Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Haridwar, meaning "Gateway to God," is one of the seven holiest cities in Hinduism and one of four sites of the Kumbh Mela — the world's largest religious gathering. Located where the Ganges emerges from the Himalayas into the plains, Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri ghat is considered the exact spot where the river leaves the mountains. The evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri is a mesmerizing spiritual experience drawing thousands nightly. The city hosts the Kumbh Mela every 12 years, with the Ardh (half) Kumbh every 6 years, attracting tens of millions of pilgrims. Haridwar is also a major center for Ayurveda and yoga, with Patanjali Yogpeeth (the world's largest yoga institution) headquartered here. The SIDCUL industrial estate has brought modern industry to the city.