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Haridwar (हरिद्वार) [1], also spelled Hardwar, is a city in the state of Uttarakhand.

[edit] 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 River Ganges (Ganga), at the point where the Ganges descends from the hills to the North Indian plains, Haridwar attracts a large number of Hindu pilgrims from all over the world.

[edit] Festivals

Haridwar is the site of many religious festivals. Most notably, once every twelve years it is the venue for the Kumbh Mela, humanity's largest festival, which drew a record 70 million in 2003. (The festival rotates between Haridwar and Allahabad, Ujjain and Nashik.) The Ardh Mela, or "half mela", is held every six years. Both will be held in Haridwar for the next time in 2010.

Other yearly festivals include:

• Baisakhi, April.
• Kanwar Mela, July. The largest yearly 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 the full moon in November.

See the Haridwar city website [2] for a complete listing. While the festivals are colorful and fascinating, they also strain the town's limited infrastructure to the breaking point and sometimes beyond. Book rooms and tickets well in advance, and avoid travel by road as the traffic jams can be horrendous.

[edit] Get in

Haridwar is about 200 kms from Delhi, the capital of India and is well connected by road and rail network from all parts of India. It is better to avoid travelling to Haridwar during the hindu month of sawan (around july) since there is a heavy crowd and all important roads are blocked and most of the hotels/busses/trains are crowded.

[edit] By plane

Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, with twice daily service to Delhi on Air Deccan [3], is 20 km from Haridwar.

[edit] By train

Haridwar Junction Railway Station (IR station code : HW) is well-connected by train. The railway station is located on the south side of the town, within walking distance of most hotels.

Here are some useful trains to reach Haridwar:

Train Number	Train Name	You may board at	You may alight at
2017	Shatabdi Express	New Delhi	Haridwar Junction
2055	Jan Shatabdi Express	New Delhi	Haridwar Junction
4041	Mussoorie Express	New Delhi	Haridwar Junction
2327	Upasana Express	Howrah (Kolkata), Lucknow	Haridwar Junction
3009	Doon Express	Howrah (Kolkata), Varanasi, Lucknow	Haridwar Junction
2687	Chennai-Dehradun Express	Chennai, Nizamuddin (Delhi)	Haridwar Junction
2054	Jan Shatabdi Express	Amritsar	Haridwar Junction
4632	Amritsar-Dehradun Express	Amritsar	Haridwar Junction
4610	Hemkunt Express	Jammu	Haridwar Junction
9105	Ahmedabad-Haridwar Mail	Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi	Haridwar Junction
9019	Bandra-Dehradun Express	Bandra Terminus (Mumbai), Nizamuddin (Delhi)	Haridwar Junction

Also see Rail travel in India

[edit] By bus

Haridwar's bus station, a stone's throw from the train station, is chaotic and has no signage whatsoever in English. There are regular bus services from Delhi (4-5 hours), Rishikesh (1 hour) and other important towns of North India to Haridwar. Though they claim they reach New Delhi in 4-5 hours they take at least 6-7 hours. Due to the traffic jams in the roads leading in and out of Delhi it can even take 7-8 hours. Before booking the bus check the bus condition. Always go for cushioned and push-back seats. The long and bumpy ride will take a toll on your mood and body.

[edit] Get around

Central Haridwar can be reasonably comfortably covered on foot. Cyclerickshaws abound, and most trips in town should not cost more than Rs. 20. Taxis and autorickshaws congregate at the train and bus stations.

[edit][add listing] See

• Hari-ki-Pairi (or Har-ki-Pairi). To the north of the center, this is Haridwar's focal point, where devotees gather to bathe and worship on the Ganges. According to legend, this is where a drop of nectar fell from the churning of the oceans when the world was created, and a stone wall has Vishnu's footprint. Each evening around 7 PM, thousands gather and worship the river Goddess by putting diyas (floating lamps) in the river. You may be asked to make a donation if you linger near the ghats. Beware of con artists posing as officials. If you would like to make a donation there are boxes at the center of the ghats around the light poles.

