Clock Tower of Haridwar

Coordinates: 29°57′23.5″N 78°10′16.8″E / 29.956528°N 78.171333°E / 29.956528; 78.171333
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Clock Tower of Haridwar
Clock Tower of Haridwar: view from steps of Har Ki Pauri (2023)
Map
Alternative namesRaja Birla Tower, Ghantaghar
General information
TypeClock tower
LocationMalviya Island
Town or cityHar Ki Pauri, Haridwar, Uttarakhand
CountryIndia
Coordinates29°57′23.5″N 78°10′16.8″E / 29.956528°N 78.171333°E / 29.956528; 78.171333
Completed1938
Height66 feet (20 m)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Raja Baldev Das Birla
Known for

The Clock Tower of Haridwar, also known as the Raja Birla Tower, is a landmark freestanding clock tower, built by Raja Baldev Das Birla in 1938 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Each of its four sides has a clock, with Roman numerals representing hours and dots depicting the minutes. The structure marks a good location from which to watch the evening prayers at Har Ki Pauri.

The surrounding area has been used as a media platform for the

murals to express Hindu mythological stories based on the writings and ideas of the Vaimānika Shāstra
.

History

The Clock Tower of Haridwar, India. also known as the Raja Birla Tower and Ghantaghar, was built by Raja Baldev Das Birla, the founder of the Birla Group,[1] in 1938.[2] Many clock towers were built in India before it was common to own a watch.[3] The tower daily evening Hindu prayers at Har Ki Pauri are easily seen from the tower.[4][5] In 2010 a platform was constructed close to the tower from which nearly 300 media personnel watched the main bathing day of the Kumbh Mela that year.[6]

The tower is on Malviya Island, named after Madan Mohan Malaviya,[7] opposite the steps of Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar.[8] The structure is freestanding and 66 feet (20 m) high.[2] It has four sides, each with a clock face, that use Roman numerals to represent the hours and dots to depict the minutes.[2] The surrounding island has marble flooring, is shaped like a boat, and has its own ghat (steps) to enter the river Ganges.[9] Until 1979 it was connected to other local bathing spots by three bridges.[9]

Prior to the 2021 Kumbh Mela, the artist

murals to express mythological stories based on the work and ideas of the Vaimānika Shāstra.[10][11] The work was part of the Haridwar Mural Project, in collaboration with the Namami Gange Programme and art retailer Mojarto: a venture to find non-traditional platforms to display religious art in Haridwar and to safeguard the river Ganges.[10][11]

Gallery

  • Clock tower (2005)
    Clock tower (2005)
  • Clock Tower (unpainted) view from Har Ki Pauri (2010)
    Clock Tower (unpainted) view from Har Ki Pauri (2010)
  • Clock face (2012)
    Clock face (2012)
  • Clock Tower during evening prayers (2013)
    Clock Tower during evening prayers (2013)
  • Clock Tower during evening prayers (2021 Kumbh Mela)
    Clock Tower during evening prayers (2021 Kumbh Mela)
  • Clock Tower (2023)
    Clock Tower (2023)

References

  1. ISBN 978-81-203-4156-2. Archived
    from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-9-35427-256-1. Archived
    from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ISBN 978-9-35427-256-1. Archived
    from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. ISBN 978-1-4053-8847-4. Archived
    from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  5. ISBN 978-81-87478-25-6. Archived
    from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  6. ISBN 978-93-5599-132-4. Archived
    from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ^ Dash, Trilochan (2017). The Four Dhamas of the Himalayas: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunetri. Soudamini Dash. p. 16. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  8. ISBN 978-1-907263-88-0. Archived
    from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. ^ a b Sharma, Man Mohan (1979). Of Gods and Glaciers: On & Around Mt. Rataban. Vision Books. p. 46. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Places to Visit in Haridwar". Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Murals at Har Ki Pauri and Chandi Ghat". Ganga Yatra: 8. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clock Tower of Haridwar.
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