Harkipauri

Harkipauri is the  main tourist attraction in Haridwar. It’s a customize place build for the tourists to take bath in holy river Ganga. The river ganga flows with very high-speed here, therefore there is provision for holding iron chains on both sides of river. Pilgrims hold these chains while bathing. At one side of the river is situated Ganga Temple where Hindu rituals are performed. Evening Aarti of Goddess Ganga is performed at sunset around 7:30 pm, It is the  most blissfully sought after by pilgrims.

It is said that river Ganga is in its purest form here, as it reaches prithvi (Earth) after flowing through the mountains. Therefore it symbolize purest holy bath than any other places in river Ganga.  Kanwarias (Shiva bhakt) come here from different parts of  Uttrakhand to take holy Ganga jal in Sravan Mas and Shivaratri.

The temple side of ghat has market full of shops and small dhabas/restaurants and hotels.  The market streets are full crowded all the time  with pilgrims and tourists. A long street(2 km) upto Haridwar railways station is full of small shops selling puja items, wood and metal works, sea-snail products,woolen items etc. Walking on the streets itself give a holy feeling of pilgrimage.

The other side of ghat has some open space but are also crowded by visitors most of the time. There is a big Parking area near the by-pass road, one has to walk or take rickshaw from here to go to ghat the distance is 1/2 km.