• Maya Devi Mandir , located on upper road. This temple is one of the 51 "shakti peeths" and its the presiding deity of Haridwar. It is from this temple Haridwar derives its other name Mayapur.

• Mansa Devi Mandir, atop a hill near the center of town. Can be reached by cable car (Rs 48 for a return ticket) or by a road that gently winds uphill (about 2 km), starting from Railway Rd. The temple is aesthetically not particularly noteworthy, but the views are grand. Expect to queue to board the cable car and once more to enter the temple: despite some rudimentary attempts at crowd control, the crowds of jostling devotees 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 nation building exercise, with seven floors stacked with deities, saints, and secular heroes of all Indian faiths. Some signage in English.

• Chandidevi Mandir,8-9KM from railway station, you get the combi package to see both the temples by AC bus including bus and ropeway charges

• Daksh mandir,7-8 km from railway station,you get rickshaw or you can hire a auto,near also many mandirs to see at kankhal.

• Bilkeshwar Mahadev Mandir , Shiva temple located on a hill.

• Ma Anandamayee Ashram[4]. Located at Kankhal. The samadhi of Shree Shree Ma Anandamayee is located here and is also the Head Office of the revered organisation. It is a must see. Devotees included late Mrs Indira Gandhi (ex Prime Minister of India). Attend the evening aarti near Ma's samadhi and have a soul cleansing experience.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Divya Yog Mandir Trust University, 16 km from Haridvar. Founded by Baba Ramdev.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Haridwar, the holy city is one of the most renowned pilgrimage centers in India. Pilgrims from all over the world flock to this sacred city to take a dip in the holy waters of River Ganga.Being a destination for pilgrimage tourism, shopping in Haridwar is not on the itinerary of the tourist.

However shops in Haridwar have some interesting things to offer to the tourist. The main shopping centers are Moti bazaar, Upper Road, Jwalapur and Kankhal. You can also check out the Government Handloom and Handicrafts Emporiums and the Gandhi Ashram. Here you will find a range of handicraft decorative pieces. If you are interested in jewellery, then you can choose from a variety of imitation ones which make good fashion accessory.

In Haridwar, you will find neatly and intricately carved stone idols, which make unique souvenirs. It is fascinating that these stones have traversed with Ganga all along and they are eventually deposited in Rishikesh as the river enters the plains. This gives the stones amazing shapes and a natural polish. Besides idols, there are kitchen set toys made from stone, which are interesting buys.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Dosa Plaza, (opposite to haridwar railway station), ☎ 01334315517, [5]. A chain that offers 104 varieties of dosai, along with Indian and Chinese food.  edit
• Sindh dugdh Bhandar, Rly. rd. Haridwar (north), ☎ 320209. A rocking place in this town since 1948. But well maintained and a multi cuisine restaurant with a very good service an the most important it's air conditioned unlike the other restaurant in town.  edit

Haridwar is a purely vegetarian town.

• Hoshiyarpuriwala, This shop is old and claim to have started in year 1935. Its 7-8 min walk from from Hari-Ki-Pairi(good to get your appetite going). It has wide variety of North Indian delicacies-- try the Thaali. It cost Rs. 80.00 (March 2008). But it's so much that it requires a special effort to finish it off. And for a grand finish a sweet dish you can't resist: Khaao India Khaao.
• Chotiwalas, Subhash Ghat (and other outlets around town). The closest Haridwar gets to McDonalds (not very), serves up a wide menu of South and North Indian favorites, with some Indian-Chinese thrown in. Most meals around Rs. 60.
• Chotiwalas Asli, Subhash Ghat. Claiming to be the original, unfranchised Chotiwalas, this is the first shop right below the steps when walking south from Hari-ki-Pairi. The "Chotiwalas Special" (Rs. 75) is a super-filling concoction of paneer and veggies in a creamy tomato base, topped with cheese and yogurt.
• Hotel Alpana, Ram Ghat. 01334-225544,224567. Claiming to be the new, clean, 400 meters from Hari-ki-Pairi. The "Alpana Meal" (Rs. 75 breakfast & Rs 150 for lunch & Rs. 150 for Dinner) Nice decent place to relax.
• Spice N Nice, (Main Jwalapur Haridwar Road), ☎ 01334-266366, [6]. We offer authentic pure vegetarian delicacies. We serve Punjabi, South Indian, Chinese, and Continental Cuisines. Food is our passion and we take pride in serving our guests delicious and tasty food. AC and Relaxing Ambiance.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Alcohol is banned in Haridwar.

