Haridwar District
Encyclopedia
Haridwar district is a district in the state
of Uttarakhand
, India
. It is headquartered at Haridwar
which is also its largest city. The district is ringed by the districts Dehradun
in the north and east, Pauri Garhwal in the east and the Uttar Pradesh
districts of Muzaffarnagar
and Bijnor
in the south and Saharanpur
in the west. A paradise for nature lovers and one of the seven holiest places of Hinduism
, Haridwar presents a kaleidoscope of Indian culture and civilization.
Haridwar district came into existence on 28 December 1988 as part of Saharanpur Divisional Commissionary
, On September 24, 1998 Uttar Pradesh
Legislative Assembly
passed the 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill', 1998', eventually the Parliament
also passed the Indian Federal Legislation - 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000', and thus on 9 November 2000, Haridwar became part of the newly formed Uttarakhand
(then Uttaranchal), the 27th state in the Republic of India.
As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Uttarakhand (out of 13). Important towns in the district are Haridwar
, BHEL Ranipur, Roorkee
, Manglaur
, Dhandera
, Jhabrera
, Laksar
, Landaura
and Mohanpur Mohammadpur
.
The river Ganges flows through it in a series of channels separated from each other called aits, most of which are well wooded. Other minor seasonal streams are Ranipur Rao, Pathri Rao, Rawii Rao, Harnaui Rao, Begam Nadi etc.
A large part of the district is forested.
The district receives Monsoon
rains, mostly during the summer.
, a wildlife sanctuary, is within the bounds of the district and is accessible through different gates; Ranipur and Chilla Gates are just about 9 km from Haridwar. It is an ideal destination for wildlife and adventure lovers. Sureshvari Devi Mandir, a temple of Goddess Sureshwari, is situated in the midst of Rajaji National Park. Cheela Dam is a picnic spot with a dam and a man-made lake nearby; elephants and other wild animals could be easily spotted here. Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar is a bird sanctuary, situated on the main Ganges river, or Neel Dhara, at the Bhimgoda Barrage
; it is a paradise for bird watchers and home to many migratory birds during the winter season.
Haridwar district has a population
of 1,927,029, roughly equal to the nation of Lesotho
or the US state of West Virginia
. This gives it a ranking of 244th in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 817 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 33.16 %. Haridwar has a sex ratio
of 879 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 74.62 %.
in the west, Dehradun
in the north and east, Pauri Garhwal
in the east, Roorkee
, Muzaffarnagar
and Bijnor
in the south. Prior to its inclusion in the newly created state of Uttarakhand in 2000, this district was a part of Saharanpur Divisional Commissionary.
The district has a single Parliament Constituency, and 9 Uttarakhand State Legislative Assembly constituencies including, Bhaghwanpur, Roorkee
, Iqbalpur, Manglaur
, Landhaura, Laksar
, Bhadhrabad, Haridwar, and Laldang.
The district is administratively subdivided into three tehsil
s: Haridwar, Roorkee
, and Laksar
. It is further divided into six development blocks: Bhagwanpur, Roorkee
, Narsan, Bahadrabad
, Laksar
, and Khanpur. Current Member of Parliament
(MP) from Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency) is 'Harish Rawat
', and Member of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly
from Haridwar city is 'Madan Kaushik'.
The district headquarters is situated in the Roshnabad, at a distance of about 12 km from Haridwar railway station. The office of Chief Development Officer is located in Vikas Bhawan, Roshnabad. The Collectorate, Vikas Bhawan, District Judiciary, S.S.P. Office, Police line, District Jail, District sports stadium, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya etc. are the prime establishments of this area. Many other administration offices like Lok Sewa Ayog and Sanskrit Academy are established here.
(Parliament) constituency, namely Hardwar
, which in turn incorporates 9 Uttarakhand
State Legislative Assembly
constituencies including, Bhaghwanpur, Roorkee
, Iqbalpur, Manglaur
, Landaura
, Laksar
, Bahadrabad
, Haridwar
and Laldhang. Current Member of Parliament (MP) from Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency is Harish Rawat.
It is difficult to separate history from mythology and religion in the case of Haridwar.
in the Vana Parva (Tirtha-yatra Parva) Section XC of The Mahabharata: O! Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras, and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara (Haridwar). O! King, Sanatkumara
regardeth that spot visited by Brahmarshi
s, as also the Tirtha
Kanakhala
(that is near to it), as sacred.
According to Hindu texts, King Daksha
Prajapati
, father of Dakshayani
(Sati
), Lord Shiva's first wife, was a ruler here. He performed a yagna, to which he deliberately did not invite Lord Shiva. When he arrived uninvited, he was further insulted by the king, seeing which Sati
felt infuriated and self-immolated herself in the Yagna Kund, or Sati Kund as it is called now, situated in Kankhal
. The heart and navel of Sati
had fallen at the place which is the present site of the Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar
, dating back to the 11th century. Daksha was later killed by the demon Virabhadra
, born out of Shiva's anger. Subsequently, the king was brought to life and given a goat's head by Shiva
.
Skanda Purana
mentions a legend, in which Chanda-Munda, the Army Chief of local Demon Kings Shumbh and Nishumbha were killed here by goddess Chandi
at a place, which got the name Chandi Devi Temple
.
Sage Kapila had an Ashram
here. The legendary King Bhagirath
, the great-grandson of the Suryavanshi King Sagar
, (an ancestor of Rama
), is said to have brought the river Ganges down from heaven, through years of penance in Satya Yuga
, for the salvation of 60,000 of his ancestors from the curse of the saint Kapila.
Lord Vishnu
is said to have left his footprint on the stone that is set in the upper wall of Har-Ki-Pauri (literally, "footsteps of the Lord"), where the Holy Ganges touches it at all times. Devout Hindu
s perform ritualistic bathing here on the banks of the river Ganges, an act considered to be the equivalent of washing away one's sins to attain Moksha
.
Seven great sages or Saptarishis, namely Kashyapa, Vashisht, Atri
, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni
, Bharadwaja
and Gautam, are said to have meditated at the site of Sapt Rishi Ashram & Sapt Rishi Sarovar, a picturesque place near Haridwar, where Ganges split herself into seven currents, so that the Rishi
s would not be disturbed by the flow.
