Clock Tower of Haridwar

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Clock Tower of Haridwar
Clock Tower of Haridwar.tif
Clock Tower of Haridwar: view from steps of Har Ki Pauri (2023)
Clock Tower of Haridwar
Alternative namesRaja Birla Tower, Ghantaghar
General information
Type Clock tower
LocationMalviya Island
Town or city Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Country India
Coordinates 29°57′23.5″N78°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.

Contents

The surrounding area has been used as a media platform for the Kumbh Mela. Prior to the 2021 Kumbh Mela artist Harshvardhan Kadam painted it in red and gold 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 Harshvardhan Kadam painted the tower with red and gold 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]

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References

  1. ↑ Raichaudhury, Anjan (2010). "2. Identifying and evaluating opportunities". Managing new ventures: concepts and cases in entrepreneurship. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. p. 32. ISBN   978-81-203-4156-2. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Singh, Dr Yatindra Pal (2021). "18. Haridwar". Clock towers of India. Blue Rose Publishers. pp. 40–41. ISBN   978-9-35427-256-1. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Singh, Dr Yatindra Pal (2021). "About the clock towers of India". Clock towers of India. Blue Rose Publishers. pp. 1–2. ISBN   978-9-35427-256-1. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. ↑ The Rough Guide to India. Rough Guides UK. 2011. p. 365. ISBN   978-1-4053-8847-4. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Singh, Khushwant (2001). Sights and Sounds of the World. Books Today. p. 94. ISBN   978-81-87478-25-6. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Pokharial 'Nishank', Ramesh (2022). Maha Kumbh Biggest Planet Event (A Managerial Perspective). Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. p. 134. 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. ↑ Betts, Vanessa; McCulloch, Victoria (2014). "83. Haridwar, Rishikesh and around". Indian Himalaya Footprint Handbook. Footprint Travel Guides. p. 94. ISBN   978-1-907263-88-0. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. 1 2 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. 1 2 "Places to Visit in Haridwar". Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Murals at Har Ki Pauri and Chandi Ghat". Ganga Yatra: 8. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
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