Places to Visit in Haridwar
Chandi Devi Temple
Dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi or Chandika, Chandi Devi Temple is one of the three Siddhipeethas (where it’s said that the wishes made by devotees with good intent and clear heart are fulfilled) located in Haridwar and thronged by believers throughout the year.
Temple can be reached either by taking the ropeway from the lower ropeway station located near Gauri-Shankar temple on Nazibabad Road or one can trek-up from Chandighat (A three kilometer trek followed by a flight of stairs).
Timings: 5.30 AM to 8:00 PM
Mansa Devi Temple
Mansa Devi Temple is one of the most revered and frequented ‘Siddhipeethas’ where devotees come seeking the blessings of Goddess Mansa Devi and pray for the fulfillment of their wishes which Mansa Devi is renowned to grant. Devotees while asking the Goddess for her grace tie holy threads to the branches of a tree located in the temple premises and then come back again to untie a thread once their wish is fulfilled.
One can reach the temple either by foot or by cable-car.
Maya Devi Temple
Maya Devi Temple is one the Shaktipeethas and as the legend goes, the heart and navel of Goddess Sati (Parvati’s incarnate) had fallen at this place when infuriated Lord Shiva performed Tandava carrying her body after she had immolated herself.
Kankhal
Barely 4 kilometres from Har-ki-pauri is this small town with many ashrams and religious centres. Known for the legendary Daksheshwara Mahadev Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kankhal is visited by tourists throughout the year.
As the legend goes, King Daksha, Sati’s father, had performed a huge yagna and invited all Gods and Goddesses except Lord Shiva to insult him which infuriated Sati so much so that she immolated herself in the yagna-kund itself.
When Lord Shiva learnt about the incident, he was enraged with fury and performed tandava carrying Goddess Sati’s body and sent his minions to destroy Daksha. Later, Daksha proclaimed Lord Shiva as the greatest God of all and Shiva graced him by agreeing to remain on the spot forever in the form of Linga.
Sapt Rishi Ashram or Sapt Sarovar
This is where the seven sages or sapt rishis (Kashyap, Vashisht, Atri, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja and Gautam) went in deep meditation and Ganga split itself into seven streams to keep the sages from getting disturbed by the flow of Ganga.