In the Vanaparva of the Mahabharat, where sage Dhaumya tells Yudhisthira
about the tirtha
s of India, Gangadwar, i.e. Haridwar and Kankhal
, have been referred to; the text also mentions that Agastya
Rishi did penance here, with the help of his wife, Lopamudra
(the princess of Vidharba).
It is said that while Pandavas were going to Himalayas
through Haridwar, prince Bhima
drew water from the rocks here, by thrusting his knee (goda) into the ground at the present site of ‘Bhimagoda’ situated at a distance of about 1 km from Har-ki-Pauri.
culture dating between 1700 BCE and 1200 BCE existed in this region.
Haridwar came under the rule of the Maurya Empire
(322–185 BCE), and later under the Kushan Empire
(c. 1st–3rd centuries).
It is believed that the sacred Ghat Har ki Pauri
was constructed by King Vikramaditya
(1st century BC) in memory of his brother Bhrithari, who had come to Haridwar and meditated on the banks of holy Ganges and died here.
First ancient era written evidence of Haridwar is found in the accounts of a Chinese traveller, Huan Tsang
, who visited India in 629 AD, during the reign of King Harshavardhan
(590–647). He records Haridwar as 'Mo-yu-lo', the remains of which still exist at Mayapur, a little to the south of the modern Haridwar town; among the ruins are a fort and three temples, decorated with broken stone sculptures. He also mentions the presence of a temple, north of Mo-yu-lo called 'Gangadwara', Gateway of the Ganges.
It is believed that Adi Shankracharya
had visited this region and the existing main statue of Chandi Devi Temple
was established by him in 8th century A.D.
. The armies of Emperor Timur
(1336–1405), a Turkic conqueror, had passed through this region on January 13, 1399 to attack Delhi
.
During his visit, first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak (1469–1539) bathed at Haridwar’s 'Kushwan Ghat', wherein the famous, 'watering the crops' episode took place. His visit is today commemorated by a gurudwara (Gurudwara Nanakwara); according to two Sikh Janamsakhis
, this visit took place on the Baisakhi day in 1504 AD. He later had also visited Kankhal
enroute to Kotdwara
in Garhwal
. Besides this, third Sikh Guru, Sri Amar Das also visited Hardwar twenty two times during his lifetime.
The Mughal period
: Ain-e-Akbari, written by Abul Fazal in the 16th century during the reign of Mughal
Emperor Akbar, refers to Maya (Mayapur), known as Hardwar on the Ganges, as sacred city of Hindus. It also mentions that during his travels, and also while at home, Mughal Emperor Akbar drank water from the Ganges river, which he called ‘the water of immortality’. Special people were stationed at Sorun and later Haridwar to dispatch water, in sealed jars, to wherever he was stationed.
It is said that Akbar’s famous Commander-in-Chief, Raja Man Singh of Amber, laid the foundation of the present day city of Haridwar and also renovated the ghats at Har-ki-pauri. After his death, his ashes are also said to have been immersed at Brahma Kund by Mughal emperor Akbar himself. Brahma
Kund (literally “Brahma’s reservoir”) at Har ki Pauri
, Haridwar is one among the four sites where drops of the elixir of immortality, Amrita
, accidentally spilled over from the pitcher
, in which it was being carried away by the celestial bird Garuda
, after the Samudra manthan
by the Devas
and the Asuras. The famous Kumbh Mela
s are held at these four sites in rotation, to commemorate the event. Thomas Coryat
, an English traveller, who visited the city in the reign of Emperor Jahangir
(1596–1627) mentions it as 'Haridwara', the capital of Shiva.
occupied this region in 1803. One of the two major dams built by the British
on the river Ganges, the ‘Bhimgoda Dam’, is situated here.
It was built in 1840s, to divert the waters of the Ganges, to the ‘Upper Ganges Canal’, which irrigated the surrounding lands. The Upper Ganges Canal was opened in 1854 after the work began in April 1842, prompted by the famine of 1837-38. Though beneficial for agriculture, it caused severe deterioration to the Ganges water flow, and is a major cause for the decay of the Ganges as an inland waterway, which till 18th century was used heavily by the ships of the East India Company and a town as high up as Tehri
was considered a port city. The headworks of the Ganges Canal system are located in Haridwar. The unique feature of the canal is the half-kilometre-long aqueduct
over Solani river at Roorkee
, which raises the canal 25 metres above the original river.
colonial subjugation, the region of present Haridwar district was a part of the then Saharanpur district
, in the United Province
of the British Raj
; the province was renamed as Uttar Pradesh
state of India. The Haridwar district came into existence on 28 December 1988 as part of Saharanpur Divisional Commissionary
. On September 24, 1998 Uttar Pradesh
Legislative Assembly
passed the 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill', 1998'; eventually the Parliament
also passed the Indian Federal Legislation - 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000' - and thus on 9 November 2000, Haridwar district became part of the newly formed Uttarakhand
(then Uttaranchal), the 27th state in the Republic of India.
and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, in pre-Uttarakhand 1960s period. The State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL) has now established one new ‘industrial development zone’ in the district, adjacent to Shivalik Nagar
near Haridwar, to encourage industrialization; with industrial giants like Hindustan Lever, Dabur, Mahendra & Mahendra and Havells having moved in, it is making the desired progress. Not insignificant to the district’s economy is the contribution of Hindu pilgrims who visit the holy places and attend the religious fairs in large numbers.
.
Education in Sanskrit
based classics and Hindu religious/cultural disciplines is an age-old tradition in the district, mainly centered in and around Haridwar
city. Some of the important institutions of this genre are:
Modern Ashram
s are also being established in the district for imparting training in yoga
and meditation
to people coming now from near and far, including foreign countries of the West
:
Being a place of intense religious significance, Haridwar also hosts several religious festivals throughout the year; popular among them are the Kavad Mela, Somvati Amavasya Mela, Ganga Dashara, Gughal Mela,in which around 20-25 lacs (2-2.5 million) people take part.
Apart from these, there is the mammoth Kumbh Mela
which takes place once in every twelve years, when the planet Jupiter (Brihaspati
) comes into the sign Aquarius (Kumbha
). First written evidence of the Kumbha Mela can be found in the accounts of Chinese traveller Huan Tsang or Xuanzang
(602 - 664 A.D.), who visited India in 629 AD. The 1998 Maha Kumbh Mela
saw over 80 million pilgrims visiting this city, to take a dip in the holy river Ganges.
