Trip to Haridwar By Car from Delhi

Hello Ghumakkar friends. Vacations started and all family members are ready to explore new travel destination. Due to busy schedule we planned to explore nearby areas where we can easily reach without any rail/air reservation and kids enjoy short vacation tour. Due to hot weather we decided to go for Haridwar which is 200 KM from Delhi and four to five hour drive time. We started from Gurgaon and then via New Delhi, Ghaziabad, MuradNagar, Modi Nagar, Merrut, Roorkie, we reached Haridwar. If we have more time then we plan to go further in hills. Before starting the travel journey small information about Haridwar is as follows:

HARIDWAR – Dwar of Hari or Gateway to Lord Vishnu, is a holy city situated at the base of Shivalik ranges of high Himalayas as well as on the flow path of revered River Ganga and a part of Uttarakhand State. It is widely believed that by taking a dip in this holy river, one is cleared of all his past sins. Lakhs of devotees from all over India visit Haridwar every year to take a dip in the holy River Ganga.

In second week of June we planned to start the journey at 5:00 AM in the morning and reach Haridwar around 10 AM, but in the morning kids take time to wake up and we are almost one hour late. After filling the car tank we started the journey at 6:00 AM from Gurgaon to Haridwar. With the help of google map route was chalked out. Route is Gurgaon MG Road – Akshardham temple – after crossing three bridges take a left turn towards vaishali – muradnagar, modinagar, merut, roorkie and then Haridwar.

Roads are very narrow and crowded from Vaishali till Merrut and average speed is 40 – 60 KMPH and after crossing Merrut road is smooth and traffic is moving fast. Murad Nagar is very crowded area. We stopped at Jain Shikanjiwala as he was a very popular in this area. Many people stopped there even early hours of the morning. We ordered Special Masala Shikanji and again start travelling on road.

On the bye pass of Merrut we stopped at Moolchand restaurant and taken some light refreshment there. After crossing Merrut road is little good vehicles are travelling little fast here. Both side lot of mango orchids are there and people stopped there and buy the mangoes from the farmers. We crossed the Crystal World Water park and Patanjali – Baba Ramdev Ashram and decided to visit later on. While crossing Roorkie frequent traffic jams are there which are irritating. Weather is also not good as temperature start rising and humidity is also there. Thanks that Car AC helped us from swatting.

After spending good 90 minutes on jam we reached Haridwaar and all we excited to see River Ganga. We move towards Bhupatwala where many Ashrams are made by different community persons. My friend helped me in Gurgaon to book one such Ashraam for us. We reached that Ashram and it was situated in Main Bhupatwala road. Ashraam was very clean and atmosphere was very devotional that we all thanks our god for selecting it. We got one deluxe room fitted with AC. Its 12:00 clock now and we all are tired and decided to take a nap and then plan for rest of day.

At 2:30 pm my father waked us. We all decided that first we visit Ganga ji and then go for lunch. It’s hardly five minutes journey for near by ghats which is named as Phulpati Ghat and Tekuram ji Ghat. For our delight only three or four families are there. Ghat was cleaned as compare to Har ki Pauri. We all go slowing in ganga ji and for our surprised water was very cold and refreshing. Water was very less and only waist deep near Ghat and inside only knee deep.

We all slowly went inside the river and enjoyed the cold water. Now no one is complaining about heat or lunch. Everyone is enjoying a lot. Me and my daughter crossed the river and then move back towards our end for photo clicking. We again move in the center of the river where water level is even less then our knee level. We sat there and enjoyed the nature. After few minutes some local kids came there with their invented swimming gears. They have one thermocol platform and one truck tyre tube which they used in the river. Other families and we borrowed there swimming gear and enjoyed with it.

Then we go for the lunch. There are many small but good restaurants are there. We decided one Punjabi Restaurant in front of Jai Gurudev Ashram and enjoyed our meal there. In the evening we went towards local temple and visit Chandi Devi Mandir. We hire Auto which is famous with the name Vikram, as the Auto is from Vikram company. We have to change the second auto from the main raod intersection towards Chandi Devi.

Their we have to pay the entrance fee and Cable Car fee. We rach at the Mandir premises from where we have to stand in the line to board the cable car as the Mandir is situated at the top of hill. It was a breath stiopping moment at the top of hill. Akmost the whole Haridwar city and river ganga basin is visible from there. We participated in the evening puja there and fed some chanas to monkey. Here monkeys are very naughty, they snatch the eatable items from the visitors.

After darshan we returned back to Har Ki Pauri and attended Evening Pooja there. Har ki Pauri was very crowded and it was very risky with kids to go near the ghats. So we decided to view the prayer from the foot over bridge and after prayer plan to visit the Ganga river from the close. Evening prayer and the environment were very devotional. Many persons on the foot over bridge start chanting Gangaji Aarti. After end of the prayer much priest start moving towards crowd with Aarti Jyot and every one get a chance to take the arti darshan from the close.

Within half an hour whole area was free from the crowd then we enjoyed the har ki pauri and ganga temple. We prayed to ganga ji and floated candles, flowers and other arti items in the dona (made of tree leaves). We visited the near by market and by some games for my younger kid. We visited Choti Wala restaurant for dinner as it was very famous in Haridwar and Rishikesh for its food. Food was good and every one enjoyed it. We returned back to Ashram by foot and enjoyed the street and temples on the way.

Next day we planned to visit Crystal Park which is few kilometers (almost 10 KM) from the Haridwar. Entrance ticket charges are very nominal Rs. 300/- for adults, Rs. 200/- for kids and Sr. Citizen. We stay there from morning 10.00 AM to Afternoon 2:00 PM. We enjoyed rides, water pool and slides.

We turned back to Haridwar and planned to visit Patanjali Ashram as it was on the way. Ashram is situated in very big area. Entrance fee is Rs. 10/- per visit for vehicle. Ashram is surrounded with lush green garden. Main entrance building have reception and registration counter for patients. Adjacent building have cafeteria. We decided to enjou our afternoon meal here.

The cost of food and refreshment are very nominal. Many persons those are regular in this route stopped here from meal as food quality was good and amount was very nominal. Here you can get South Indian, North Indian food and other chatpate snacks also. We enjoyed our stayed here and in the evening we move back towards Haridwar.

In the evening we enjoyed the river ganga in Phulpati ghat and planned to go to our next destination that is Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, Gangotri. The details are follows in next story.