Wikisource has original text related to this article: The River Ganga, after flowing for 253 kilometres (157 mi) from its source at Gaumukh at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Gangetic Plain for the first time at Haridwar, which gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára. Hardwar is also a typical place to start a pilgrim's journey in order to reach Mount Kailash, Kedarnath, the northernmost Jyotirlinga and one of the sites of the smaller Char Dham pilgrimage circuit - all important places for worship for Hindus.Īccording to legend, it was in Haridwar that Goddess Ganga descended when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from the locks of his hair. Hence, Hardwar could stand for "Gateway to Lord Shiva". Similarly, Hara could also mean "Lord Shiva". It earns this name because it is typically the place where pilgrim's start their journey to visit a prominent temple of Lord Vishnu - Badrinath. So, Haridwar translates to "The Gateway to Lord Vishnu". In Sanskrit, the liturgical language of Hinduism, Hari means "Lord Vishnu", while dwar means "gateway". Each of these names has its own connotation. The modern name of the town has two spellings: Haridwar and Hardwar. Meandering main Ganga river, known here as Neel Dhara (left) and the Ganga canal (right), passing through Haridwar. Subsequently, Shaivites (devotees of Shiva) and Vaishavites (devotees of Vishnu) call the city Hardwar and Haridwar, respectively, Har meaning Shiva and Hari Vishnu. It is additionally a passage for the Chota Char Dham (the four principal pilgrim destinations in Uttarakhand). In sacred writings, it has been differently specified as Kapilsthan, Gangadwar and Mayapuri. Haridwar presents a kaleidoscope of Indian culture and development. Today, the city is developing beyond its religious importance with the fast-developing industrial estate of the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL), and the close-by township of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), as well as its affiliated ancillaries. It is also the primary centre of the Kanwar pilgrimage, in which millions of participants gather sacred water from the Ganges and carry it across hundreds of miles to dispense as offerings in Shiva shrines.
Brahma Kund, the spot where the amrita fell, is located at Har ki Pauri (literally, "footsteps of the Lord") and is considered to be the most sacred ghat of Haridwar. During the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists congregate in Haridwar to perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the Ganges to wash away their sins to attain moksha.Īccording to Puranic legend, Haridwar, along with Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj ( Allahabad), is one of four sites where drops of amrita, the elixir of immortality, accidentally spilled over from a kumbha (pitcher) while being carried by the celestial bird Garuda during the samudra manthan, or churning of the ocean of milk. Most significant of the events is the Kumbha Mela, which is celebrated every 12 years in Haridwar.
Haridwar is regarded as a holy place for Hindus, hosting important religious events and serving as a gateway to several prominent places of worship. The city is situated on the right bank of the Ganges river, at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges. With a population of 228,832 in 2011, it is the second-largest city in the state and the largest in the district.
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