Haridwar - Hari-Ki-Pairiu Mandir

This holy kshetra is renowned as an indispensable centre of pilgrimage since time immemorial. It is a spiritual haven dotted with a wide variety of temples built on the banks of Ganges, and over the long range of Sivalik hills surrounding it. Nowhere in India such throbbing religious activity is observed from dawn to dusk and round the year at it. There are scores of ghats, each with a legend awe-some. Among them Har-ki-pain is the most sought after.

This is deemed the most sacred of the bathing ghats, with a small but impressive temple at the head of stairs, considered to be the most auspicious spot for bathing, when this holy thirtha kshetra plays host to the world's largest religious fair - Kumbha Mela, held once in every twelve yeas. And also to Ardha Kumbha Mela, conducted once in six years. Legends embody several accounts and proclaim that this temple enshrines the sane sacred slab consecrated by the imprints of Lord Mahavishnu, according to sthalagna - the local guide who says that Lord Vishnu visited this place to advice Dakshaprajapati, the son of Brahma ruling the country from here then to carry on the activities of creation uninterrupted. On his disappearance, the spot where he set his feet bore the imprints of his feet, and they are being worshipped since then with utmost ardour. And Mother Ganga adores his holy feet day and night by touching the walls of this shrine; for, it was from Lord Sri Mahavishnu's foot she was born. The grateful theists and temple authorities have been offering elaborate regular prayers to this Ganga Mai every evening with ardor that has neither parallels nor similarities existing elsewhere in the past or present. Though it is a regular ritual, lacks of persons witness this rare spectacle and enjoy the sights of little lamps with flowers floating and moving fast on the crystal waters of Ganga. To enabling the huge crowds witnessing this soul-lifting ritual; this sacred ghat was augmented in size and shape by flights of stairs by government, which to some extent is helping the bathers during the propitious moments - regular or festival. So this place is fittingly called Hart-ki-Pairi, and the town, Haridwar henceforth.

It lies to the east of Haridwar of Uttar Pradesh, the holy pilgrim town buffeted by hillocks bearing sacred shrines and accessible by tonga or auto from railway station and bus stand.

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