Haridwar/Hardwar is a soul touching, divine experience. Haridwar or Hardwar is where you will witness one of the most spectacular & holy Maa Ganga Aarti at the Ghat of Har Ki Pauri/Har ki Pairi. Every Hindu makes it a point to Visit this Holy City once in his/her Lifetime.
Haridwar/Hardwar is a heritage city in the Northern state of Uttarakhand, India.The Holy Maa Ganga enters the Plains of North at Haridwar/Hardwar which is why this City is also known as “Gangadwar” , which means the gateway from which Maa Ganga enters the Plains. It is a well known fact that Maa Ganga Descended on this earth, after being released from the hair of Lord Shiva, at the Holy city of Haridwar.
Also Haridwar & Hardwar are two different names with which the city is referred to. This is because this Holy city is a Gateway to two very famous Temples of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. “Hari” means Lord Vishnu and Pilgrims going to Shri Badrinath Temple often refer to this city at “Haridwar”. “Har” means Lord Shiva and Pilgrims going to Shri Kedarnath Temple refer to this city as “Hardwar”. In any case the holy city of Haridwar/Hardwar is the place where pilgrims begin their journey to Chota Char Dham Sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamunotri.
Attending the holy Aarti of Maa Ganga is the most important priority of all the pilgrims visiting Hardwar. The soul touching Maa Ganga Aarti is performed twice a day, in the morning at around 5.30am & in the evening at around 6 p.m. The duration of the Aarti is around one and half hours which begins with Puja of Maa Ganga, Bhajans, an oath to keep Maa Ganga clean and finally the Divine Maa Ganga Aarti.
The Train Journey from Mumbai to Haridwar.
I have always been a fan of train and road journeys and whenever we plan a Holiday or Tour, we make sure to book our train tickets either in advance or if suddenly I get craving (which is what happens most of the times) to visit a place in India we do our bookings by Tatkal Booking option of irctc website.
To book train tickets we have our very own Efficient Website of the Indian Railways – https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search
So, as usual we booked our tickets through irctc by Tatkal option and luckily we found a new train – Humsafar Express that was specially started for journey from Mumbai to Haridwar. Some coaches of the train are joined to to a different engine in the later part of the journey which then travels to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
How else other than a train journey can you witness such a beautiful sunset! Every sunset every day looks amusing to me everytime I see it. There a beauty to every sunset and the colourful hues of the sky it projects. Sunsets are messages of nature to convey us that All Journeys are beautiful and exciting.
The winters are the best time to travel and when you wake up in the early mornings during your train journey, you can see how the railway stations are completely covered in fog and you can hardly see the station’s name.
Once to start moving more north you will find Sarson ke Khet all around and the fragrance of the dewy winter mornings and earth fills you up with a lively energy.
It is very easy to reach Haridwar by Train or Flight, but there is no better way to enjoy your journey to Hardwar other than by Train. You get to try the local fruits, vegetables and snacks of each region that the train covers in its route and you get them all fresh. The groundnuts were sold for Rs.10 a packet once we crossed New Delhi and believe me we kept on buying and eating them as if we are never going to find it again. They were unlike any other groundnuts, I have ever tasted.
It is very exciting to even see the stations of cities you have only heard and read about uptill now. Roorkee is a city in Haridwar having one of the IIT’s in India where every year many students wish to get admission in. Roorkee also has military establishments which is why this city is also known as Roorkee Cantonment.
After crossing Delhi you will only find lush green landscape along the sides of Railway Track.
When we Reached Haridwar.
I have always imagined what would it feel like in Haridwar, a place I have always wanted to visit, where the Holy Maa Ganga flows in all her majesty and where Indians especially Hindus go atleast once in their lifetime, since Hardwar/Haridwar is an important pilgrimage site.
YOUR SMILE CAN CHANGE SOMEONE’S DAY
Just when you step out of the Railway Station you will see many art works symbolizing the Holy City.
HARIDWAR – THE GATEWAY TO GOD
The moment you reach Haridwar, you feel the Divinity in the Air. The Vibe of the place speaks positivity and holiness. Haridwar also pronounced as Hardwar is a city in the State of Uttarakhand, India. Haridwar is one of the four places where Kumbh Mela & Ardh Kumbh Mela is held after every 12 years and 6 years respectively. Haridwar is the first preferred destination for pilgrims going to Shri Kedarnath Dham and Shri Badrinath Dham, since Haridwar itself means the gateway to the Holy Kshetras / areas of Chota Char Dham Yatra.
When the drops of Amrit – the elixir of immortality, accidentally fell on earth during Samudra Manthan, Haridwar was one the four places where one drop of Amrit fell and since then that spot is known as Brahma Kund. Brahma Kund popularly known as Har Ki Paudi/ Har Ki Pairi is where the divine Maa Ganga Aarti is performed daily at morning and evening.
