwar or Hardwar as it is called is one of the holiest pilgrimage places of the Hindus. The holy city on the banks of the river Ganga falls under the Haridwar District in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. One of the seven renowned holy places, Haridwar stands for the ‘Gateway to God’ since Hari stands for God and Dwar refers to the gate or door. The significance of the place is associated with Hindu Mythology. It is believed that after the Samudra Manthan (churning of the sea in which the elixir of immortality was retrieved) the heavenly nectar was carried away by the Garuda, a celestial bird belonging to the Preserver of the Universe, Lord Vishnu. Drops of it spilled over and fell at this place which came to be known as Haridwar. Three other sites where the nectar fell were Nashik, Allahabad, and Ujjain. All these four places are important pilgrimage places and also the site of the world-famous Kumbh Mela held at an interval every 12 years. Haridwar is also known by several other names like Gangadwar, Kapila, and Mayapuri and the district of Haridwar covers a total of 2360 kilometer square.

Har Ki Pauri

In Haridwar, the place where the heavenly elixir fell, came to be known as Brahma Kund or Har-Ki-Pauri. The Har-Ki-Pauri is the most important Ghat (bathing place) and means “footsteps of the Lord”. The footsteps are noticeable on the upper parts of the Ghat and the river Ganga herself pays homage to it by washing it with her waves.

Haridwar has also been the seat of ancient culture, arts, and science. Secrets of Ayurvedic treatments and herbal remedies all lie here. One of the primary methods of ancient education, the Gurukul system has its origins in Haridwar. Haridwar is also one of the first points from where the river Ganga descends to start her journey towards the plains.

If Haridwar is the gateway to the Almighty, then the path to attain salvation also lies here. It is the perfect place to get away from all the daily drudgery, mundane human life, and the heaviness of the soul. This is the place to get relief from it all to get a new life.

Hotels in Haridwar

The very sight of the Ganga River and some moments by the Har-Ki-Pauri keeps your mind to rest. The soul becomes pure, the heart full of bliss. The calm and pure surroundings make you feel comfortable and a true wanderer’s heart may yearn for a night under the starlit sky. However, a shelter is always needed and tourists visiting the Haridwar will come across quite a good number of them. Haridwar is a developed town and so star-category hotels here are no longer a dream. Luxury Hotels in Haridwar even if few can be found, three-star hotels are quite a handful and for the budget traveler, many government-approved hotels are present. Standard accommodations, good food, timely services, and urban comforts all lead to total guest satisfaction.

Among the best-known luxury or branded hotels in Haridwar, there is the Country Inn and Suites. A luxury hotel built by the Carlson Group, this hotel provides you with all five-star comforts. Located close to the airport, the main highlight of the hotel is its multi-cuisine restaurant named Mosaic other than superbly furnished rooms with all modern amenities. Other than this, tourists can look out for the Haveli Hari Ganga near the Ram Ghat and Ginger Hotel.

Among the three-star hotels in Haridwar, there is the Hotel Classic Residency, Sagar Ganga Resort, Alpana Hotel, Park View Hotel, Bhaj Govindam Hotel, and Hotel Teerth.

For budget accommodation, the Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram near the Sapt Sarovar Marg and the Hotel Ganga Azure near the Railway Road are the best picks.

How to Reach Haridwar

The holy city of Haridwar is believed to be the Gateway to the Lord. The name stands true to itself as this is the place that devotees visit almost all year round for a holy dip in the Ganga and to gain salvation for their worldly deeds. Haridwar is also the starting point to reach Devbhoomi and the Char Dham Yatra – the four other pilgrimage places in Uttarakhand namely Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. To reach this place is easy as the road; rail and air networks are widely developed.

Haridwar is convenient to reach from the capital city of Delhi. Delhi is situated at a distance of 200 kilometers from Haridwar.

The nearest airport to Haridwar is Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport. Situated 20 kilometers away from Haridwar, the airport handles domestic flights. Air Deccan operates twice daily service to Delhi from this airport.

Availing of a train is much more convenient, cheap, and easy. Several good express trains are available from Delhi to Haridwar. The frequent ones are the Shatabdi Express and the Rajdhani Express. Trains are also available from Dehradun. The railhead is situated in the southern part of the town.

Tourists can also avail of a bus to reach Haridwar. A good number of bus run between Haridwar and Rishikesh and Delhi.

What To See In Haridwar

Haridwar is a place where the twain between the mind and soul comes to an end. It is a mirror in which the Indian culture gets reflected. The charm of Haridwar does not end with it being only a holy place but in recent times, Haridwar has emerged as a prominent tourist destination. With a good number of sightseeing places, a holiday in the abode of the Lord will simply be blissful.

Maya Devi Temple

The most notable attraction in Haridwar is the Har-Ki-Pauri. This well-known Ghat which has the footsteps of the lord was built by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his beloved brother Bharthari. The special attraction here is the evening prayer attended by thousands of devotees. The scene of the Aarti being performed with hymns filling up the air and little oil lamps floating on the rippling waters of the Ganga is simply enchanting.

