Situated on the foot of the Garhwal Himalayas, this holy temple also known as Brahm Kund was built by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his beloved brother Brithari. It was said that his brother used to sit on the steps of this Ghat and mediate there for hours. This centrally situated temple in the River Ganges is home to the footprint of God Vishnu on the stone walls and is filled with saints, rishis and pilgrims. The picturesque feature about this Ghat is that it will stir your soul and immerse you in the holiness and devotion of the place.
This Har Ki Pauri Ghat is built with steps to allow the Hindus bathe in the pious River Ganges. There are two striking features about this Ghat. One is that the Ganaga aarti and the other is the Kumbh Mela. Every evening the people of Haridwar and those visiting experience a spectacular Ganga aarti. Thousands of earthen lamps in a bed of flowers and leaves float in the pious river. It makes the place gleam up with lights and fresh smell of the flowers making the evening look stunningly beautiful.
The Kumbh Mela held every 12 years is the most celebrated festivals of this sacred place. People wait for this auspicious festival and when it approaches, thousands of pilgrims visit the Ghat just to dip in the holy water. This is so done as it was believed that if people would offer their prayers and take a dip in the holy water, they will receive salvation. Not only the once a year occurring Kumbh Mela is celebrated over here but also the Ardh Kumbh Mela that takes place every six months. The festival of Punjab, Vaisakhi, is also celebrated every April.
The Har Ka Pauri is a temple that cannot be described in the words. All the time spent there would compel you to believe in the richness and purity of the place. These Ghats are famous for feeding the poor who gather around the counter where the tourists and pilgrims order for their meals. The Ghat is surrounded by street shops selling diverse items like food, beaded jewellery and other handicrafts. One can spent hours over there just walking around the streets and take pleasure in the warmth and sanctity of the place. With number of hotels offering accommodation, Har Ka Pauri is flooded with tourists during the festive as well as the non-festive season.
How to Reach Har Ka Pauri
Har Ka Pauri is well connected by road, rail and air. Just 2.5 kilometers away from the Haridwar bus station and railway station, this place is easily accessible by the tourists. If you are driving to this Ghat, you may take the NH-58. The experience of driving till the toll booth of NH-58 is smooth and fast but as you cross the booth, you will find a rough patchy road making your ride a bumpy one. The potholes and ill-maintained roads can delay your drive for one hour. Only an SUV like Innova or Scorpio can make your trip a smooth on this bumpy road. There are other ways to reach the place. As the distance between the Ghat and the railway and bus station is not far away, you can easily walk down to the hotel and the Ghat. You can also hire cabs and buses to reach this holy place.
