Haridwar, also spelled Hardwar, is a city in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. Situated on the banks of the river Ganga at the point where it emerges from the Shivalik hills onto the plains of north India, Haridwar is one of the seven holiest cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and serves as the headquarters of Haridwar district.
| Name | Haridwar |
|---|---|
| State | Uttarakhand |
| District | Haridwar |
| Country | India |
| River | Ganga |
| Region | Garhwal, Shivalik foothills |
| Languages | Hindi, Garhwali, Sanskrit (liturgical) |
| Significance | One of the seven sacred Hindu cities; site of the Kumbh Mela |
The name Haridwar is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "Gateway to Hari" (Vishnu) in Vaishnava tradition, while the alternate form Hardwar is read as "Gateway to Hara" (Shiva) by Shaivites. The city is also referred to as the gateway to the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
Haridwar lies in the Gangetic plain at the foothills of the Shivalik range, where the Ganga descends from the mountains. The Upper Ganga Canal originates here, drawing water from the river to irrigate parts of western Uttar Pradesh. The Rajaji National Park lies to the east of the city. The terrain ranges from riverine flats along the Ganga to forested low hills.
Haridwar has a long recorded history as a pilgrimage centre. The Chinese Buddhist traveller Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) visited the region in the 7th century CE during the reign of Harsha and described a town in the area, often identified with Haridwar. The city finds mention in epic and Puranic literature in connection with sage Kapila and the descent of the Ganga.
Under the Mughals, Haridwar developed as a fair and trade town in addition to its religious role. In 1796, the city saw a violent clash between Shaiva ascetics and Sikh pilgrims during the Kumbh Mela. During the British period, Haridwar was administered as part of the Saharanpur district of the United Provinces. The construction of the Upper Ganga Canal, inaugurated in 1854 under the supervision of Proby Cautley, drew water from the Ganga at Haridwar and transformed irrigation in the region.
Following India's independence in 1947, Haridwar continued as part of Uttar Pradesh until the formation of the new state of Uttaranchal in 2000, which was renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
Haridwar is counted among the seven Sapta Puri cities considered to grant moksha. The principal ghat, Har Ki Pauri, is regarded as the spot where a drop of amrita (the elixir of immortality) is believed to have fallen during the cosmic churning, and where the Ganga leaves the mountains. The evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri is a widely attended ritual.
The city hosts the Kumbh Mela once every twelve years and the Ardh Kumbh every six years, drawing millions of pilgrims and ascetics. Other major festivals observed here include Kanwar Mela, Somvati Amavasya and Baisakhi.