01Threads on the tree
Mansa means the wish of the mind. Pilgrims climb Bilwa Parvat, the hill named for the bel tree sacred to Mahadev, tie a red thread to the branches of the old tree in the courtyard and make their prayer. When the wish is granted they are expected to come back and untie it. The sanctum holds two murtis of the Devi, one with eight arms and one with three heads and five arms. Many families from western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab make this climb part of every Ganga snan at Haridwar.
02Up the Shivaliks
The hill is the last ridge of the Shivaliks before the plains, and from the temple terrace the Ganga canals and the ghats of Har ki Pauri lie spread below. A stepped path of about a kilometre and a half climbs from the bazaar, and a ropeway now carries most visitors up in a few minutes. During both Navaratris and on Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh bathing days the hill is crowded from dawn.
The ropeway starts near the Upper Road bazaar; a combined ticket also covers the Chandi Devi ropeway. Go early on Navaratri days.