You better not forget to carry with you the holy water before leaving the city. There are various sizes of containers and it all depends on you as to which one to buy depending on the number of people you are going to gift this holy water to.
What to do in Haridwar:
- Take Part in the Divine Maa Ganga Aarti
- Buy Ayurvedic herbs and medicines, Local produce & other local wares sold in the Market
- Enjoy the food in the many stalls, hotels and dhabas in the Market area
The Experience of attending Maa Ganga Aarti is truly divine. You must attend the Aarti at both the times; 5.30.a.m to 6.30 a.m in the morning and 6 p.m – 7 p.m in the evening.
The most important thing one should do while travelling anywhere is to maintain the sanctity and cleanliness of a place, especially its natural surroundings and elements. That is the reason all pilgrims are made to take an oath to keep Maa Ganga clean before the Aarti.
“Cleanliness is God Himself “
Har Ki Paudi or Har Ki Pairi means the Footsteps of God. It is known that Lord Vishnu visited this place and his footmarks got impressed on a stone set into the upper wall of this holy Ghat, hence the place is known as Har Ki Pairi. Thousands of pilgrims take the Holy Dip in Maa Ganga especially at Har Ki Pairi i.e. Brahma Kund everyday and Worship Maa Ganga and perform puja. The Devotees make it a point to attend the Aarti at both morning and evening.
Since we had Visited Haridwar in Winter, the crowd was less compared to Summer and post rainy season months. During summer there is no space to keep your foot in the area of Har ki Pairi/Har ki Pauri.
There are many temples at the Ghat of Har Ki Pauri, namely temples of Goddess/Maa Ganga, Nav Graha i.e. nine planets, Shakaracharya and of many other Gods & Goddesses. Maa Mansa Devi, Maa Maya Devi & Maa Chandi Devi temples are situated atop hills are also important Temples visited by devotees visiting Haridwar.
There is a beautiful Shiva Linga in the middle of the river water which catches your attention when you are walking past the Maa Ganga Ghat
FOOD IN HARIDWAR
You get almost every type of cuisine in the Market area of Haridwar. North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Chaat, Snacks, Fruits, Vegetables, Sweets, Juices….the list is never ending.
For Breakfast you have a variety of options ranging from Kachori-Saag, Chhole Kulche/Bhature, Different Variety of Parathas, Aloo Puri and much more. But my favourite is Kachori – Saag, Chhole Bhature & Parathas.
The Breakfast on Day 2 was Chhole Bhature & Aloo Parathas. Everything made fresh, from scratch, just as you can see in the Video.
At any time of the day you will find a range of street food served in the market area and the rustic lanes of Haridwar. On day one when we reached Haridwar we were actually trying to find something to eat because we had reached later in the evening and it was a snack time and that is when while walking in the market area we saw this guy selling Vegetarian Momos and Masala Veg Puff or Veg Pattice and it was really really very much tasty and amazing.
The Momos were super awesome super fresh & the Chatni/Chutney was amazingly Spicy & Tangy. Moreover the Veg Momos were served along with the onions as you can see in the picture below. It was such a relief to find an amazing snack when you are hungry after a long journey.
The Veg Momos and Veg Puff were warm and apt in the cold weather of the winter evening. The food carts selling street food make it a point to serve fresh, healthy and tasty snacks. The Momos and Veg Puff/Pattice were hot and fresh. The vendors make it a point to make all the food fresh and just a few hours before taking it to the market.
Some vendors keep a furnace along with them or a small sigdi so that they can serve the food hot & fresh. The Momos were kept in a Steamer which was on the fire all the time. Everything is made with fresh and clean ingredients & you can certainly make that out when you eat these snacks.
You get Indian and foreign Veggies in the Local Markets of Haridwar.
Thali on day one at Arya Bhavan Guest house was simple, healthy and nutritious.
Maa Mansa Devi & Maa Chandi Devi Temple
The Divinity of entire Haridwar is not limited to only Maa Ganga Ghat. You will also feel at peace when you visit Maa Mansa Devi & Maa Chandi Devi Temple.
Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about yourself, you know better.
Kankhal, Haridwar
Anyone visiting Haridwar knows about Kankhal, since that is the Place where the famous Daksh Mandir/ Temple is Situated.
When you are in Kankhal going to visit the Daksh Mandir, you will find many Chhole Kulcha eateries. The Chhole Kulche is made fresh every morning and gets over by 12 pm in the afternoon.
You can see in the video how nicely the Chhole Kulche are being made.
MARKETS IN HARIDWAR
There are two markets in Haridwar, one is Called Upper market & the other Moti Bazar.
Hotel/Dharamshala we stayed
