Haridwar

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Legend holds that one can attain moksha (nirvana) just by the touch of Ganges from Haridwar or the Gateway to God. The village has got such an esteemed place in Indian way of thought. Haridwar is considered to be blessed by the trio of lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva). Har ki Pauri is one of the holiest ghats in India and it is believed that a drop of the immortal exilier fell here, testimonies by the footprint of Lord Vishnu.

Haridwar became an integral part of Uttarakhand on 9th November 2000 when the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. Today it houses many symbols of modern growth like Industrial Estate of State Infrastructure & Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCUL) and BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited) and the ancillaries of these businesses. Many professional builders have constructed housing societies for vacationers and retired people. Get to know more about Haridwar through this section.

Attractions
People visit Haridwar to forget all their worldly desires, anxieties and unholy things connected with their lives. Haridwar has the Panch Teerth mentioned in the Puranas located within the district mainly known as Gangadwar (Har-ki-Pauri), Kushwart Ghat, Kankhal, Bilwa Teerth (Mansa Devi) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi).

Chandi Devi Temple
Situated on the top of Neel Parvat, in Haridwar, Chandi Devi Temple is one of the most famous temples of India. Considered to be one of the Shaktipeeth of North India, this place is of great religious significance. It is said to have the power to fulfill the wishes of devotees and this is why it is also known as Siddhpeetha.

Daksha Mahadev Temple
Daksha Mahadev temple is one of the most ancient temples of Lord Shiva, situated in Kankhal. The temple is approximately 4 km away from the main township of Haridwar. Mythologies relate this temple to DakshaYagya. According to the legends, Goddess Sati's father DakshaPrajapati performed a yagna, a holy ritual, at this place, but did not invite Lord Shiva, his son-in-law.
 

Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a small town situated 532 m (1,745 ft) above sea level in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. Located about 42 Km from the state capital Dehradun and 25 Km from Haridwar, Rishikesh is an important destination since it acts as an entry point for pilgrimage to the four most holy Hindu pilgrimages in India commonly known as the Char Dham. It is here that holy river Ganga meets river Chandrabhaga.

The place got its name from Raibhya Rishi who got to see the divine form (Darshan) of Lord Vishnu here. In Skanda Purana the region has been mentioned as Kubjamrak. It is also said that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana. Historically, Rishikesh was a part of the ancient Kedarkhand (or the modern day Garhwal), the supposed home of Lord Shiva. River Ganga flows through the town in its most unruly, turbulent and fierce form. Today Rishikesh has earned the sobriquet of the Yoga Capital and Adventure Sports Hub.

Bharat Mandir
Bharat temple is situated in the heart of the township of Rishikesh. It is approximately half kilometer away from the Triveni Ghat, the famous river bank in the town. Said to be the oldest temple in Rishikesh, it is also regarded as one of the most ancient shrines in India.

Nilkanth Mahadev
Nilkanth Mahadev is an ancient temple situated at a height of 1675 m, on a hill above Swarg Ashram. It stands adjacent to the mountain ranges of Nar-Narayan, at a distance of approximately 20 km from Rishikesh. It is enveloped between the valleys of Manikoot, Brahmakoot and Vishnukoot.

River Rafting
River rafting is an adventurous recreational sport that is being explored by a wide proportion of people now-a-days. In this adventure sports, a raft is used to navigate a gushing river, making it a very thrilling, at times scaring and extremely breathtaking experience.

Swarg Ashram
Swarg Ashram is a small township located 5 km upstream from Rishikesh, on the left bank of the Ganges, opposite to Shri Shivanand Ashram. It can be reached by two ways - either by crossing river Ganges by boat or by walking through the Ram/Shivanand Jhula built across the river.


Trekking
An outdoor activity that involves hiking in mountain regions is called trekking. Rishikesh, apart from being an ideal location for rafting and cannoning, is also considered one of the best destinations for trekking activities in India. The strategic location of Rishikesh, in Uttarakhand - situated at the foothills of Himalayas, attracts lots of trekking enthusiasts.
 

Other Covered Area
	Aadi Badrinath Temple
	Laxman Temple
	Sachha Akhileshwar
	14 Story Temple
	Geeta Bhawan
	Ram Jhula Bridge
	Parmarth Niketan

Lakshman Jhula
Lakshman Jhula, the famous hanging bridge across Ganga, is about 3 km from the main township of Rishikesh. It is 450 feet long and is situated at a height of 70 feet from the river. As per mythological tales, once Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Rama, crossed river Ganga at the same site where the bridge now stands. At that time, there was only a suspension bridge, made of jute. After this incident, the bridge came to be known as Lakshman Jhula. With time, the jute bridge eroded and a new iron bridge was built along the same path in 1939.

Lakshman Jhula is actually an adjoining bridge across the Ganga, along the old route to the holy shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath. The jhula has now become one of the most visited tourist spot of Rishikesh, not simply because of its ancient origin and religious sanctity, but also because of the grand temples and wonderful local market have come to be developed around it. A thirteen storey temple, called Terah Manzil, near the Lakshman Jhula is very popular amongst visitors. The top floor of this temple gives a wonderful view of the surroundings.

Another temple around the bridge is the Lakshman temple, with Rishikund. According to locals, Lord Ram and Lakshman took bath in the kund, after killing Ravana, to get rid of their sins. The entire area around the Lakshman Jhula gives a mystic, holy and serene feeling. As you see people lost in the religious traditions, the entire area gets submerged in enchanting mantras and shlokas from the temples. The market around Lakshman Jhula is famous for wooden goods, Rudraksha, Idols of Gods and Goddesses, holy books, gems, local jewelries, clothes and excellent street food.