Kankhal

Kankhal
कनखल
town
Kankhal

Location in Uttarakhand, India

Coordinates: 29°56′N 78°09′E / 29.93°N 78.15°ECoordinates: 29°56′N 78°09′E / 29.93°N 78.15°E
Country  India
State Uttarakhand
District Haridwar
Elevation 260 m (850 ft)
Languages
  Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 249408
Telephone code 01334
Website haridwar.nic.in

Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar[1] in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.

Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala,[2][3] Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara (Har ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat in Kankhal), Bilwa Teerth (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi Temple).[4][5]

It is most known for the Daksheswara Mahadev Temple, Maa Anandamoyi Ashram and numerous other ashrams and old houses with exquisite wall paintings built by Hindu pilgrims in the 19th century.[1]

Kankhal in scriptures

Kankhal is mentioned in Mahabharata as follows,

"Here, O king, before thee is the Kanakhala range, the favourite resort of sages. 'And yonder is the mighty river Ganga. Here, in ancient times, the holy sage Sanatkumara attained ascetic success. O scion of the Ajamidha race, by performing thy ablutions here in this river, thou wilt be freed from all thy sins.
- The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CXXXV.[6]

"Bathing in Gangadwara (Haridwar) and Kusavarta...as also in Kankhala, one is sure to become cleansed of all one's sins and then ascend to heaven." [3]
-- The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasanika Parva: Section XXV, p. 130.

History

Front facade of Naya Udasin Akhara, Kankhal, with elaborate frescoes.
The gateway and facade of the chowk at Kankhal, 1814

Traditionally, Kankhal is considered to be the summer capital and Kurukshetra the winter capital of Shiva.God Shiva after ascending to the throne visited plain areas, the present Haridwar. To give a warm welcome to God Shiva the site of Haridwar was made a welcome-gate hence called Haridwar.

In the Vanaparva of the Mahabharat, where sage Dhaumya tells Yudhisthira about the tirthas of India, Gangadwar, i.e., Haridwar and Kankhal, have been referred to.[7] Kankhal also finds mention in the poem Meghaduta (Cloud messenger), of the 3rd century AD, classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist, Kalidas.[2]

When the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak (1469–1539), visited Haridwar in 1504 AD, on the Baisakhi day, he went on to visit Kankhal, en route to Kotdwara in Garhwal.[8] Kankhal also finds mention in the travel accounts of Sister Nivedita (1867–1911), a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, wherein she mentions that long before Haridwar became popular, Kankhal had been a center for education and pilgrimage [9]

As late as early 19th century it used to be a separate town, from Haridwar and Mayapur in the areas,[10] though due to urban development it now falls within the city limits of Haridwar.

Work on the Upper Ganges canal commenced in April 1842, between Haridwar and Kankhal.[11] Apart from being home various temples and ashrams of various sects, Kankhal also has numerous old havelis, mansion, now visitors attraction, especially heritage tours. Mostly built in previous century, they are known for their frescoes and haveli architecture, and were built by princely states, and zamindars for their stay in the pilgrimage town during summer months.

Geography

Kankhal is located at 29°56′N 78°09′E / 29.93°N 78.15°E.[12] It has an average elevation of 260 metres (853 feet).

Important places in Kankhal

An aerial view of the Ramakrishna Mission Sevasrama, Kankhal
Sri Ramakrishna Temple, RKMS, Kankhal, Haridwar
Shiva carrying the corpse of his consort Dakshayani (Sati)
Anandamayi Ma Samadhi Mandir, Kankhal, Haridwar

Transport

Kankhal is well connected by road to National Highway 58, between Delhi and Manapass. Nearest railway stations are at Jwalapur and Haridwar. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, though Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is preferred.

Its neighbouring towns are Jwalapur, Haridwar, and Laksar.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 A study of Kankhal
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Vishnu Purana SACRIFICE OF DAKSHA (From the Vayu Purana.) The Vishnu Purana, translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, 1840. p. 62, "In former times, Daksha commenced a holy sacrifice on the side of Himaván, at the sacred spot Gangadwara, frequented by the Rishis. The gods, desirous of assisting at this solemn rite, came, with Indra at their head, to Mahadeva, and intimated their purpose; and having received his permission, departed in their splendid chariots to Gangadwára, as tradition eports.” 62:2 Gangadwára, the place where the Ganges descends to the plains--or Haridwar, as it is more usually termed--is usually specified as the scene of action, The Linga (Purana) is more precise, calling it Kanakhala, which is the village still called Kankhal, near Haridwar.(Megha Dúta, p. 63 p. 59). p. 68 I am called Virabhadra, the issue of the wrath of Rudra. Bhadrakálí also, who has sprung from the anger of Devi
  3. 3.0 3.1 Bathing in Gangadwara….. as also in Kankhala The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896], Book 13: Anusasanika Parva: Section XXV, p. 130.
  4. Travel guide Haridwar
  5. 5.0 5.1 Kankhal www.indiainfoweb.com.
  6. Kanakhala The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CXXXV.
  7. Historical, Cultural and Social Perspectives Chapter 3, The Cultural Dimension Of Ecology, Baidyanath Saraswati, 1998, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. ISBN 81-246-0102-X. ignca.nic.in. Vanaparva (The Book of the Forest) is third parva , book of Mahabharata.
  8. Janasakhi Janamsakhis of Miharban and Mani Singh, mention this visit to have taken place on the Baisakhi day in 1504 AD. Janamsakhi Tradition, Dr. Kirpal Singh, 2004, Punjabi University, Patiala. ISBN 81-7205-311-8. p. 92. www.globalsikhstudies.net.
  9. Kedar Nath & Badri Narayan - A Pilgrim's Diary. Sister Nivedita, 1928, p. 10-11. www.vivekananda.net.
  10. History The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 371.
  11. Upper Ganges Canal The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1909, v. 12, p. 138.
  12. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kankhal
  13. Haridwar
  14. Places around Haridwar
  15. the Horse-sacrifice of the Prajapati Daksha The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896], Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCLXXXIV. p. 317. “I am known by the name of Virabhadra’’ and I have sprung from the wrath of Rudra. This lady (who is my companion), and who is called Bhadrakali, hath sprung from the wrath of the goddess.”
  16. Story of Daksha's sacrifice and Sati-Shakti
  17. Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Kankhal
  18. Anandamayi ma Ashram
  19. Itihas Gurudwara Guru Amaradas ji, Kanakhala Bishan Singh Kreet. Pub. Diyal Siṅgha Niraṅkari, 1950. (Punjabi) Microform. worldcat.org.
  20. Janamsakhi Guru Granth Sahib p. 1116-1117.
  21. Nirmala www.sikhcybermuseum.org.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Gurukul Official website of Haridwar.
  23. Chronology of Mahatma Gandhi's life/India 1916 Wiki Source.

24, www.haridwarasram.org

External links