Haridwar's Ghat: A Trip to Peace
Blog post description.
TRAVEL
### Haridwar: Where the Gods Hang Out
#### Where It Is
Haridwar sits between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, about 816 feet above sea level. The city itself is about 27 square kilometers, but the Haridwar district is way bigger, with about 2,360 square kilometers of land, including plains and hills with trees. It's about 230 kilometers from New Delhi and 54 kilometers from Dehradun, the state's capital. The Ganges flows right through it after traveling 253 kilometers from its start at Gaumukh. This is where the river hits the plains, which is why it was called Gangadwara way back when. To the west, you've got Rajaji National Park, and then there are the Shivalik Hills all around. The city is at 29.9457° N, 78.1687° E, which means it's got a subtropical climate that's affected by the monsoon season.
#### How It Started
Haridwar has been around for over 3,000 years. There's stuff they dug up from way back (1700–1200 BCE). Old Hindu writings mention it as a place where important things happened. The story goes that when the gods were stirring up the cosmic ocean, a few drops of the immortality drink fell in Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj. That's why they have the Kumbh Mela in rotation in these spots. The city is also tied to the story of King Bhagiratha bringing the Ganges to Earth and a meditating sage named Kapila. In the 1st century BCE, it was a Buddhist hangout that people like Faxian visited. By the 7th century CE, it was a Hindu spot under King Harsha. The British used it as a health retreat. After India became independent, it was part of Uttar Pradesh until Uttarakhand was created in 2000. Now, it might become a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its history.
#### What It's Like There
Haridwar is a spiritual melting pot, mostly Hindu (80%+), but you see some Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist vibes too. People speak Khari Boli (which is like old-school Hindi), plus Hindi, Punjabi, and Garhwali. There are always festivals going on like Kumbh Mela (every 12 years, next in 2028), Ardh Kumbh (every 6 years), Kanwar Yatra (July-August, with tons of Shiva fans bringing Ganga water), Diwali, and the Haridwar Mahotsava. Every night, they do the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, which is all about lights and chanting. Food-wise, it's mostly vegetarian: aloo puri, kachori, and lassi from the street, plus some South Indian, Bengali, and Western stuff. Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya teaches yoga, therapy, culture, and how to manage the countryside. Everyone's pretty equal there, and the ashrams have free meals for all.
#### The Weather
Haridwar has a subtropical climate, so it gets pretty hot and cold. Summers (March-June) are hot and dry, like 25–40°C, especially in May. The monsoon (July-September) brings a lot of rain (about 2,136 mm a year), so it gets really green but can flood near the river. Winters (November-February) are cool and foggy, 5–20°C, and sometimes it drops below freezing. September 2025 has been mild after the monsoon, with days around 25–30°C and clear skies. The best time is October-February, but people visit all year.
#### What They Do There
Tourism is big in Haridwar, bringing in over ₹10,000 crore a year. That supports hotels, crafts (like brass and textiles), and herbal stuff from Patanjali Yogpeeth. They also grow wheat, rice, and sugarcane. There's some industry too, like medicines and food processing. It's easy to get to: Jolly Grant Airport (45 km away), Haridwar Junction railway station, and highways. There are tons of hotels, from cheap to fancy. You can get around by bus, auto-rickshaw, or e-rickshaw. They're planning a metro for 2026.
#### What to See
Haridwar is the starting point for the Char Dham and gets millions of visitors a year. Check out:
- Har Ki Pauri: The main spot for the Ganga Aarti and a dip in the river. Supposedly, Vishnu left his footprint there.
- Mansa Devi Temple: On a hill (3 km up by cable car). Great views of the city.
- Chandi Devi Temple: Another hilltop temple (7 km up), built in 1929. You can take a ropeway.
- Maya Devi Temple: Really old (11th century) and important.
- Bharat Mata Mandir: A temple with a map of India and shrines to freedom fighters.
- Shantikunj Ashram: Headquarters of a group that studies the Vedas and does yoga.
- Piran Kaliyar Sharif: A Sufi shrine (22 km away) that people of all faiths visit.
- Rajaji National Park (20 km): Go on a safari to see elephants and leopards.
You can also do yoga, river rafting (after the monsoon), and shop for beads and oils. Rishikesh is nearby (20 km) for adventures like bungee jumping.
#### What's New (2025)
In 2025, Haridwar had a quiet Buddha Purnima with lots of people bathing in the Ganga. A landslide blocked the trains on September 7, but they were back on track by September 9. The courts are dealing with some temple stuff. They're cleaning up the town for the 2028 Kumbh Mela and building new ghats that are good for the environment. Tourism is up since the monsoon stopped, with a 15% increase in visitors by September, thanks to better trains from Delhi.
Haridwar's always got that spiritual feeling and it's a tough place that keeps going. It's a place you should see.