A Spiritual Sojourn: Exploring Rishikesh and Haridwar

Hari means “Lord Vishnu”. So, Haridwar stands for “The Gateway to Lord Vishnu”. In order to reach Badrinath, one of the Char Dhams, with a temple of Lord Vishnu, Haridwar is a typical place to start a pilgrim’s journey. Therefore, the name Haridwar. Hrishikesh (हृषीकेश) is a name of Lord Vishnu composed of hrishika meaning ‘senses’ and Isha meaning ‘lord’, thus ‘Lord of the Senses’. The name commemorates an apparition of Vishnu to Raibhya Rishi, as a result of his Tapasya (austerities), as Lord Hrishikesha.

The Kapil Muni Temple

Gangasagar: Where the Ganga Meets the Sea

Gangasagar is a charming tourist destination, which attracts both pilgrims and adventure lovers. Nestled in one of the delta islands is Gangasagar. Also called Sagardwip or Sagar Island, it is one of the largest islands on the Ganges delta and holds immense religious significance. Gangasagar has acres of silver sand and clear blue sky, and the calm sea to spend the time in tranquillity.