Hardwâr

Hardwâr (Hari-dwâra, 'Vislmu's gate'), perhaps the most famous spot on the Ganges, stands on the right or west bank of the river, at the point where it emerges from the sub-Himalaya into the plains of Hindustan, 39 miles NE. of Saharanpur, North-west Provinces. From its position on the sacred stream, it attracts immense numbers of pilgrims for the purposes of ablation, as many as 100,000 in ordinary seasons (March and April), but every twelfth year a sacred festival brings about 300,000. Hardwâr is 1024 feet above the sea, and has a pop. of 4520. See GANGES.