Har ki Pauri
: One of the holiest spots on earth for the Hindus, this ancient bathing ghat (Steps) is of prime importance. A majority of the present ghats were largely developed in the 1800s.
Sati Kund: It is the well-known mythological Sati
immolation heritage situated in Kankhal
.
Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
: The ancient temple of Daksha
Mahadev, also known as Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
, is situated in the south of Kankhal
town and is a tribute to the legends of Sati's self-immolated and king Daksha's death and later life with a goat's head.
Maya Devi Temple
: This temple of the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar is considered one of the Siddhapeethas and is said to be the place where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati
had fallen. It is one of the few ancient temples still standing in Haridwar, along with Narayani Shila Temple and Bhairav Temple.
Sapt Rishi Ashram and Sapt Rishi Sarovar, where Ganges split herself into seven currents so that seven great sages on its bank would not be disturbed by the flow.
Bhimgoda Tank: This tank, where Bhima
is said to have drawn water from the rocks by thrusting his knee into the ground, is situated at a distance of about 1 km from Har-ki-Pauri.
Chandi Devi Temple
: The present temple, commemorating the ancient Chandi legend, was constructed in 1929 AD by the Dogra King of Kashmir
, Suchat Singh; it can also be reached through a ropeway.
Mansa Devi Temple
: The temple dedicated to Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti draws many pilgrims. There are two ways to reach the temple - trekking or it can also be reached through a ropeway.
Piran Kaliyar: This famous 'Dargah' (Shrine) of Hazrat Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari
, a 13th century Sufi Saint of Chishti Order
, was built by Ibrahim Lodhi
, a Delhi Sultanate
ruler. Also known as Sarkar Sabir Pak, it is located in Kaliyar village, 7 km from Roorkee
, and is a living example of religious harmony in India; it is visited by devotees from all over the world, during the annual 'Urs
' festival, which is celebrated from 1st day (of sighting the new moon) to 16th day of Rabee-ul-awwal month of Islamic calendar.
Ram Mandir: This Ram temple is under construction at Bhupatwala and would be the biggest in size in India.
Shantikunj
: Shantikunj is headquarter of spiritual and social organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP). Founder of the organisation, Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
, was a great saint, spiritual leader and freedom fightor. He spent last twenty years of his life here, writing literature and directing activities of the organisation. Shantikunj
is considered as a place of pilgrimage by millions of devotees of this global organisation.
, between Delhi
and Mana pass, passes through Haridwar. Indian Railways
links Haridwar Railway Station
to all parts of India. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport
, Dehradun
, though Indira Gandhi International Airport
in New Delhi is preferred.
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is headquartered at Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
which is also its largest city. The district is ringed by the districts Dehradun
Dehradun district
There are five railway stations in Dehradun:* Raiwala* Rishikesh* Doiwala* Harrawala* DehradunAirport...
in the north and east, Pauri Garhwal in the east and the Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
districts of Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar District
Muzaffarnagar district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. It is part of Saharanpur division. The town of Muzaffarnagar is the district headquarters.-Communication:...
and Bijnor
Bijnor District
Bijnor is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. Bijnor city is the district headquarters.-Geography :...
in the south and Saharanpur
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
in the west. A paradise for nature lovers and one of the seven holiest places of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Haridwar presents a kaleidoscope of Indian culture and civilization.
Haridwar district came into existence on 28 December 1988 as part of Saharanpur Divisional Commissionary
Saharanpur Division
Saharanpur division is an administrative geographical unit of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The city of Saharanpur is the administrative headquarters of the division.- Administrative jurisdiction :...
, On September 24, 1998 Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
passed the 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill', 1998', eventually the Parliament
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
also passed the Indian Federal Legislation - 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000', and thus on 9 November 2000, Haridwar became part of the newly formed Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
(then Uttaranchal), the 27th state in the Republic of India.
As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Uttarakhand (out of 13). Important towns in the district are Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
, BHEL Ranipur, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, Manglaur
Manglaur
Manglaur is a city and a municipal board in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Demographics: India census, Manglaur had a population of 42,782. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Manglaur has an average literacy rate of 37%, lower than the national average...
, Dhandera
Dhandera
Dhandera is a census town in Haridwar district in the state of Uttarakhand, India.-Demographics: India census, Dhandera had a population of 15,297. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Dhandera has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male...
, Jhabrera
Jhabrera
Jhabrera is a town and a nagar panchayat in Hardwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, situated 17 kilometres from Roorkee.-Etymology:...
, Laksar
Laksar
Laksar is a town and a panchayat in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.It is an important sugar manufacturing destination in the state and also known for the Laksar Junction Railway station , which the largest Railway Junction in the state, built in 1866.-Geography:Laksar is...
, Landaura
Landaura
Landhaura is a town and a nagar panchayat in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Demographics: India census, Landhaura had a population of 16,022. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Landhaura has an average literacy rate of 36%, lower than the national...
and Mohanpur Mohammadpur
Mohanpur Mohammadpur
Mohanpur Mohammadpur is a census town in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Geography:Mohanpur Mohammadpur is located at . It has an average elevation of 240 metres .-Demographics:...
.
Geography
Haridwar district, covering an area of about 2360 km², is in the southwestern part of Uttarakhand(Also known as Uttaranchal) state of India. Its latitude and longitude are 29.96 degree north and 78.16 degree east respectively.The river Ganges flows through it in a series of channels separated from each other called aits, most of which are well wooded. Other minor seasonal streams are Ranipur Rao, Pathri Rao, Rawii Rao, Harnaui Rao, Begam Nadi etc.
A large part of the district is forested.
Climate
Temperatures:- Summers: 15 °C - 42°C
- Winters: 6°C - 16.6°C
The district receives Monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
rains, mostly during the summer.
Nature and wild-life
The wooded Rajaji National ParkRajaji National Park
Rajaji National Park is an Indian national park that encompasses the Shivaliks, near the foothills of the Himalayas. It is spread over 820 km²., and three districts of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal. In 1983, three wildlife sanctuaries in the area namely, Chilla, Motichur...