• Mohan Puri, Harki Pauri. The most famous food shop at harki pauri and everything fits in budget. But due to high tourist rush its bit congested in festival seasons  edit
• Kreams n Kountry, Station road haridwar (On road to Post Office chawk from the railway station it falls on the right side of the road). The Pao Bhaji her e is delicious n a speciality of the house.But the other products will surprise you which include Rajma chawal,Veg Burger,Chats of all kind,Icecreams n Sweets which even to a Bengali was OK-ed immediately.The staff members are helpful n polite as always.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

For most of the hotels the check-in time is 12 Noon. Plenty of Dharmshalas are also available in Haridwar.

[edit] Budget

• Rahi Motel - Government Tourist Lodge. Online bookings can be made at [7]
• Hotel Ganga Azure, Railway Road (near Shivmurti), +91 334-220938/9 (hotelazure@vsnl.net, fax +91 334-227101), [8]. Small, not entirely clean rooms. Hot water available from 6-8 AM only, but the shower may be broken. The hotel restaurant (Big Ben) is well liked, but somewhat below-priced. Rs 700/1500. (non-AC/AC, negotiable)

• Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram, 511-A, Sapta Sarovar Marg (near Agrasen Ghat), Bhopatwala, tel. +919810011735, [9]. Rooms available at nominal maintenance charges.

• Hotel Bhagwati Niwas, Sabzi Mandi, (near Vishnu Ghat), Haridwar, tel. +911334224328 & +911334327491. Right on the Banks of River Ganges. All room facing Gangaji with Private ghat! Rooms available at nominal charges!

• Hotel Gayatri Classic, Shravan Nath Nagar (near Harmilap Bhawan), Haridwar, tel. +911334322473. 5 minute ride from railway staion/bus stand.10 minute from Harki Pauri. Ac/NON Ac Rooms available at nominal charges.

[edit] Mid-range

• Chitra Heritage Chitra cinema Street,Haridwar.It is 3mins walk from the railway station and 10mins walk from har-ki-pauri.A/c & Non A/c room are avaliable at Rs 900/1550.All room are spacious and front sided.Parking facilities are avaliable.Tel:+919760129990,+919897302015(chitraheritage@yahoo.com)

• Bhaj-Govindam, near Bhimgoda Bridge (entrance is through a narrow alley and around a corner, look for the signs), +919897302015. Charming,hut-style accommodation, with a common lawn area over-looking the river. Rs 900/1550. (non-AC/AC).

• Teerth, Subhash Ghat, Hari-Ki-Pairi, tel. +91 334 225211, [10]. Riverside accommodation right next to Hari-Ki-Pairi, the main selling point is the great river views from the balconies. Rooms are a.c, spacious, clean. Rooms from Rs 1200.

• Hotel LandMark, Main Jwalapur Haridwar Road, tel. +91 1334 266366, [11]. Prime location provides easy access to Har-ki-Pauri in the heart of the haridwar, Daksh Mahadev Temple in the Khankhal city, and all the commercial market area on the Main Jwalapur Haridwar Road. Rooms are AC, clean, and welcoming. Rooms from Rs 1000.

[edit] Splurge

• Haveli Hari Ganga, 21 Pilibhit House, Ram Ghat (in the bazaar), +91 334 226443 (fax +91 334 265207). A comfortably appointed hotel/spa with a private ghat and balconies (few rooms)overlooking the river. Rs 2800 and up.

[edit] Get out

• Rishikesh - "Haridwar lite" 26 km upriver, popular with backpackers
• Rajaji National Park - lies between Haridwar and Rishikesh and is worth a stopover on your way to Rishikesh.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!