Haridwar



Haridwar: The holy city of Haridwar, the sacred river Ganga enters the Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time in Haridwar. This unique experience is what makes this city so special and unique. Brief History of Haridwar: Haridwar is an ancient city built in the 15th century. It is well known for being India's oldest continuously inhabited city. At the time of Raja Harish Chandra's (1521-1574 AD) construction, this place was surrounded by a large forest preventing any advance. This forest covered nearly six percent of Saptasindhu (Gangetic Plains) and provided easy access to water, food, and grass for all living creatures as well as shelter and protection against cold winds.

Today, Haridwar city has only about 25 percent forest cover, and the remaining areas are agricultural land. The southern part of this city is also known as Panchmukhi or "Five hills," named after a famous temple on the 5th hill, which is located in an ideal position to view Haridwar from any direction. Other historic rivers flowing through this region include Ravi (embankment river), Sutlej, Chenab, and Jhelum. Haridwar has two major landmarks – Lokadwara temple and Nandigram Maidan – both architecturally significant. The hillock at Nandigram is one of the largest in the state and is a significant tourist attraction. The main attraction of Haridwar is its Varanasi-like atmosphere which has several temples and grand old mansions.