over the centuries the holy city has transformed from a primodial home to the Gods to a favourite haunt of salvation seekers.Faith ,slugging off urban malice.curling up on a sticky mat for that perfect asana.communing with strangers.Haridwar one of the oldest living cities, is benovelent enough to accept everyone,every reason within its fold.
But not when it began.All there was to it was a curse and ashes.legend has it that an incensed sage Kapila had cursed the ancestors of prince Bhagirath and turned them into ash.The prince then sat in penance to redeem the souls of his forefathers and when the Gods decided to forgive,the river Ganga trickled from the matted locks of Lord Shiva and its holy water resuscicated the 60,000 sons of king Sagar.that moment Haridwar acquired the serenity that makes it one of seven holiest cities in the country.and Chandi Devi temple is sacred for Shiva devout for it was here that the heart and navel of Goddess Sati had fallen.so is Daksha Mahadeva temple,the site where king Daksha performed yagna but didn`t invite Lord Shiva. Irate ganas(followers)of LordShiva killed who was later brought to life by the Lotd himself.
The god trail in Haridwar is incomplete without a visit Sapta(seven) Ashram and Sapta sarovar where the ganga splits into seven little rivers.and sure there is a story behind it.once upon a time seven sages were in deep meditation here ,but the river Ganga had to move further. she could not disturbed the sages,so she splits into 7 tributaries and meandered on.........
Pious or agnostic when evening comes to Har Ki Pauri,the sacred ghat at the stroke of 7 ,hundreds of lamps are lit,the enirtire place acquires an amber hue and the chanting of mantras add to surreal glow.thousands of lamps float in the serene waters of Ganga...

Haridwar is forever saintly.............