Holy Break

“One of the most popular spiritual gateways, 

Haridwar is a great place to spend a tranquil weekend.”

Haridwar or ‘the Gateway to the Gods’ is one of the seven holiest places according to Hindu mythology, as the Gods are believed to have left their footprints in Haridwar. Due to its geographical location too, Haridwar stands as the gateway to the other three important pilgrimages of Uttrakhand namely, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Referred to as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, and Mokshadwar in the ancient scriptures and epics, Haridwar has always remained a major pilgrimage for the Hindus.

Mythologically, drops of nectar churned out from the primordial ocean fell at the four sides of the Kumbh Mela, including Haridwar. The Kumbh mela, taking place once every 12 years and the Ardha Kumbha Mela (once every 6 years) are big draws. One of the oldest living cities, has also served as the center for learning arts, science and culture.

I spent a quite weekend in Haridwar at the 90 year old Haveli Hari Ganga. The Haveli is situataed on the banks of the river Ganga is mere 300 m walk away from the sacred Har- Ki – Pauri  Ghat.

Since we reached Haridwar in the afternoon everyone wanted to rest for a while at the Haveli and explore the ghats in the evening. Every evening at 6:30 pm, an elaborate aarti is performed at Har- Ki – Pauri  Ghat – on the banks of the river – in front of the teeming crowds. The entire area is lit up with lights. The shimmering reflection of the illumination in the water is so breath taking that you cannot tear yourself away from the sight. I sat near the river bank and watched the Ganga flowing rapidly by and thousands of devotees taking holy dips in the water.

On day 2, we planned to visit two temples, one on each side of the Ganga, on the hill tops. To get to the top of both, we had to take the Udan Khatola or the Ropeway car. The view from the ropeway was marvelous, and as we gained height, a carpet of assorted flowers could be seen below.

Our first stop was the Mansadevi Temple. One of the most revered temples of Northern India, it is a must visit after you have been to Har Ki Pauri. The other temple, dedicated to Chandadevi is on the Neelparvat hills. After paying obeisance to the goddesses, we spent time viewing the surrounding mountains from the hilltop.

Rishikesh: Spirituality, Yoga, River Rafting

Rishikesh has become the international capital of Yoga with tourists from all over the world making a beeline to this holy town.

However, Rishikesh’s real fame lies in it being the Gateway to the Uttaranchal Himalayas. Sight of Ganga rushing through the Himalayan foothills is an awesome experience. There are several temples dotting the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh, which devotees visit in thousands each day.

Situated just 20 kms from Haridwar, Rishikesh is located 1,360 feet above sea level. Several yogis and sages are believed to have lived and practised penance here. On the other bank of the Ganga there is Tapovan, which houses a temple to Lakshman. It is believed that Lakshman carried out penances here. According to some stories, his brother Bharat also meditated here, and there is a temple devoted to Bharat here. The Swargashram and the Geeta Bhavan temples are other major attractions in Rishikesh. The scenic beauty of the area and the distant sound of bell chimes create an unforgettable experience for those who visit this pilgrimage town.

Lakshman Jhula

One of the most famous landmarks here is the Lakshman Jhula, a 450 feet long suspension bridge which was built in 1939. It is believed Lord Rama`s brother Lakshman had crossed the river on a jute rope. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular surroundings and cool breeze from the river while standing on the bridge.

A newer bridge, the Ram Jhula, has also come here. This suspended bridge was recently built between Shivanand Ashram and Sawarg Ashram. It is also known as Shivanand Jhula.

Rishikesh is also known for whitewater river rafting. The rafting stretch of the Ganga is from Kaudiyala to Rishikesh where the river has 12 rapids over 36 kms.

You can indulge in a host of activities at these camps. Other than rafting, you enjoy kayaking, forest walks, trekking, bird watching, beach volleyball, cricket or simply sunbathing.

Neelkanth

12 km away from Rishikesh is the Nilkanth Mahadeo temple, at a height of about 5,000 feet, commanding spectacular views of the region. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Myth has it that Lord Shiva had consumed the effluent poison produced after Sagar manthan which had turned his throat blue and thus this place came to be known as Neelkanth Mahadev. During the months of July and August, this place gets thousands of pilgrims.

How to Reach: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 35 kms from Haridwar, which is connected to Rishikesh by train. You can hire a bus or taxi from here to reach Rishikesh. If traveling by train, Haridwar connects Rishikesh to Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dehradun and other cities of India by trains. It is better to get to Haridwar by Dehradun Shatabdi and then hire a bus or taxi to Rishikesh. If you are travelling by road take the National Highway 58 passing through Modinagar, Khatauli, Muzzafarnagar, Roorkee, Haridwar and Raiwala. Rishikesh is served by well defined road networks and is connected by buses to other towns of Garhwal, UP and Delhi, which are further connected to other major cities of India by road.

Where to Stay: Rishikesh is full of hotels and dharamshalas. Hotels are mainly low to medium budget, catering to mainly religious tourists. There is one high budget hotel, the Glass Palace, which is situated ahead of Rishikesh. Belonging to Neemrana Hotels Group, this hotel offers rich experience being situated on the banks of river Ganga. For those visiting Rishikesh for adventure sports like river rafting, there are several camps on the banks of the Ganga.