, a wildlife sanctuary, is within the bounds of the district and is accessible through different gates; Ranipur and Chilla Gates are just about 9 km from Haridwar. It is an ideal destination for wildlife and adventure lovers. Sureshvari Devi Mandir, a temple of Goddess Sureshwari, is situated in the midst of Rajaji National Park. Cheela Dam is a picnic spot with a dam and a man-made lake nearby; elephants and other wild animals could be easily spotted here. Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar is a bird sanctuary, situated on the main Ganges river, or Neel Dhara, at the Bhimgoda Barrage
Bhimgoda Barrage
The Bhimgoda Barrage, also referred to as the Bhimgoda Weir or Bhimgoda Head Works, is a barrage on the Ganges River at Har ki Pauri near Haridwar in Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, India. Built as the headworks of the Upper Ganges Canal, an initial barrage was completed by 1854 and replaced twice;...
; it is a paradise for bird watchers and home to many migratory birds during the winter season.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
Haridwar district has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 1,927,029, roughly equal to the nation of Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
or the US state of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. This gives it a ranking of 244th in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 817 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 33.16 %. Haridwar has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 879 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 74.62 %.
Administrative background
The Haridwar district is ringed by SaharanpurSaharanpur
Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division...
in the west, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
in the north and east, Pauri Garhwal
Pauri Garhwal
Pauri Garhwal is a district in Uttarakhand state of India. Its headquarters is at Pauri. Pauri Garhwal district is ringed by Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Almora and Nainital districts from three sides. The southern boundary of Pauri Garhwal district touches with the...
in the east, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar is a major city and a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city was established in Mughal period by a Sayyid Jagirdar, Munawar Lashkar Ali, and so named in honour of his father, Muzaffar Ali Khan. It is the headquarters of the Muzaffarnagar district. It is a...
and Bijnor
Bijnor
Bijnor variously spelt as Bijnaur and Bijnour, is a city and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India...
in the south. Prior to its inclusion in the newly created state of Uttarakhand in 2000, this district was a part of Saharanpur Divisional Commissionary.
The district has a single Parliament Constituency, and 9 Uttarakhand State Legislative Assembly constituencies including, Bhaghwanpur, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, Iqbalpur, Manglaur
Manglaur
Manglaur is a city and a municipal board in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Demographics: India census, Manglaur had a population of 42,782. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Manglaur has an average literacy rate of 37%, lower than the national average...
, Landhaura, Laksar
Laksar
Laksar is a town and a panchayat in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.It is an important sugar manufacturing destination in the state and also known for the Laksar Junction Railway station , which the largest Railway Junction in the state, built in 1866.-Geography:Laksar is...
, Bhadhrabad, Haridwar, and Laldang.
The district is administratively subdivided into three tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
s: Haridwar, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, and Laksar
Laksar
Laksar is a town and a panchayat in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.It is an important sugar manufacturing destination in the state and also known for the Laksar Junction Railway station , which the largest Railway Junction in the state, built in 1866.-Geography:Laksar is...
. It is further divided into six development blocks: Bhagwanpur, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, Narsan, Bahadrabad
Bahadrabad
Bahadrabad is an intermediate Village Panchayat in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the six development blocks in Haridwar district under which many developed villages come, including Khedli, Kisanpur, Rohalki , Bongla, Sitapur, Alipur....
, Laksar
Laksar
Laksar is a town and a panchayat in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.It is an important sugar manufacturing destination in the state and also known for the Laksar Junction Railway station , which the largest Railway Junction in the state, built in 1866.-Geography:Laksar is...
, and Khanpur. Current Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) from Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency) is 'Harish Rawat
Harish Rawat
Shri Harish Rawat a politician from Indian National Congress party and a member of the 15th Lok Sabha. Previously he was a Member of the Parliament of India representing Uttarakhand in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament...
', and Member of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly
Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly
The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly also known as the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, is a unicameral law making body of Uttarakhand, one of the 28 States in India, and is situated at Dehradun, the state capital of Uttarakhand, with 70 Members of the Legislative Assembly .The Chief Minister of...
from Haridwar city is 'Madan Kaushik'.
The district headquarters is situated in the Roshnabad, at a distance of about 12 km from Haridwar railway station. The office of Chief Development Officer is located in Vikas Bhawan, Roshnabad. The Collectorate, Vikas Bhawan, District Judiciary, S.S.P. Office, Police line, District Jail, District sports stadium, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya etc. are the prime establishments of this area. Many other administration offices like Lok Sewa Ayog and Sanskrit Academy are established here.
Public representatives
The district is a single Lok SabhaLok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
(Parliament) constituency, namely Hardwar
Hardwar (Lok Sabha constituency)
Haridwar is a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency in Uttarakhand. Before the Indian general election, 2009, the constituency increased in size with the addition of three Assembly segments, – Rishikesh, Doiwala and Dharampur in Dehradun district, after delimitation.-Members of Parliament:* 1951:...
, which in turn incorporates 9 Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
State Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
constituencies including, Bhaghwanpur, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, Iqbalpur, Manglaur
Manglaur
Manglaur is a city and a municipal board in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Demographics: India census, Manglaur had a population of 42,782. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Manglaur has an average literacy rate of 37%, lower than the national average...
, Landaura
Landaura
Landhaura is a town and a nagar panchayat in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Demographics: India census, Landhaura had a population of 16,022. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Landhaura has an average literacy rate of 36%, lower than the national...
, Laksar
Laksar
Laksar is a town and a panchayat in Haridwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.It is an important sugar manufacturing destination in the state and also known for the Laksar Junction Railway station , which the largest Railway Junction in the state, built in 1866.-Geography:Laksar is...
, Bahadrabad
Bahadrabad
Bahadrabad is an intermediate Village Panchayat in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the six development blocks in Haridwar district under which many developed villages come, including Khedli, Kisanpur, Rohalki , Bongla, Sitapur, Alipur....
, Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
and Laldhang. Current Member of Parliament (MP) from Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency is Harish Rawat.
History and mythology
Legends and Epics period
A glimpse of the original inhabitants of this region may be surmised from the following discourse of Bhishma PitamahBhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
in the Vana Parva (Tirtha-yatra Parva) Section XC of The Mahabharata: O! Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras, and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara (Haridwar). O! King, Sanatkumara
Sanatkumara
Sage Sanatkumara was one of the Four Kumaras, the four Manasputras or spiritual sons of Brahma according to Puranic texts of Hinduism, including the Bhagavata Purana, whose other sons were Sanaka, Sanatana, and Sanandana . Sanatkumara in Sanskrit means "eternal youth"....
regardeth that spot visited by Brahmarshi
Brahmarshi
In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi is a member of the highest class of Rishis , especially those credited with the composition of the hymns collected in the Rigveda....
s, as also the Tirtha
Tirtha
In Jainism, a tīrtha |ford]], a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed") is used to refer both to pilgrimage sites as well as to the four sections of the sangha...
