Haridwar means hari ka dwar i.e., the gateway to Hari (Lord Vishnu). It is also known as Ganga Dwar, because the holy Ganges enters the plains here. Suryavanshi Prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to the curse of sage Kapila. The penance was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth form Lord Shiva’s locks and its bountiful water revived the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara. In the traditional of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their departed elder. This sacred city is surrounded with several temples and shrines.

It is doorway to the sources of the Ganga and the Yamuna, 3,000 to 4,500 meters up into the snowy ranges of the central Himalayas. It is one of the seven holy sites and a dip in the Ganga is believed to wash away mortal sins and cleanse the mind, body and soul. The ‘Aarti’ worship of the Ganga after sunset and the floating ‘dia’ (lamp) is a moving ritual.

Har Ki Pauri: It is believed that it houses the footprints of lord Vishnu, imprinted on the walls underneath the water at this Ghat, and hence the name Har-ki-Pauri. The best time to visit Har-Ki-Pauri, most sacred bathing ghats at Haridwar, when you can see the ‘Aarti’ of Ganga being performed everyday, is at 6 pm. The arti consists of offering lit lamps to the Ganga and loud banging of gongs and other musical instruments.

Manasadevi Temple: A cable car will take you to Mansa Devi, another form of Goddess Durga, situated on the Valwa Parvat. Across the Ganga, on the banks is the Neel Parvat (Hill), and on top of this is the Chandi Devi Temple constructed by the King of Kashmir Suchat Singh, in 1929. It is open from 8am to noon and from 2 to 5 pm.

The Daksha Mahadev Temple: The Daksh Temple, situated at Kankhal, is a tribute to the legend of Daksha Prajapati. According to Hindu mythology, Daksha Prajapati (Sati (Lord Shiva’s wife)’s father), performed a sacrifice here and failed to invite Lord Shiva. Sati, feeling insulted, consequently, burnt herself in the fire.

The Pawan Dham Ashram: Popular for its Hanuman Temple built with pieces of glass and Maya Devi temple, an ancient temple, dedicated to Maya Devi. It is said that when Lord Shiva was carrying Sati, who had burnt herself to keep the honor of her husband, her heart and navel fell at this place.

Chandi Devi Temple: A three kilometers from Chandighat, perched at the top of Neel Parvat, is the famous Chandi Devi temple built in 1929 A.D. by the King of the Kashmir-Suchat Singh. It is believed that the main statue was established by the Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century AD.

Dehradun: Dehradun is said to be the place of where Rama and Lakshman performed austerities to kill demon Ravana. Perched at the top in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Dehradun is the Capital of Uttaranchal. The name Dehradun is a group of two word “dera” meaning Camp and “dun” meaning valley. It is one of the most beautiful resort in the sub mountain tracks of India, known for its picturesque surroundings.

Rishikesh: Located 24 kms from Haridwar, Rishikesh is surrounded by exotic beauty of the hills on three sides with Holy Ganga flowing through it. As the place is considered to be sacred, it is believed that meditation at this place leads to attainment of salvation. Rishikesh is also the gateway to the Char dham comprising of religious places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary: Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of around 240 sq. km that attracts wildlife lovers with its pristine scenic beauty and rich biodiversity. It has 23 species of mammals and 315 fauna species.