Har Ki Pauri Haridwar
All About Har Ki Pauri Ghat (Haridwar, Uttarkhand)
Har Ki Pauri is one of the most sacred Ghats in Haridwar and the only place where all the spiritual activities take place. The ghat is reckoned to have been built by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother Brithari during the 1st century BC. The literal meaning of the term ‘Har Ki Pauri’- “Har” means “Lord Shiva”, Ki” means “of” and “Pauri” means “steps”. Priest of the nearby temples says that during the Vedic times, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to have visited Brahmakund in Har Ki Pauri. The Ghat got its name from the foot imprint of the Lord Vishnu, the imprints of the same are present on one of the stones of the Ghat. In geographical terms, Haridwar is the place where the river Ganges descends from the Gangotri glacier to the Indo-Gangetic plains of North India.
Har Ki Pauri, haridwar remains busy during the Ardh Kumbh Mela, Vaisakhi festival, Kanwar Yatra, and Magh Mela. Also, it is one of the four incredible sites in India that hosts the Kumbh Mela, during which millions bathe in the Ganga River.
The Har ki Pauri is the best place to visit in Haridwar among other tourist attractions of Haridwar, and it means the footstep of the Lord. It is the holy ghat along which the Ganges touches the plains after meandering through the Himalayan ranges. People flock here every morning to take holy dips.
In addition, devotees float thousands of diyas on the surface of the water, adding to the ethereal beauty of the Ganges, and the whole ghat is illuminated by the shimmering flames of the three-tiered lamps held by the priests. An image of Lord Vishnu’s footprint can be seen on a wall throughout the day.
Who Built Har Ki Pauri Haridwar?
As a memorial to his brother Bhatrihari who had come to Haridwar to meditate, King Vikramaditya built the holy bathing ghats in Har ki Pauri. A stone wall has also been found with a footprint believed to be that of Lord Vishnu which also belongs to Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had visited Brahmkund in Har-ki-Pauri. The holy river Ganga is visited by a large number of pilgrims every day, and aarti is performed by the people and the priest at sunset. Explore Haridwar -the ancient city of Uttarakhand, India.
Ganga Aarti at Har-ki-Pauri Ghat, Haridwar
In Haridwar, Ganga Aarti is conducted every morning and evening as an obeisance to the revered River Ganges. The grand procession of the high priests who are clad in white singing hymns towards the revered river attracts a large number of visitors and devotees.
Aarti of the Ganges is performed at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar. Because of the rush, it is a good idea to arrive early 30-45 minutes before the start of the aarti.
Ganga Aarti Timing at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar
Ganga Aarti is performed twice daily, once at dawn and once at dusk, depending on the time of sunrise and sunset respectively. The morning Aarti is performed between 5:30 am and 6:30 am, while the evening Aarti is performed between 6 pm and 7 pm.
Here is a table with the approximate timings of Ganga Aarti. Minor differences of +15 minutes or -15 minutes may occur. For 2022 Ganga Aarti timings, refer to the table below:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
Morning | 07:10 | 06:45 | 06:10 | 05:35 | 05:15 | 05:20 | 05:25 | 05:35 | 05:55 | 06:10 | 06:25 | 06:50 |
Evening | 17:30 | 17:50 | 18:10 | 18:30 | 18:50 | 19:10 | 19:05 | 18:40 | 18:10 | 17:30 | 17:15 | 17:20 |
How To Reach Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar
Har ki Pauri is located by the banks of the river Ganga in the center of Haridwar city. From the Haridwar bus stand, you can walk to reach Haridwar. In addition to the railway station in Haridwar (3 km), there is an airport (Jolly Grant Airport) in Dehradun (approx. 38 kilometers) from where you can reach Har ki Pauri.
How To Reach Har-Ki-Pauri by Air
If you are traveling by air, you need to reach Jolly Grant Airport. Har Ki Pauri is approximately 38 Kilometers away from the airport. You can easily hire a taxi at Jolly Grant Airport. The route has motorable roads that are well connected with some major cities.
How To Reach Har Ki Pauri by Train
All major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, etc. are well connected with Haridwar by train. You can get off the train at Haridwar station and take a rickshaw or auto for the next 3 kilometers to reach Har-ki-Pauri.
How To Reach Har Ki Pauri by Road
If you are coming to Har Ki Pauri from a nearby city which is under 300 km from Haridwar. We suggest you come down the road. But if the distance is more than we advise you to reach here by air or by train to avoid the stress of the journey. Many private and public buses are available for Haridwar such as AC buses, deluxe buses, Volvo, and other ordinary Uttarakhand state buses. A bus will drop you at the Haridwar bus stand and walk for the next 1.5 kilometers to reach Har-ki-Pauri.