Haridwar, popularly known as a pilgrimage destination, is located 300 meters above the sea level in Uttaranchal. Given the kind of tourist it attracts, Haridwar is rightly called 'the Gateway to the Gods' being historically referred to as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, and Mokshadwar and forms one of the seven dhams in India . It offers passage to three spiritual centers of Uttrakhand - Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath.The Ganga Aarti ceremony at Har-Ki-Pauri ghat, the temples of Chandi Devi, Mansa Devi and the replica of the Vaishno Devi temple are the big tourist draws. Haridwar is also a center for Yoga and meditation. The Veda Mandir here houses many archaeological exhibits. Other important tourist sites include the Bharat Mata Temple , Maya Devi Temple , Bhimgoda, and Shanti Kunj. Hotels here offer comfortable stays and are economical. However, for leisure travelers, there are deluxe category hotels as well. |