General Information Of  Haridwar & Rishikesh:

HARIDWAR: 
Hardwar or Haridwar are two names for the same place. The whole of Uttarakhand is dotted with temples of Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu is known as Hari and Shiva as Har. Dwar means gate, and it isfor this reason that this place is known as Hardwar or Haridwar, as it is the Gateway to Shri Badrinath and Shri Kedarnath, the holy shrines of Hari and Har. The Hindu Pantheon allows freedom of worship of Gods in any form. Uttarakhand abounds in shrines of god and goddesses and Haridwar from time immemorial has been the gateway to these shrines.It is said that Haridwar was the place of meditation for many ancient sages. Sage Kapil meditated here and for that reason this place was for several years known as Kapilasthan.

RISHIKESH: 
It is said when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of "Hrishikesh" and this area wa henceforth call by the name.Rishikesh, situated on the right bank of river Ganga and surrounded on three sides by Himalayan ranges, known from medieval time as celestial abode, is a great pilgrimage centre of India, attracting a large number of pilgrims. It is believed that Bharat brother of Lord Rama, subjected himself to severe penance here. A temple known as Bharat Temple was later constructed at the site and the town Rishikesh sprang up around the temple. It has since been the abode of saints and sages from where tey sojourn before undertaking the arduous pilgrimage that lay ahead on the distant Himalayan peaks.
This gateway to the kingdom of Gods and pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri is clustered with Ashram, Tourist Rest House and Dharamsalas.
The Yoga centres of Rishikesh have enhanced the significance of the place, home and foreign tourist from all over the world visit this place to have lessons in Yoga and Meditation.