Haridwar City

Hardwar or commonly known as Haridwar is known as the Gateway of Shiva and Vishnu. It is a revered city in Uttarakhand, renowned for its spiritual significance, ghats, temples, and the sacred river Ganges. It stands as the second largest city in Uttarakhand and holds a special place in Hindu Mythology and tradition. According to hindu Mythology, Ganga Descended upon Haridwar when it was released from the dreadlocks of Lord Shiva. One of the notable events of Haridwar is the Kumbh Mela, organized every 12 years in four sacred places, with Hardiwar one of them. Legend says that during the churning of samudra manthan a drop of elixir of immortality accidentally spilled at four places on Earth, which are Ujjain, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Haridwar. Millions of devotees take a holy dip in the Ganges for the absolution of their sin. In addition to this, people from around the world come to donate pinda for their ancestors. The Ganga aarti, performed during morning and evening, attracts pilgrims from far and wide. There are some notable temples in the vicinity including Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi, and Vaishno Devi. Among these, Maya Devi temple holds the significance of Shakti Peeth, as it is believed that the heart and navel of the deity fell here. In reverence to the deity, Haridwar formerly known as Mayapuri.