Known for being the place where the epic Mahabharata took place is the ancient and mystical city of Hastinapur. It is said that after the Pandavas won the war, they ruled this city for the next 36 years, until the Kalyug age. Geographical, natural, scriptural, and physical proofs have been found to validate this belief that the Mahabharata was fought here. You can imagine that since this an ancient city, there are a lot of temples and places of worship that are age old and have been there in this city for a very long time. The city is visited by Hindus as well as Jain devotees and there are numerous tourist places to visit in Hastinapur; temples like Karn Temple, Old Pandeshwar Temple, Digambar Jain Bada Temple and many more are present in the city for tourists and devotees to come visit. Let us check out some of the best places to see on your trip to Hastinapur.

The Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area for endangered animals and birds and spreads across a massive area of 2073 sq km. This sanctuary is so huge that it spreads across four districts Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Meerut, Bijnor and Ghaziabad and is also believed to be a part of the Mahabharata battlefield. You can see a number of endangered species in the sanctuary which are in their natural habitat and not disturbed by external manmade elements; animals like wild cats, fox, monkeys, leopards, bijju, wild hogs etc can be spotted in the sanctuary. There are different varieties of reptiles as well as insects too. The Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary also has a 72 feet tall Hanuman Temple that is visited by many who come here.

The original Ashtapad is a structure that was built a long time ago up in the Himalayas and it is believed that the first Jain Tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabdev attained salvation at this very spot. After a few years, his son Maharaj Bharat Chakravarti built a palace next to this spot and also decorated the whole structure with diamonds. It is believed by the Jains that one who visits the place will attain salvation; it is because of this belief that the Jain community thought of building a similar structure in Hastinapur. This spiritual center in Hastinapur is 151 ft and a diameter of 108 m; every step is the same height as the diameter of the structure. It is an absolute beautiful structure to witness if you visit this city.

One of the most important and significant pilgrimage sites for Jains in Hastinapur is the Bada Digambar Jain Mandir which is located on a hillock that is 40 ft high. Inside this temple is a huge idol of Bhagwan Shantinath sitting in a Padmasan position; this is the biggest attraction in the temple and devotees from all over the country flock to Hastinapur to see and worship the shrine. The temple complex has many other temples in it that are notable and definitely worth visiting. This temple is an important one for Jains and it is said that prayers here are always answered.

The Jambudweep Jain Tirth comprises of many different temples in one complex. All these temples are created using unique designs and intricate detailing. The architecture of these places of worship is quite interesting and attracts people who are interested in architecture, art and history. This pilgrimage is one of the most important ones for the Jains as it has some of the most revered temples. In this temple complex, you can visit the mandirs as well as meditation halls that have a peaceful surrounding. This is the best place in the city to come for some quiet and peaceful time.

Located at a distance of 2.5 km from Hastinapur, the Bhai Dharam Singh Gurudwara is a fabulous Gurudwara that is situated in Saifpur Village. The Gurudwara is said to be one of the most pious and religious places of worship for the Sikhs in India as well as abroad. If you don’t go during peak times, the Gurudwara is not too crowded and a half hour visit could be very refreshing. There is a lot of space inside the structure and one can go and sit there for hours and be one with God. This structure was constructed by Bhai Dharam Singh and he was also a part of the panj pyare, as instructed by Guru Gobind Singh.

Hastinapur is a very old city and there are a lot of ancient temples that were recently dug up. One of the oldest temples in the city that was located in the ruins of the city is the Pandeshwar Mahadev Temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has a shrine places right inside the temple; it is said that this Shiv ling that is present inside the temple was given by Danvir Karan, one of the greatest philanthropist of his times and also the eldest brother of the Pandavas. The Pandeshwar Mahadev Temple is located right below a Kali temple that is perched on top of a hillock and provides some of the best views.

Kailash Parvat in Hastinapur is one of the oldest temples present in the Shri Digambar Jain Temple complex. Inspired from Kailash Parbat in the Himalayas, this temple was built in Hastinapur and is a highly revered one. The structure is 131 ft high and has an 11.25 ft high shrine of Bhagwan Rishabdev. The architecture of the temple is magnificent and worth paying a visit. The premise of this temple has many other Jain Temples, Bhojanshala, Auditorium and many more amenities.

Located very close to the Pandeshwar Temple in the same complex is the Karan Temple, situated at about 2 km from the center of the city. This temple is very close to River Ganga and has a Shiv Ling inside the temple; this Linga is said to be established by Karna, a prominent figure in the Mahabharata. Visitors go to this temple to see and worship the deity of Lord Shiva and offer their prayers. The temple is perched right by the river and is known as Budhi Ghat. You can do a boat ride to Budhi Ghat to go to the temple as well.

Nishiyajis are places of worship amongst Jains and there are three different Nishiyajis in Hastinapur; one being the Shantinath Nishiyaji, second being Aranath Nishiyaji and the third being Adinath Nishiyaji. The Adinath Nishiyaji is controlled and funded by Sri Shwethambar Jain Samaj and is dedicated to Lord Adinath. This was the exact place where he first broke his fast after one whole year. When Lord Adinath came to that spot, the brother of the rule of Hastinapur, Shreyansa Kumar gave the Lord some sugar cane juice to break his fast and thereafter built this temple to commemorate that fact that Lord Adinath ate here for the first time in one year. The best time to visit the temple is during festivals like Akshay Tritiya Parv, Holi etc to enjoy the temple fully.

Kamal Mandir, also known as the Lotus Temple is built in the vicinity of the amazing Jambudweep Temple and was built in the year 1975. This temple has a unique structure that resembles the shape of a lotus and is very pleasing to the eyes. The temple houses a shrine of Lord Mahavir and attracts flocks of people and devotees from all over the country. Devotees come here to worship and give huge donations to the temple in the name of God; they also light earthen lamps and give away golden umbrellas in order to see their wishes come true. The temple is set up in a beautiful place and there is a serene feel to the place when you enter.