Haridwar

Sightseeing  Excursions  Ashrams  Where to Stay  Shopping  Travel Info 

General Information  

Introduction
  Haridwar is situated at the base of the Shivalik hills, where the Ganga, comes down from the mighty Himalayas meets the plains. Haridwar, literally is 'The gateway to the Gods'. "This place is very beautiful", at one sight one will say so and fall in love with the scenic beauty of the blend of height and plains. A Gateway to the four pilgrimage of Uttarakhand, Haridwar is also known as Gangadwar, Tapovan and Mayapuri. In its long history back to pre-historic time, the Haridwar got it name from the rishis. According to the mythology it is known as Kapilsthan. legend goes that the suryavnshi Prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to the curse of the sage Kapila. The penance was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth from Lord Shiva's locks and its bountiful waters revived the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara. Mythologically, drops of nectar churned out from the primordial ocean fell at the four sites of the Kumbh mela including Haridwar. The kumbha mela, happening once every 12 years and the Ardha Kumbha Mela (Coming once every six years) are big draws. One of the oldest living cities, Hairdwar has been in people's mind from the period of Buddha to the British advent and now even is the 21st century. Besides being a religious place, it has served as the center for learning arts, science and culture.

Area
12 sq. km.

Altitude
2927 Mts.

Climate
Summer :- Max 35.6ºC, Min 16.9ºC.
Winter :- Max 28.3ºC, Min 10.6ºC.

Rainfall
162 cm average yearly.

Clothing
Summer :- cottons/tropical.
Winter :- woolens.

Languages spoken
Hindi, English , Garwali.

STD Code
01334
 

HOME  General Info  Fairs and Festivals  Wildlife  Map  Museum  Trekking  Cities