Daksha Mahadev Temple

Haridwar can also be nicknamed a city of Temples. Several temples are found in Haridwar, notable for the architecture and the legend behind them. Some of them are the Maya Devi Temple, Daksha Mahadev Temple, and Chandi Devi Temple on Neel Parvat. This temple was built by the Raja of Kashmir, Suchat Singh in the year 1929 A.D. Two more temples attract the attention of the tourists. One is the Mansa Devi Temple on the Bilwa Parvat and the other Doodhadhari Barfani Temple dedicated to Lord Ram and his wife Goddess Sita. The entire temple complex is believed to be made out of marble.

Gurukul Kangri University

Situated 20 kilometers away from Haridwar is the pious Dargah of Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari Ali Ahmed ‘Sabir’. Built by Ibrahim Lodi, this place attracts crowds during the Urs festival. The place is named Piran Kaliyar.

Other notable attractions in Haridwar include the Bhimgoda Tank, Sati Kund, Jairam Ashram, Sapt Rishi Ashram and Sapt Sarovar, Parad Shivling, Anandamayi Ma Ashram, Gurukul Kangri University founded by Swami Shraddhanand and Pawan Dham.

For bird lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, a visit to the Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar and the Rajaji National Park is a must. For shoppers, Jwalapur, the local shopping destination demands a ritualistic visit.

As the summer season take off his hands from India and the year starts to move towards autumn, many of us traveler kind of rejoice with joy. Because autumn means traveling to hills – be amazed by its soothing beauty, be able to enjoy long walks in its cold breeze, and be able to run wildly on the snow. And, for many people of the North, this kind of refuge is only found in Uttarakhand where you can have any kind of adventure from spiritual to thrilling one to a peaceful kind.

Uttarakhand is filled with hundreds of unexplored as well as old beauty so; the state will never seem to disappoint your hopes for traveling. Below, is the list of places in Uttarakhand where you can spend some days in happiness during the coming autumn season?

Mussoorie

Mussoorie is one of the oldest most frequented towns of Uttarakhand which attracts millions of travelers every year. This quaint little town is famous for its lush green beauty, snow-capped mountain peaks, and busy streets. Many come to this town to enjoy some quiet walks along with the view that has the capability to refresh any pained soul. In winters, you will be sure to find snowfall in this town, and the experience would be like the never felt before.

Things to Do: Trekking, hiking, camping, and paragliding.

Auli

Although Auli is popularly called a Skiing destination of the North, spending your next autumn here would also be a good idea. During autumn, it is neither too cold nor hot so, you will surely be able to spend some days in the green serenity of this hill station. This town beautifully outlays some mesmerizing and breath-taking views of the mountain for its every visitor like Nanda Devi Peak, Mana Parvat, Dunagiri, etc.

Things to Do: Gandola rides, camping, skiing, and trekking.

Chopta

Chopta is now becoming every traveler’s bucket list because this small town is filled with adventure and solace. The town is for those who are looking for unexplored places in Uttarakhand because the town is tucked away from the hustle-bustle of the city. And mostly, wanderers like to visit this place for solitude and to enjoy trekking to Chandrashila and Tungnath. So, if you wish to spend your autumn in the arms of a peaceful town then, this is your place.

Things to Do: Birdwatching, camping, trekking to Chandrashila and Tungnath, yoga retreat.

Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is now mostly treated as a whole place where people can go for holidays. It is for those who wish to spend their days of autumn in the wild and explore the dense forest of Uttarakhand. You can book a nice stay at a resort where you can avail the of various kinds of amenities like a spa, swimming at a private pool, healthy basking in the warm sun. And, the most amazing would be jungle safari time when you can cruise in the forest are spotting various kinds of wild animals.

Things To Do: Jungle Safari, wildlife photography tour, elephant rides, bonfire nights.

Ranikhet

Ranikhet is a beautiful cantonment town in the Almora district of Uttarakhand which is mostly frequented by families and couples. From scenic walking trails to learning the busy streets at night to viewing a beautiful sunrise from an edge, there is every kind of family adventure in Ranikhet that anybody can wish for. And in winters, the town will welcome snow trails and some majestic views of the mountain.

Things To Do: Local sightseeing, walking tours, paragliding.

Nainital

Nainital should be your destination during autumn when the town blossom with pink flowers and a shimmering view of its highly appreciated lake. Many travelers go on trekking up in the hills to have a panoramic view of the whole town surrounding one beautiful lake. Apart from walking on the beautiful streets of this town, you can also enjoy boating on the lake and eating at its famous eateries. The best moment can be spent during the sunset when the lake shimmers the whole town in orange.

Things To Do: Fishing, kayaking, skiing, canoeing.

So, go and pack your bag packs for a new kind of adventure in Uttarakhand which has the ability to empower any lost soul. And live some happy days of autumn in any of the above-listed places. If you wish to go on Char Dham Yatra then, do care to check our Char Dham Yatra Package.