Haridwar does not carry with it religious importance alone as art lovers and poets of the stature of Kalidas have also mentioned the city in their classic epics. It has been mentioned in poetic treatise ‘Meghdut’ of Kalidasa. Kalidasa directs the cloud to go to Ganga descending from Himalaya near to Kankhal traversing from Kurukshetra.

Haridwar houses hundreds of historic sites which include homes more than 100 years old. Pahari Bazaar in Kankhal area has tens of Havelis which are centuries old and the oldest area is of Bahadrabad in entire district say the historians. Many of these buildings and sites have been ravaged by time.

The 19th century havelis abound in Kankhal Pahari Bazaar area. At the entrance of Kankhal near Pardeshwar Mahadev, two old structures Bharamal Bagh ka gate and Naya Udasin Akhada ka gate stand facing each other, the haveli of Bharamal is in Chowk bazaar. Though recently one of these gates was revamped, another still remains and cries for resurrection. Frescoed Walls at the Lala Bharamal Raees Haveli and Patiala house depict many paintings of patrons of the temple. The composition of these simulates the manner in which members of court, British rulers and the royalty are depicted in Pahadi and Rajasthani miniatures. Numbering to nearly 2000, these wall murals in various havelis can be seen at present, some in okay and some in dilapidated state.

Professor Lalit Pandey, former professor at Rajasthan Vidyapeeth and doctorate in Ancient Indian History of Mauryan period from Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalay said,“In 1600 AD, on the death of then King of Jaipur, a priest was sent to Haridwar for rituals who described the place as beautiful though the place was difficult to approach on account of no specific routes, and stony paths. The stairs of Har Ki Paidi were made by the king of Jaipur. The archaeological sites must be restored.”

The historical Mansingh Ki Chhatri is at Brahmkund, Har Ki Paidi and is over 400 years old. The temple on banks of Ganga river is called Gangadwar or Ganga. Devendra Gupta, Professor and Head of Ancient Indian History, culture and Archaeology, Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalay said, “When the father of Raja Mansingh had died, he sent the ashes of his father for immersion in Ganga but the local priests refused, calling him ‘Dharam Bhrasht” since he had got his daughter married to Akbar. Then priests from Maharashtra were brought here for rituals.” During 1998 Kumbh mela cemented structure was built over Mansingh Ki Chhhatri which still exists.

Friday, 03 May 2019 | Radhika Nagrath | Haridwar

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