Haridwar – The Holy City of North India.

In this modern world, there are several beautiful cities in various countries of the world and there are several holy cities in different countries. But India is most fortunately beautified by the holy city of Haridwar. Kingdom of God is obtainable through this “Door to gods” (Haridwar). Haridwar is not only a “Doors of Gods” but also the gateway to Paradise. From this gateway not only Himalayas begin but also people can go to heaven after having achieved spiritual salvation. Haridwar is the main gate to get free from temporal bondage with the intention of achieving spiritual salvation. Geographically the great plains of the Ganges begin downward from Haridwar which is an entrance to meet gods and goddesses.
Haridwar (The Temples of God)

As soon as a visitor enters the “DOOR OF GOD”, he is inspired by religious spirit and his mind and soul work together with a great inspiration to worship the gods and goddess in respective temples. Such inspiration turns in to love for gods and goddess, who shower blessings on him. Then a visitor’s eyes are attracted towards the high mountains on the eastern and western directions of Holy Haridwar. The mountain on the East and West are just like two great pillars of the gateway of paradise.
The Old siwaliks have clearly been cut off by the holy water of the Ganges River by which a big passage has been made, the breadth of which is one mile. It flows down towards the plains. The long range of mountains is just like long chain of tress and hills, without which the great plains of the Ganges would have been absolutely barren land and useless desert. Our hearty gratitude goes to King Bhagirath who travelled through all mountains and greatly suffered in making the passage at Haridwar and felicitated the holy waters of the Ganga to flow in to the plains as to enrich them. Lord Shiva of Kailash blessed and assisted King Bhagirath in the successful execution of his noble mission for bringing the Ganges dwn in the Earth from the Heavens. It was not an engineering work. It was great spiritual miracle which any wise man can admit.
Here at Haridwar, the mighty Ganga hurried down from the hills to the luxuriant ridge of the Himalayas. The Ganga is worshipped as the “Holy Mother” and believed to the cleanser of all sins. From early morn to the late at night, hundreds of pilgrims take the holy dip, worship the sacred Ganga and perform puja. Each evening hundreds of devotee attend the grand aarti performed at “Har ki Pauri”. This is an emotional experience as the pilgrims gather together in an air reverence and devotion to the Supreme Being. This ghat “Har ki pauri”, is named after the Charan or footprint of Hari (Lord Vishnu) impressed on a stone set in to the upper wall or the ghat.
The temples of the Ganga, Shankaracharya, Nava Graha and the Baraha Khamba are near “Har ki pauri”. Other temples which have legendary importance are Shrawan Nath, Maya Devi, Chandi Devi, Mansa Devi and Neeleshwar, The Temple of Mansa Devi is set atop a hill in picturesque surroundings.
Most Attractive Places for Pilgrims

BRAHMAKUND: has been situated at “Har-ki-Pauri”. It is said that this holy place from where the celestial water flows in to Ganges. It is a general recognized strong belief of all Hindu that a dip in this Brahmakund is salvation from all sins and freedom from bondage of the world. Therefore, pious people not only from all parts of india but also from various countries of the world assemble at their brahmakund and have dip in it with great religious enthusiasm to get free from temporal bondage.
Both Brahma Kund and Har-ki-pauri (Ladders of God) have been surrounded by many temples of Gods and Goddess. The temples of Lord Vishnu, Brahma, Shiv Ganga and Durga with marble stairs and platform are just by the side of main roads. It has also a Ladies Ghat (Wharf of ladies) for women. Great moral virtues are attached to the bathing in the brahmakund. Its believing that the pilgrim who bathes in it goes to Heaven and gets a blissful happiness.
Further more, at this spot “Door of Gods” (Hardwar), Brahma arranged to welcome Ganges on her descension from Heaven. He put down the Jar of Elixir (amritghata) which he had snatched from the battle between suras abd asuras, fighting to dividentary 14 ratana.
Kumbha parva takes place here after the cycle of every 12 years. Penance was executed here by king Bhartrahari who ascended to heaven from this place. In memory of king Bhartsahari rscension to heaven, his brother King Vikramaditya created stains which has been maned “Har-ki-pauri”.
Five Beautiful Ghats

1. Gau Ghat: Gau Ghat is in the vicinity of “Subhash Ghat”, which is between “Har-Ki-Pauri” and “Kushavarta Ghat”. The person who committed a sin of slaughtering a cow is said to be freed from the imprecation by bathing and penancing at this wharf. In the memory of Ganga Canal century. In 1955 a beauteous bridge was built over the Ganges River at Gau Ghat. From over this bridge pilgrims can pass on the Belwala bathing ghats built on the other bank of Ganges Ganal.
2. Subhash Ghat (Sea Breach of Haridwar): A very impressive marble statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who had founded Azad Hind Fauz of 4000 man in Japan, has been situated under national flage in his memory to the south “Har Ki Pauri”. This is also very interesting name of human conscience. This Subhash Ghat is beautify by the locations of dispensary ad the office of sewa samiti. A large number of several religious institutions usually visit this place.
3. Vishny Ghat: Lord Vishnu had practiced his mediation at this place and so it is called Vishnu Ghat which has been situated at the south side of Ram Ghat. King Dhramadhwaj Suryavansi had visited this place along with his wife for his meditation but unfortunately, he become a serpent by the imprecation of Durvasa Rishi. It is said that the serpent comes to this Ghta on every Krishna Chaturdashi during Bhardat Por for bathing. This is the specialist of this Vishnu Ghat. A beautiful bridge is constructed by the side of this Ghat.
4. Ram Ghat:- The temple of Maha Prabhu of Ballabh Sampradaya has been situated at this Ram Ghat which at a little distance from Subzi-Mandi.
5. Kushavart Ghat:- Penance has gone obsolete in the modern world. But about 1000 years ago, it was an act of mortification voluntarily undertaken or imposed by a priest to manifest sorrow for sin. It was the sacrament under Catholic orthodoxity by which absolution was conveyed involving contrition confession and satisfaction. Such expiration was practiced in olden days, on the basis of this act of mortification. Dattareya, the anchorite stood here on foot for over 1000 years. This platform has been built by the Holkar state.