|
Introduction
Haridwar is situated at the base of the
Shivalik hills, where the Ganga, comes down from the mighty Himalayas meets
the plains. Haridwar, literally is 'The gateway to the Gods'. "This place is
very beautiful", at one sight one will say so and fall in love with the
scenic beauty of the blend of height and plains. A Gateway to the four
pilgrimage of Uttarakhand, Haridwar is also known as Gangadwar, Tapovan and
Mayapuri. In its long history back to pre-historic time, the Haridwar got it
name from the rishis. According to the mythology it is known as Kapilsthan.
legend goes that the suryavnshi Prince Bhagirath performed penance here to
salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to the curse of the
sage Kapila. The penance was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth
from Lord Shiva's locks and its bountiful waters revived the sixty thousand
sons of King Sagara. Mythologically, drops of nectar churned out from the
primordial ocean fell at the four sites of the Kumbh mela including Haridwar.
The kumbha mela, happening once every 12 years and the Ardha Kumbha Mela
(Coming once every six years) are big draws. One of the oldest living
cities, Hairdwar has been in people's mind from the period of Buddha to the
British advent and now even is the 21st century. Besides being a religious
place, it has served as the center for learning arts, science and culture.
|