Last week saw an extended weekend (in Delhi) due to MCD elections and the (very good indeed) Good Friday clubbed with the regular weekend. So I went on a teerth yatra along with my husband. I had visited the beautiful Uttaranchal city many a times as a kid. But it had been more than a decade now, and I didnt remember much. So we packed our bags and left on Thursday morning.

Haridwar was a pleasant surprise for me. I had not expected the Ganga to be as clean and beautiful as it turned out to be. We attended the evening aarti on the river bank at har ki paudi. Magical is the only word to describe it. Hundreds of people thronged the ghats. The clear water flowing at high speed, while devotees immersed flowers made a mesmerizing picture. It was so breathtakingly beautiful that we did not wish to leave the bank for long after the prayers. Hard working mosquitoes had to make a huge effort to move us out of the lovely ghat.

Places To Visit

Apart from the very famous har ki paudi, there are many other beautiful ghats that attract tourists. If you are the trek freak, Haridwar has beautiful treks that take you to famous temples. The trek to Mansa Devi and Chamundi Devi are especially famous. Cable car is also an option for devotees who cannot trek up to the temples for some reason.

There are many other temples in the region. For more scenic beauty, Rishikesh is a Godsend. Remember the movie Kisna? (Vivek Oberoi and his yoga expert wife) This movie had been hugely shot in Rishikesh. Another attraction is Swami Ramdev Jis ashram and hospital in the vicinity. Free consultation and free transportation to the hospital is provided. The hospital is housed in a swanky new building with modern infrastructure and ample space.

Surprises

1. The hotels were quite moderately priced. Rooms suiting every pocket were available.

2. There were more eateries than houses. All sorts of cuisine were being served: Punjabi, South Indian, Garhwali, Marwarhi, Haryanvi, Sindhi and even Bengali!

3. The number of Bong tourists and devotees in Haridwar was a huge shock. It seemed like whole of Bengal had congregated in Haridwar for some reason. Even the Sikh community had a huge presence in this holy city. Lots of Sindhis too!

4. The cool, clean and beautiful Ganges!

Haridwar is a Must Visit if you have not had a chance yet.