Kanakhala
Kankhal
Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala , Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara , Kushwart , Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat...
(that is near to it), as sacred.
According to Hindu texts, King Daksha
Daksha
In Hinduism, Daksha, "the skilled one", is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas. Daksha is said to be the son of Aditi and Brahma...
Prajapati
Prajapati
In Hinduism, Prajapati "lord of creatures" is a Hindu deity presiding over procreation, and protector of life. He appears as a creator deity or supreme God Viswakarma Vedic deities in RV 10 and in Brahmana literature...
, father of Dakshayani
Dakshayani
Dākshāyani or Satī is a Hindu Goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is worshipped particularly by Hindu women to seek the long life of their husbands...
(Sati
Dakshayani
Dākshāyani or Satī is a Hindu Goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is worshipped particularly by Hindu women to seek the long life of their husbands...
), Lord Shiva's first wife, was a ruler here. He performed a yagna, to which he deliberately did not invite Lord Shiva. When he arrived uninvited, he was further insulted by the king, seeing which Sati
Dakshayani
Dākshāyani or Satī is a Hindu Goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is worshipped particularly by Hindu women to seek the long life of their husbands...
felt infuriated and self-immolated herself in the Yagna Kund, or Sati Kund as it is called now, situated in Kankhal
Kankhal
Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala , Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara , Kushwart , Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat...
. The heart and navel of Sati
Dakshayani
Dākshāyani or Satī is a Hindu Goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is worshipped particularly by Hindu women to seek the long life of their husbands...
had fallen at the place which is the present site of the Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar
Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar
Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Maya in the holy city of Haridwar of Uttarakhand state in India. It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati fell in the region where the temple stands today and thus it is sometimes referred to as a Shakti...
, dating back to the 11th century. Daksha was later killed by the demon Virabhadra
Virabhadra
According to Hindu mythology, Virabhadra or Veerabhadra was a super being created by the wrath of Rudra , when he stepped in to destroy the Yagna of Daksha, after his daughter Dakshayani - consort of Shiva, self-immolated in yagna fire...
, born out of Shiva's anger. Subsequently, the king was brought to life and given a goat's head by Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
.
Skanda Purana
Skanda Purana
The Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapurana, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts. The text is devoted mainly to the lilas of Kartikeya , a son of Shiva and Parvati. It also contains a number of legends about Shiva, and the holy places associated with him...
mentions a legend, in which Chanda-Munda, the Army Chief of local Demon Kings Shumbh and Nishumbha were killed here by goddess Chandi
Chandi
Chandi or Chandika is the supreme Goddess of Devi Mahatmya also known as Chandi or Durga Sapthashati. Chandi is described as the Supreme reality who is a combination of Mahakali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati...
at a place, which got the name Chandi Devi Temple
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is situated atop the Neel Parvat on the Eastern summit of the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas...
.
Sage Kapila had an Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
here. The legendary King Bhagirath
Bhagiratha
Bhageeratha was a great king in Hindu mythology who brought the River Ganges to Earth.-Early life:Bhageeratha was the king of Kosala, a kingdom in ancient India. He was a descendent of the great king Sagara of the Suryavamsa, or Sun Dynasty...
, the great-grandson of the Suryavanshi King Sagar
Sagara (Vedic king)
King Sagara is one of the greatest kings of the Suryavansha in the Satya Yuga, also known as the Ikshvaku dynasty, he has two wives, one a princess of the Vidarbha, and the other from royal lineage of Sivi He was an ancestor to King Dasharatha and Lord Rama .-Birth of Ganga:King Sagara performed a...
, (an ancestor of Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
), is said to have brought the river Ganges down from heaven, through years of penance in Satya Yuga
Satya Yuga
The Satya Yuga , also called Sat Yuga, Krta Yuga and Krita Yuga in Hinduism, is the "Yuga of Truth", when mankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and mankind will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme...
, for the salvation of 60,000 of his ancestors from the curse of the saint Kapila.
Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
is said to have left his footprint on the stone that is set in the upper wall of Har-Ki-Pauri (literally, "footsteps of the Lord"), where the Holy Ganges touches it at all times. Devout Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s perform ritualistic bathing here on the banks of the river Ganges, an act considered to be the equivalent of washing away one's sins to attain Moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
.
Seven great sages or Saptarishis, namely Kashyapa, Vashisht, Atri
Atri
This article is about the sage named Attri. See also the gotra named Atri. For the Italian city, see Atri, AbruzzoIn Hinduism, Attri or Atri is a legendary bard and scholar and was one of 9 Prajapatis, and a son of Brahma, said to be ancestor of some Brahmin, Prajapatis, kshatriya and Vaishya...
, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni
Jamadagni
Jamadagni is one of the Saptarishis in the seventh, i.e. the present Manvantara. He was a descendant of the sage Bhrigu, one of the Prajapatis created by Brahma, the God of Creation...
, Bharadwaja
Bharadwaja
Bharadwaja was one of the greatest Hindu Arya sages descendant of rishi Angirasa, whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas. He was one of the Saptarshis in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa.Bhardwaj Rishi was father of...
and Gautam, are said to have meditated at the site of Sapt Rishi Ashram & Sapt Rishi Sarovar, a picturesque place near Haridwar, where Ganges split herself into seven currents, so that the Rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
s would not be disturbed by the flow.
In the Vanaparva of the Mahabharat, where sage Dhaumya tells Yudhisthira
Yudhisthira
In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira , the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, was king of Indraprastha and later of Hastinapura. He was the leader of the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War...
about the tirtha
Tirtha
In Jainism, a tīrtha |ford]], a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed") is used to refer both to pilgrimage sites as well as to the four sections of the sangha...
s of India, Gangadwar, i.e. Haridwar and Kankhal
Kankhal
Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala , Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara , Kushwart , Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat...
, have been referred to; the text also mentions that Agastya
Agastya
Agastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
Rishi did penance here, with the help of his wife, Lopamudra
Lopamudra
Lopamudra was an ancient Indian female philosopher. She was the wife of the sage Agastya. Together with her husband she is credited with spreading the fame of the Lalita sahasranama . She is also called Kaushitaki and Varaprada...
(the princess of Vidharba).
