Haridwar

Haridwar is located where the holly Ganges River emerges from the Himalayas. Large groups of pilgrims come to Haridwar to bathe in the fast flowing waters of the Ganges. The main spiritual area in Haridwar is Har-ki-Pairi Ghat, which is on the western bank of the Ganges canal. It is a very sacred place for Hindus where they can wash away their sins, much like Varanasi.

I was amazed by the amount of people gathering at the Har-ki-Pairi Ghat. It was chaotic but also very interesting to observe the spirituality of the rituals. Now is a popular time for families to visit Haridwar because the schools have a month break and, as the country is heating up, it is more comfortable to head north and escape the heat (40-45+ degrees Celsius).