haridvar darshan

In Hindu mythology Lord Vishnu is known as Hari & Shiva as Har. Dwar means gate, and it is for this reason that this place is known as Hardwar or Haridwar, as the gateway to the Four Shrines /Dhams of Uttaranchal. Mentioned as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, Mokhsadawar in the ancient scriptures & epic. Haridwar always remained as a major Shaktipeeth for the devotees. Legend has placed Gods footprints on the bank of holy river giving the town its sanctity and has left an indelible mark on the spiritual ethos of every Hindu. Haridwar is the point where the Gangas emerges from the Himalayas to begin its progress across the plains. Legend has it that the holy Ganga, the holiest of all rivers, which flows through this sacred city has actually been sanctified by the powerRll Trintity of Hindu mythology &: the centre of the Pantheon- Brahma, Vishnu &C Mahesh. According to devotees Haridwar is one of the four places (other three being Ujjain, Nasik & Allahabad) upon which the Arnrit-Nector of immortality emerging out of the churning ocean fell. This is manifested in two great events that take place at Haridwar - the memorable & the huge religious Mela Kumbh which happens once every 12 years & the Ardh Kumb Mela, which comes once every six years.

Food is available in various restaurants. I love parathas so just near the Har-Ki-Pauri Police chowki, there is a punjabi restaurant. Very tidy and neat. Lots of Paratha walas in the market. You can try the morning breakfast(allo paratha and aalo ki sabjee) Other good restaurants are Big-Ben(AC) near the railway station, its a walk of about 15-20 mins from HAr-Ki-Pauri. You can always take a rikshaw.