haridwar (or hardwar) in January? Some questions.....

This place sounds beautiful??? Anyone been? I have a gap in our plans around Delhi which I'm dithering about, I was planning Shekhawati - but the 12 year old is digging in his heels - I just can't make painted havelis sound interesting! Alternatively I was thinking of flying to and from Varanasi from Delhi.. but to be honest it sounds a little scary...

and then I read about Haridwar (or whichever spelling you want) and a hotel called Haveli Hari Ganga... the idea of spending a few days seeing temples, chanting, doing some yoga, having some spas and generally seeing holy places is sounding better and better!! The son does love a bit of a chant and will do yoga if pushed, and he is really into learning about hindu culture and rituals (anything exotic)

So - is it as lovely as it sounds? Is it a good alternative to Varanasi? Will it be too COLD!!!!????? and is the wildlife park worth a visit? Oh - and all the info says there is some kind of festival in Jnauary (a mini- mela thing) but nothing says exactly when... anyone know?

Thanks lovely people!!!

Haridwar or Hardwar is of course a good place to visit.It is the gate way of Garhwal Himalayas.Nearest to Haridwar are Rishikesh and Kankhal.You can also make oneday trip by car to Chandrabadani,a place with 360 degree view of snowclad mighty himalayan peaks.You can enjoy river rafting also.So far I know,Sydney is a hot place.In that respect Haridwar will be very cold in January but not unbearable.Rajaji National Park is not impressive.Haridwar and surroundings are very worth visit indeed.

Cold as in snow? Below zero? Or just jeans and a sweater?

No oooooooo,Haridwar is not so high to get snow fall.Temp. expected in january is 2-8 degree C. Heavy woolen will do.

Firstly, I admit my bias against religious places like Haridwar and Varanasi.

I will also argue that these places are not exactly appropriate for learning about "Hindu culture and rituals", though those guys there will make it as exotic as you want

But, if you like the Himalayas too, and are interested in Haridwar, then Haridwar/Rishikesh is an excellent take off point.

I too am a little biased against such places (see my earlier thread about Pushkar) and am not that interested in going to Rishikesh, but it does sound like Haridwar might offer a good combination of R&R, scenery, a glimpse into some sprituality & the Ganga rituals, and perhaps less pressure than Varanasi, Pushkar or Rishikesh.....???

Probably wouldn't head further up the mountains as we will be unequipped for snow etc.... The hotel sounds like it has all sorts of beauty treatments and massages etc.... & that can't be bad especially 3 weeks or so into the trip!

How is the park?

Haridwar can have as much pressure as Rishikesh or Pushkar, but probably less than Varanasi..

Dunno which park. I have only been to Corbett in that general area, which is worth a visit.

I'm more into avoiding the westerners in Rishikesh and Pushkar than the local pressurisers

The park is called Rajija or something similar - apparently there are tigers AND elephants AND bears!

If "more into avoiding the westerners in Rishikesh and Pushkar than the local pressurisers", then

Haridwar may be a better option than Rishikesh, but am not too sure.. maybe somebody else will know better.

Rajaji park looks interesting.. Never been there, but just found this

http://www.gmvnl.com/newgmvn/distric...jaji_park.aspx

Thanks - check out the cost for taking a video camera in!! Won't be doing that.... Looks good doesn't it? Wonder if there ARE tigers

Rajaji National Park is not at all good one.Tigers are seems to be there but no tiger. may be some lepards.If you go to Pauri or khirsu you will go through the park. Regular buses ply through the park.

U'll be bloody lucky if u see any of those. But u can get a ride on an elephant to go animal-spotting - that might interest your kid. U'll see plenty of spotted deer and some wild boar.
Contrary to the doomsayers, the park has regenerated in the last 2 years since the tribals were moved out.

"If you go to Pauri or khirsu you will go through the park."
By which route? Not the conventional ones.
The only times u can go "thru the park" (buffer-zone)are 1) if u take a train between Haridwar and Dehradun. If u drive from Haridwar via Laldhang forest-post on the dirt-road to Kotdwara (that's the shortest poss way to go from Haridwar to Pauri), then u drive along the boundary of Rajaji, but not THRU. Nice, slow drive but you are unlikely to see animals here. Altho in Jan 06 on this very road we were "unlucky" to have missed some elephants by about 20-30 min - saw the trees they had brought down earlier. The villages on the way have electric fences!
2)If u cross the Ganga at Rishikesh and drive north towards Lakshmanjhula and then east to Gumkhal or Dugadda (from where one can drive to Pauri), then it's true that technically u'll be driving thru the park for a short while. But this is thru villages and other inhabited areas which are actually within the park boundary and u're unlikely to see any animals on that stretch.
There are no other roads to Pauri or Khirsu which go anywhere near Rajaji.

"Regular buses ply through the park."
No they do not. Some go on the dirt-road to Kotdwara mentioned in 1). A few local buses ply the trans-Ganga stretch mentioned in 2) between Chandighat and Lakhsmanjhula and probably go a bit further too. Yes, technically "thru the park" but certainly cannot be described as "regular".

rishikesh is also very famous for river rafting and other adventure sports..u might wanna look into that angle..I am not sure if they are there all around the year or Not..

even though I agree that hardwar OR rishikesh OR varanasi wont help u undertsnat hinduism, but atleast they can give u a beginners glimpse..

By the evening aarti on Har ki paudi in Hardwar is a sight to hehold..as a hindu it still leaves me mersmerized..