It is said that while Pandavas were going to Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
through Haridwar, prince Bhima
Bhima
In the Mahābhārata, Bhima is one of the central characters of Mahabharata and the second of the Pandava brothers...
drew water from the rocks here, by thrusting his knee (goda) into the ground at the present site of ‘Bhimagoda’ situated at a distance of about 1 km from Har-ki-Pauri.
Ancient period
Archaeological findings have proved that terra cottaTerra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
culture dating between 1700 BCE and 1200 BCE existed in this region.
Haridwar came under the rule of the Maurya Empire
Maurya Empire
The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC...
(322–185 BCE), and later under the Kushan Empire
Kushan Empire
The Kushan Empire originally formed in the early 1st century AD under Kujula Kadphises in the territories of ancient Bactria on either side of the middle course of the Oxus in what is now northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and southern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.During the 1st and early 2nd centuries...
(c. 1st–3rd centuries).
It is believed that the sacred Ghat Har ki Pauri
Har ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar in Uttarakhand state in India. This revered place is the major landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. Literally, "Har" means "Lord Shiva", "ki" means "of" and "paudi" means "steps". Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to...
was constructed by King Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya was a legendary emperor of Ujjain, India, famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity. The title "Vikramaditya" was later assumed by many other kings in Indian history, notably the Gupta King Chandragupta II and Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya .The name King Vikramaditya is a...
(1st century BC) in memory of his brother Bhrithari, who had come to Haridwar and meditated on the banks of holy Ganges and died here.
First ancient era written evidence of Haridwar is found in the accounts of a Chinese traveller, Huan Tsang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
, who visited India in 629 AD, during the reign of King Harshavardhan
Harsha
Harsha or Harsha Vardhana or Harshvardhan was an Indian emperor who ruled northern India from 606 to 647 AD. He was the son of Prabhakara Vardhana and younger brother of Rajya Vardhana, a king of Thanesar, Haryana...
(590–647). He records Haridwar as 'Mo-yu-lo', the remains of which still exist at Mayapur, a little to the south of the modern Haridwar town; among the ruins are a fort and three temples, decorated with broken stone sculptures. He also mentions the presence of a temple, north of Mo-yu-lo called 'Gangadwara', Gateway of the Ganges.
It is believed that Adi Shankracharya
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
had visited this region and the existing main statue of Chandi Devi Temple
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is situated atop the Neel Parvat on the Eastern summit of the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas...
was established by him in 8th century A.D.
Medieval period
Haridwar region was a part of Delhi SultanateDelhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
. The armies of Emperor Timur
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
(1336–1405), a Turkic conqueror, had passed through this region on January 13, 1399 to attack Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.
During his visit, first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak (1469–1539) bathed at Haridwar’s 'Kushwan Ghat', wherein the famous, 'watering the crops' episode took place. His visit is today commemorated by a gurudwara (Gurudwara Nanakwara); according to two Sikh Janamsakhis
Janamsakhis
The Janamsakhis , literally birth stories, are writings which profess to be biographies of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak. These compositions have been written at various stages after the death of the first guru.-Overview:...
, this visit took place on the Baisakhi day in 1504 AD. He later had also visited Kankhal
Kankhal
Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala , Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara , Kushwart , Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat...
enroute to Kotdwara
Kotdwara
Kotdwara is a town and district headquarter in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Geography:Kotdwara is one of the district of Uttarakhand, situated at the border of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, on the foothills of the Shivalik Range of Himalayan Mountains. It is locked in by hills from three sides...
in Garhwal
Garhwal Division
Garhwal is the north-western region and administrative division of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand which is home to the Garhwali people. Lying in the Himalayas, It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the north-west by...
. Besides this, third Sikh Guru, Sri Amar Das also visited Hardwar twenty two times during his lifetime.
The Mughal period
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
: Ain-e-Akbari, written by Abul Fazal in the 16th century during the reign of Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor Akbar, refers to Maya (Mayapur), known as Hardwar on the Ganges, as sacred city of Hindus. It also mentions that during his travels, and also while at home, Mughal Emperor Akbar drank water from the Ganges river, which he called ‘the water of immortality’. Special people were stationed at Sorun and later Haridwar to dispatch water, in sealed jars, to wherever he was stationed.
It is said that Akbar’s famous Commander-in-Chief, Raja Man Singh of Amber, laid the foundation of the present day city of Haridwar and also renovated the ghats at Har-ki-pauri. After his death, his ashes are also said to have been immersed at Brahma Kund by Mughal emperor Akbar himself. Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
Kund (literally “Brahma’s reservoir”) at Har ki Pauri
Har ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar in Uttarakhand state in India. This revered place is the major landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. Literally, "Har" means "Lord Shiva", "ki" means "of" and "paudi" means "steps". Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to...
, Haridwar is one among the four sites where drops of the elixir of immortality, Amrita
Amrita
Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "immortality", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word's earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek...
, accidentally spilled over from the pitcher
Kumbha
The Kumbha , is a full vase, pot, a jar or a pitcher. In the context of Hinduism and Hindu mythology, it is also symbolic of the womb. It represents fertility, life, generative power of human beings and sustenance; and is generally associated with the mother goddesses, particularly Ganga.In...
, in which it was being carried away by the celestial bird Garuda
Garuda
The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...
, after the Samudra manthan
Samudra manthan
In Hinduism, Samudra manthan or Ksheera Sagara Mathanam, Churning of the Ocean of Milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Puranas...
by the Devas
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
and the Asuras. The famous Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river.The normal Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag, the Purna Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain,...
s are held at these four sites in rotation, to commemorate the event. Thomas Coryat
Thomas Coryat
Thomas Coryat was an English traveller and writer of the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean age. He is principally remembered for two volumes of writings he left regarding his travels, often on foot, through Europe and parts of Asia...
, an English traveller, who visited the city in the reign of Emperor Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
(1596–1627) mentions it as 'Haridwara', the capital of Shiva.
British Raj
British East India CompanyBritish East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
occupied this region in 1803. One of the two major dams built by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on the river Ganges, the ‘Bhimgoda Dam’, is situated here.
Tehri
Tehri is a city and a municipal board in Tehri Garhwal District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative seat of Tehri Garhwal District.-History:...
was considered a port city. The headworks of the Ganges Canal system are located in Haridwar. The unique feature of the canal is the half-kilometre-long aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
over Solani river at Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, which raises the canal 25 metres above the original river.
