Hardiwar

Haridwar is a city in the northwestern state of Uttarakhand, India, situated on the Ganges River at the transition between the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayan foothills. It is one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities and a significant pilgrimage destination. The city's name, meaning "Door to Hari," refers to Vishnu, a principal deity in Hinduism.1

A major pilgrimage site in Haridwar is Har-ki-pauri, a bathing ghat believed to hold an imprint of Vishnu's footprint. The city hosts large annual gatherings of pilgrims and is a site for the Kumbh Mela festival, which occurs every 12 years. The Ganges River itself is considered holy by Hindus, who believe casting ashes into it grants passage to heaven.12