If you are planning a spiritual escapade tour, visit Haridwar, located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, and fondly known as the “Gateway to God”. This is where the sacred River Ganges emerges from the Himalayas, and at the famous bathing ghat called Har-ki-Pauri, devotees assemble in large numbers to take a dip and cleanse themselves of all sins. Visit it in the evening though when the aarti is held, and you are treated to a visual spectacle. Haridwar also finds a mention in Garuda Purana (a Hindu religious text) as one of the seven holiest cities in India.
You find yourself crossing narrow lanes which look like they have remained unchanged for thousands of years. Among the top tourist attractions in Haridwar are ashrams and temples, with some of them as ancient as the city itself. Some of the popular tourist attractions that you can visit with Haridwar tour packages are Bharat Mata Mandir, Sapta Rishi Ashram, Maya Devi Temple and Bhimgoda Tank. Once every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela is held, and it is a time when the city teems with millions.
Haridwar is one of the travel destinations in Uttarakhand which is easily accessible by different modes of transport.
The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is located almost 43 kilometers from Haridwar. It takes around one to one and a half hours to reach Haridwar from the airport. Taxis are readily available outside the airport.
The pilgrimage town of Haridwar is well connected to several cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Patna and Ahmedabad via train. Hence, travelling to Haridwar via train is both feasible as well as comfortable.
Private buses and taxis ply from nearby states like New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to Haridwar. One can also take an overnight road trip to reach Haridwar from these states.
Haridwar is a popular tourist destination in Uttarakhand that welcomes you wholeheartedly throughout the year. While the winters (October-February) are cold, summers (March-June) are moderately warm. While monsoons (July-September) are marked by heavy rainfall, several religious events like Kanwar Mela are organized during this time.
Summers begin in March in Haridwar, and last until June. Temperatures can reach as high as 40 degrees during the summers during the day, but the evenings and nights are cooler. May and June are considered the hottest months. People planning a tour to Hardiwar during these months can be a part of Ram Navami celebrations and Saavan festival. If you plan to visit Haridwar during the summers, you should carry sunglasses, sunscreen lotion and clothes that cover most parts of your body.
Monsoons arrive in Haridwar in July. Despite some inconveniences such as roadblocks, you can visit Haridwar during monsoons. This is also the time when Haridwar celebrates Kanwar Mela.
There is a nip in the air by late October in Himachal Pradesh. December and January are the coldest months in Haridwar, and are ideal for enjoying boat rides and sightseeing. The temperature can plummet to 8 degrees during this time. The days are comfortably warm while the nights are cool and breezy. Do not forget to pack woollens if you plan to visit it during winters.
Haridwar, the city of Ganges, welcomes every visitor with open arms. From Ashrams, low and mid-budget hotels to luxury hotels, you will find different types of accommodations. People usually prefer staying at ashrams so as to enjoy the simplicity of the place. There are ample accommodation options in Haridwar. You can select your place of stay depending on how long you wish to stay, budget, and of course your preference, you can select your place of stay.
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