Post Independence period
In 1947, when India achieved independence from the BritishBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
colonial subjugation, the region of present Haridwar district was a part of the then Saharanpur district
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
, in the United Province
United Province
The United Provinces, was a province of British India and later of Independent India, which came into existence on 1 April 1937 in result of the shortening of United Provinces of British India...
of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
; the province was renamed as Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
state of India. The Haridwar district came into existence on 28 December 1988 as part of Saharanpur Divisional Commissionary
Saharanpur Division
Saharanpur division is an administrative geographical unit of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The city of Saharanpur is the administrative headquarters of the division.- Administrative jurisdiction :...
. On September 24, 1998 Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
passed the 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill', 1998'; eventually the Parliament
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
also passed the Indian Federal Legislation - 'Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000' - and thus on 9 November 2000, Haridwar district became part of the newly formed Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
(then Uttaranchal), the 27th state in the Republic of India.
Economy
Agriculture is the mainstay of this well irrigated district. Industrialisation had commenced with the establishment of Central Government owned Public Sector plants (PSUs) of Hindustan Antibiotics LimitedHindustan Antibiotics Limited
Hindustan Antibiotics Limited , based in Pimpri, India, is the first public sector drug manufacturing companies setup by the Government of India. It was the first company in India to launch recombinant DNA product, rHU-Erythropoietin in 1993. The company introduced new products like Halpen,...
and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, in pre-Uttarakhand 1960s period. The State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL) has now established one new ‘industrial development zone’ in the district, adjacent to Shivalik Nagar
Shivalik Nagar, Haridwar
Shivalik Nagar is a city in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India, at the edge of Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited, Ranipur township and the SIDCUL industrial estate of state government, and 10km away from the Hindu pilgrimage city of Haridwar.-History:Shivalik Nagar was developed in the...
near Haridwar, to encourage industrialization; with industrial giants like Hindustan Lever, Dabur, Mahendra & Mahendra and Havells having moved in, it is making the desired progress. Not insignificant to the district’s economy is the contribution of Hindu pilgrims who visit the holy places and attend the religious fairs in large numbers.
Education
Haridwar district is well endowed with academic institutions of excellence, thanks mainly to the facilities of national fame available for studies in sciences, engineering, technology and advanced research in the town of RoorkeeRoorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
.
Education in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
based classics and Hindu religious/cultural disciplines is an age-old tradition in the district, mainly centered in and around Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
city. Some of the important institutions of this genre are:
- Gurukul Kangri, situated in KankhalKankhalKankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala , Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara , Kushwart , Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat...
, on the banks of river Ganges, on Haridwar-Jwalapur bypass road. It is one of the oldest Universities of India. It was founded in 1902, to study the unique GurukulGurukulA gurukul is a type of school in India, residential in nature, with shishyas living in proximity to the guru, often within the same house...
based education system. Here Ancient Vedic and Sanskrit literature, Ayurveda, Philosophy are part of the curriculum besides modern sciences and journalism. Its 'Archaeological Museum', established in 1945, houses some rare statues, coins, paintings, manuscripts and artefacts, starting from HarappaHarappaHarappa is an archaeological site in Punjab, northeast Pakistan, about west of Sahiwal. The site takes its name from a modern village located near the former course of the Ravi River. The current village of Harappa is from the ancient site. Although modern Harappa has a train station left from...
culture (c.2500-1500 BC). Mahatma GandhiMahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
visited the campus three times, and stayed in its sprawling and serene campus for extended periods of time, most notably during the 1915 Kumbh melaKumbh MelaKumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river.The normal Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag, the Purna Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain,...
.
- Vishwa Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Haridwar. A Sanskrit University, set up by Govt. of Uttarakhand, it is the only university in the world dedicated to studies of ancient Sanskrit scriptures and books. Its curriculum also covers ancient Hindu rituals, traditions and culture, and it boasts of a building inspired by ancient Hindu architecture style.
- State Ayuevedic College & Hospital Rishikul, Haridwar, is the oldest Ayurvedic Medical College of India. It is situated near Devpura in Haridwar on the banks of Upper Ganges Canal. It is also providing postgraduate education for Ayurveda. Soon it will be transformed as the first Ayuevedic University of Uttarakhand.
- Govt Ayurvedic Collge & Hospital, Gurukul Kangri of HNB Garhwal University is also one of the oldest Ayurvedic medical colleges in India. It is situated in Gurukul Kangri University Campus.
- Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya: established in 2002 by the act of the Uttarnchal Government is a fully residential university. Run by Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust, ShantikunjShantikunjShantikunj is the headquarters of the spiritual and social organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar . Established in 1971 at Haridwar, it has emerged over the years as a center of the global movement of Yug Nirman Yojana for moral-spiritual regeneration in the light of hoary Indian heritage...
Haridwar (headquarters of All World Gayatri Pariwar), it provides various degree, diploma and certificate courses in areas like Yogic Science, Alternative Therapy, Indian Culture, Tourism, Rural Management, Theology (Dharm Vigyan), Spiritual Counseling etc. It also provides distance learning courses.
Modern Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
s are also being established in the district for imparting training in yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
to people coming now from near and far, including foreign countries of the West
West
West is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the left side of a map is west....
:
- Shantikunj AshramShantikunjShantikunj is the headquarters of the spiritual and social organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar . Established in 1971 at Haridwar, it has emerged over the years as a center of the global movement of Yug Nirman Yojana for moral-spiritual regeneration in the light of hoary Indian heritage...
provides a 9 days camp covering yoga, meditation, art of living, scientific spirituality etc.
Religious festivals and fares
Apart from these, there is the mammoth Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river.The normal Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag, the Purna Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain,...
which takes place once in every twelve years, when the planet Jupiter (Brihaspati
Brihaspati
Bṛhaspati also known as Brahmanaspati and Deva-guru , is the name of a Vedic deity...
) comes into the sign Aquarius (Kumbha
Kumbha
The Kumbha , is a full vase, pot, a jar or a pitcher. In the context of Hinduism and Hindu mythology, it is also symbolic of the womb. It represents fertility, life, generative power of human beings and sustenance; and is generally associated with the mother goddesses, particularly Ganga.In...
). First written evidence of the Kumbha Mela can be found in the accounts of Chinese traveller Huan Tsang or Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
(602 - 664 A.D.), who visited India in 629 AD. The 1998 Maha Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river.The normal Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag, the Purna Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain,...
saw over 80 million pilgrims visiting this city, to take a dip in the holy river Ganges.
