From Wikitravel

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.

[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 (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.
• 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 esthetically 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 rickshow or you can hire a auto,near also many mandirs to see at kankhal.

[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 form 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

• 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.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Alcohol is banned in Haridwar.

[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

• Hotel Ganga Azure, Railway Road (near Shivmurti), +91 334-220938/9 (hotelazure@vsnl.net, fax +91 334-227101), [4]. 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 over-priced. Rs 700/1500. (non-AC/AC, negotiable)

• Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram, 511-A, Sapta Sarovar Marg (near Agrasen Ghat), Bhopatwala, tel. +919810011735, [5]. Rooms available at nominal maintenance charges.

[edit] Mid-range

• Bhaj-Govindam, near Bhimgoda Bridge (entrance is through a narrow alley and around a corner, look for the signs), +91 1334 261682. 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, [6]. 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.

[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.

A cluster of new, modern hotels has sprung up in Bhopatwala, some 5 km north of the city center.

• County Inn & Suites, Haripur Kalan, Motichur, tel. +91 13 52485900, [7]. Run by the Carlton group, this is the only international branded hotel in Haridwar and probably the best of the bunch. The main drawback is the location, some 6 km out of town.
• Alpana Haridwar, Ram Ghat, Haridwar, tel. +91 1334 224567, [8]. Clean, in the heart of the city hotel operated by the Paliwal chain.
• Ginger Haridwar, Opp. Dudhadhari Temple, Bhopatwala, tel. +91 13 34263333, [9]. Clean, minimalistic hotel operated by the Ginger chain.

[edit] Get out

• Rishikesh - "Haridwar lite" 26 km upriver, popular with backpackers

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!