Haridwar: Gateway to Lord Vishnu

Considered as one of the holiest place in the list of pilgrimages of Hindu mythology, Haridwar or the door leading to Lord Vishnu is located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Other synonyms for Haridwar are Mokhshadwar, Mayapuri and Gangadwar. Haridwar is not merely a city with temples;you can get quite close to nature as well as feel a great spiritual connection here.

Decode Haridwar with #OUTDOORKEEDA.

How to reach the city where you can wash away your sins…

• By Train: Doon express, Shatabdi express, Jan Shatabdi express and Hemkunt express are some of the trains leading you to the Haridwar Junction Railway Station. The junctionis well connected with most of the cities of India. Delhi is at a distance of 4-5 hours and Dehradun at just an hour away. Few trains make regular trips to Rishikesh also.
• By road: Well connected with NH58 Haridwarcan be easily reached by bus. Both governments as well as private luxury buses make constant rotations from Delhi as well as other cities of Uttarakhand to Haridwar.
• By Air: The Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport if you want to reach this destination. Flights from Delhi flock to Jolly Grant daily. The airport is situated at a distance of 36kms.

Climate of Haridwar

Monsoon (July-September): This spot, though pleasant throughout the year, receives heavy rainfall during the monsoons. It is the best place to be for those who love frequent downpours. The whole ambiance gets refreshed with continuous spells of rain.

Monsoons can be a difficult time to travel because of possibilities of floods and roadblocks. It is advisable to carry good quality umbrellas or raincoats with you, if you are visiting any hilly area during this time of the year.

Summer (March-June): The month of March is ideal to spend a weekend here. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold during March. You will also be able to witness the iconicRamnavami celebrated during this time. The weather starts getting warmer from April. The average temperature ranges from 350C to 450C.

Winter (October-February): Winters officially begin from the month of November. Decembers remain pleasant with sunny days but January gets chilly cold with harsh blowing winds. The average temperature lies between 100Cto 300C.

How to pass your time

Haridwar is one of the best places (yeah, I am a Banarasi so I won’t give this city the whole credit) to enjoy Ganga arti. HarkiPauri is a ghatbelieved to be constructed by King Vikramaditya. Devotees flock here in large numbers to offer prayers to the Holy Ganges and a dip in these waters is also believed to wash away your sins.

If you are going to Haridwar for pilgrimage then the Chandi Devi Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Vaishno Devi Temple (replica of the original), Daksha Maha Dev Temple, Maya Devi Temple, BilkeshwarMahadev Temple, Anjana Devi temple and many such others are present here.

Haridwar is a hub of Ayurveda ashram and yoga centers. If you have a likeliness for ‘Desi Ilaz’ this place should be a must visit. The street food here is quite famous and you should definitely give it a try.

Haridwar blesses you with peace, spirituality and calmness. You will feel like your soul took a bath after a long time. Plan a weekend away from the hustle bustle and feel refreshed and alive again!!!!