Haridwar

Haridwar is a city of India with a population of 190.000. It is one of the seven Holy Cities of the Hindouisme. Its name means Porte of Hari, one of the names of Vishnu. It is here that the Gange emerges from the the Himalayas to run in the plains. Every twelve years Kumbh Mela takes place (see Nasik for an explanation of Kumbh Mela).

History

The town of Haridwar is very old. It is quoted by the Chinese travellers of the 7th century. It was put at bag by Tamerlan in 1399. At the 19th century it was an important center of the religious reforming movements, in particular of Arya Samaj.

Monuments

Ghat of Har Ki Pauri

The Hindus consider that Gange emerges from the Himalayas to this precise place. This crowned character is reinforced by the presence of a print of foot of Vishnu on a stone. Many temples were built in top of the steps of the ghat. Ashes of deaths are immersed here. The access to this ghat is authorized to the not-Hindus but remain discrete.

Festival of the lights

The every day of the year, with fallen the night, from tens thousands of people gathers to celebrate the river of Gange. The believers make offerings in Gange (often flowers with a candle). This gathering is very impressive from the quantity of people present every evening.

Temple of Chandi Devi

This temple is at the top of a hill in the south of Haridwar. It was built by the King of the Cashmere Suchat Singh in 1929, and dedicated to the Chandi goddess. The statue of the goddess would have been set up by Adi Shankaracharya at the 7th century.

Temple of Manasa Devi

Built on the hill which overhangs the city, it is dedicated to the Manasa goddess-snake, one of the forms of Durga. The rise of the hill is done either with feet, or by a chair-lift. The sight on the city and the valley of Gange is excellent.

Bhimgoda Kund

The name of this well (kund) comes from Bhima, one of the five Pandava, hero of the Mahabharata, which would have dug it.

Ashram de Sapt Rishi

Located at five kilometers of Haridwar, the Ashram is built on banks of Gange. According to the legend Gange would have separated here in seven arms not to disturb the meditation of the seven wise Hindus (rishi) who requested there.

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