Overview
Haridwar district is a district in the southwestern part of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Lying largely in the plains where the Ganges emerges from the Shivalik Hills, it is one of the most populous and economically significant districts of the state. Its headquarters is the city of Haridwar, a major Hindu pilgrimage centre and one of the four sites of the Kumbh Mela.
Key facts
| State | Uttarakhand |
|---|---|
| Division | Garhwal |
| Headquarters | Haridwar |
| Formation | 28 December 1988 |
| Predecessor district | Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Region | Garhwal / Upper Doab plains |
| Major river | Ganges |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Haridwar |
Geography
The district occupies the southwestern corner of Uttarakhand, bordering the state of Uttar Pradesh to the south and west, Saharanpur district to the west, Bijnor district to the southeast, Dehradun district to the north, and Pauri Garhwal district to the east. Unlike most of Uttarakhand, Haridwar lies almost entirely in the flat alluvial plains of the upper Ganges, with the Shivalik range and Rajaji National Park forming its northern fringe.
The Ganges enters the plains at Haridwar town, and the Upper Ganges Canal, commissioned in the 19th century, originates here. The Solani and other minor tributaries also drain the district.
Administration
The district is part of the Garhwal division. It is divided into administrative tehsils including Haridwar, Roorkee, Laksar and Bhagwanpur, and contains development blocks such as Bahadrabad, Bhagwanpur, Roorkee, Narsan, Khanpur and Laksar.
Major urban centres include Haridwar, Roorkee, Laksar, Manglaur and Jwalapur. The district sends representatives to the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from several constituencies and constitutes the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat.
History
The area around Haridwar has been a centre of pilgrimage for centuries and is mentioned in classical Hindu texts. Under British rule it formed part of Saharanpur district in the United Provinces. The town of Roorkee grew in the 19th century around the headworks of the Ganges Canal and the Thomason College of Civil Engineering, the forerunner of IIT Roorkee.
Haridwar district was carved out of Saharanpur district on 28 December 1988 within Uttar Pradesh. When the new state of Uttaranchal (renamed Uttarakhand in 2007) was created on 9 November 2000, Haridwar was transferred to the new state, becoming its only district lying wholly in the plains.
Economy
Haridwar is among the most industrialised districts of Uttarakhand. The state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited operates a large heavy-electrical plant at Ranipur, Haridwar, established in the 1960s. The State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL) developed an integrated industrial estate at Haridwar in the 2000s, attracting automobile, pharmaceutical and consumer-goods units. The Patanjali Ayurved group has its main manufacturing and research base near Haridwar.
Agriculture remains important in the plains belt, with sugarcane, wheat, rice and pulses as principal crops, supported by extensive canal irrigation. Pilgrimage-related services and tourism form another major component of the local economy.
Religion and culture
Haridwar town is one of the seven holi