Places of pilgrimage
Har ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar in Uttarakhand state in India. This revered place is the major landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. Literally, "Har" means "Lord Shiva", "ki" means "of" and "paudi" means "steps". Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to...
: One of the holiest spots on earth for the Hindus, this ancient bathing ghat (Steps) is of prime importance. A majority of the present ghats were largely developed in the 1800s.
Sati Kund: It is the well-known mythological Sati
Dakshayani
Dākshāyani or Satī is a Hindu Goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is worshipped particularly by Hindu women to seek the long life of their husbands...
immolation heritage situated in Kankhal
Kankhal
Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala , Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara , Kushwart , Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat...
.
Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
- External links :*...
: The ancient temple of Daksha
Daksha
In Hinduism, Daksha, "the skilled one", is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas. Daksha is said to be the son of Aditi and Brahma...
Mahadev, also known as Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
- External links :*...
, is situated in the south of Kankhal
Kankhal
Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala , Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara , Kushwart , Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat...
town and is a tribute to the legends of Sati's self-immolated and king Daksha's death and later life with a goat's head.
Maya Devi Temple
Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar
Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Maya in the holy city of Haridwar of Uttarakhand state in India. It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati fell in the region where the temple stands today and thus it is sometimes referred to as a Shakti...
: This temple of the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar is considered one of the Siddhapeethas and is said to be the place where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati
Dakshayani
Dākshāyani or Satī is a Hindu Goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is worshipped particularly by Hindu women to seek the long life of their husbands...
had fallen. It is one of the few ancient temples still standing in Haridwar, along with Narayani Shila Temple and Bhairav Temple.
Sapt Rishi Ashram and Sapt Rishi Sarovar, where Ganges split herself into seven currents so that seven great sages on its bank would not be disturbed by the flow.
Bhimgoda Tank: This tank, where Bhima
Bhima
In the Mahābhārata, Bhima is one of the central characters of Mahabharata and the second of the Pandava brothers...
is said to have drawn water from the rocks by thrusting his knee into the ground, is situated at a distance of about 1 km from Har-ki-Pauri.
Chandi Devi Temple
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar
Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is situated atop the Neel Parvat on the Eastern summit of the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas...
: The present temple, commemorating the ancient Chandi legend, was constructed in 1929 AD by the Dogra King of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, Suchat Singh; it can also be reached through a ropeway.
Mansa Devi Temple
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Mansa in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is located atop the Bilwa Parvat on the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas...
: The temple dedicated to Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti draws many pilgrims. There are two ways to reach the temple - trekking or it can also be reached through a ropeway.
Piran Kaliyar: This famous 'Dargah' (Shrine) of Hazrat Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari
Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari
Alauddin Ali Ahmed Kaliyari also known as Sabir Kaliyari was a prominent South Asian Sufi Saint of Chishti Order in 13th century, a successor to Baba Fareed , and the first in the Sabiriya branch of Chishti Order....
, a 13th century Sufi Saint of Chishti Order
Chishti Order
The Chishtī Order is a Sufi order within the mystic branches of Islam which was founded in Chisht, a small town near Herat, Afghanistan about 930 CE. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. The doctrine of the Chishti Order is based on walāya, which is a...
, was built by Ibrahim Lodhi
Ibrahim Lodhi
Ibrahim Lodi was one of the ruler of the Lodi dynasty who became the last Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate in India. He was an Afghan who ruled over much of northern India from 1517 to 1526, when he was defeated by Babur's army.Lodi attained the throne upon the death of his father, Sikandar Lodi,...
, a Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
ruler. Also known as Sarkar Sabir Pak, it is located in Kaliyar village, 7 km from Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, and is a living example of religious harmony in India; it is visited by devotees from all over the world, during the annual 'Urs
Urs
Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...
' festival, which is celebrated from 1st day (of sighting the new moon) to 16th day of Rabee-ul-awwal month of Islamic calendar.
Ram Mandir: This Ram temple is under construction at Bhupatwala and would be the biggest in size in India.
Shantikunj
Shantikunj
Shantikunj is the headquarters of the spiritual and social organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar . Established in 1971 at Haridwar, it has emerged over the years as a center of the global movement of Yug Nirman Yojana for moral-spiritual regeneration in the light of hoary Indian heritage...
: Shantikunj is headquarter of spiritual and social organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP). Founder of the organisation, Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
Shriram Sharma Acharya
Shriram Sharma was an Indian seer, sage, a prominent philosopher, a visionary of the New Golden Era, and the Founder of the All World Gayatri Pariwar, which has its headquarters at Shantikunj, Haridwar....
, was a great saint, spiritual leader and freedom fightor. He spent last twenty years of his life here, writing literature and directing activities of the organisation. Shantikunj
Shantikunj
Shantikunj is the headquarters of the spiritual and social organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar . Established in 1971 at Haridwar, it has emerged over the years as a center of the global movement of Yug Nirman Yojana for moral-spiritual regeneration in the light of hoary Indian heritage...
is considered as a place of pilgrimage by millions of devotees of this global organisation.
Transport
National Highway 58National Highway 58 (India)
National Highway 58 is a National Highway in Northern India. It links Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh with Badrinath in Uttarakhand. This Highway passes through Badrinath, Joshimath, Chamoli, Nandaprayag, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Devprayag, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Muzaffarnagar, Purquazi, Meerut,...
, between Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and Mana pass, passes through Haridwar. Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
links Haridwar Railway Station
Haridwar Railway Station
The Haridwar Railway Station , station code HW, also known as Haridwar Junction is the only railway station in the holy city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India...
to all parts of India. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport
Jolly Grant Airport
Jolly Grant Airport , also known as Dehradun Airport, is an airport serving Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.-Overview:The airport is located about southeast of the city of Dehradun. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the airport, after a runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft,...
, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
, though Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport is the primary international airport of the National Capital Region of Delhi, India, situated in West Delhi, 16 km southwest of New Delhi city centre. Named after Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, it is the busiest airport in India in...
in New Delhi is preferred.
External links
- The Official Website of District Haridwar.
- Photos of Haridwar, 1280x960, published by the author
- More about Haridwar District at aboutUttarakhand.com
Further reading
- Chapter XVII: Himalayas, Hardwar. India, Past and Present, by Charles Harcourt Ainslie Forbes-Lindsay. Published by J.C. Winston, 1903.