Mansa Devi

The Mansa Devi temple--here seen on the top of the hill above the town--is a fascinating story in religious business development. A hundred years ago, the temple did not exist, yet today it is the second-most visited spot in Haridwar.   The oldest part of the temple (and the primary deity) is under the highest white spire, and the marble floor there was laid down in the 1950s.  The surrounding buildings were added later on, into the 1980s.  One reason for the temple's success is its prime location--relatively close to town, but separated by a short walk in the forest. 

 

Aside from its prime location, the other major reason for the temple's success has been the shrewd business acumen of its administrators, the abbots (mahants) of the Niranjani Akhara, one of the organized ascetic bands.  They first built a stairway up the hill to the temple to make the trip easier for pilgrims, installed water piping in the early 1970s, put in restaurant and gift shop facilities, and in 1984, they installed a cable car so that pilgrims could get there without walking.

 

 

 

Here's a shot at evening, one of my favorite times to be beside the Ganges, because the light is so incredibly gorgeous.

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Last modified 25 December 2003