Haridwar, the Heart of India
Haridwar (also spelled Hardwar) is an ancient city in Uttarakhand, India and regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus.
The two names of the town has its own connotation. Haridwar (Hari means "Lord Vishnu" and Dwara means "gateway") stands for "The Gateway to Lord Vishnu" - the famous Vishnu temple at Badrinath. Whereas, Hardwar (Hara means "Lord Shiva") has been a place to start a pilgrim's journey to Kedarnath, the famous temple dedicated to Shiva.
The River Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains for the first time at Haridwar, which also gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára.
For centuries Hindus visit the holy town of Haridwar for pilgrimage or/and for cremation of their dead or for immersion of ashes and bones (Asthi) of their kin after cremation into the waters of the holy river Ganges as required by Hindu religious custom.
Images of India
Haridwar, the Heart of India
Haridwar (also spelled Hardwar) is an ancient city in Uttarakhand, India and regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus.
The two names of the town has its own connotation. Haridwar (Hari means "Lord Vishnu" and Dwara means "gateway") stands for "The Gateway to Lord Vishnu" - the famous Vishnu temple at Badrinath. Whereas, Hardwar (Hara means "Lord Shiva") has been a place to start a pilgrim's journey to Kedarnath, the famous temple dedicated to Shiva.
The River Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains for the first time at Haridwar, which also gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára.
For centuries Hindus visit the holy town of Haridwar for pilgrimage or/and for cremation of their dead or for immersion of ashes and bones (Asthi) of their kin after cremation into the waters of the holy river Ganges as required by Hindu religious custom.
Images of India