page_title: Kankhal
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Kankhal / History
caption_attribution_description: Front facade of Naya Udasin Akhara, Kankhal, Haridwar, with elaborate frescoes and inlay work. One of the many such old buildings in the area, now visitor's attraction in the area.
context_page_description: Kankhal is a small colony in Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand state in India.
  Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala, Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara, Kushwart, Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat.
  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.
context_section_description: 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 Shiv ji the site of Haridwar was made a welcome-gate hence called Haridwar.
  In the Vanaparva of the Mahabharat, where sage Dhaumya tells Yudhishthira about the tirthas of India, Gangadwar, i.e., Haridwar and Kankhal, have been referred to. Kankhal also finds mention in the poem Meghaduta (Cloud messenger), of the 3rd century AD, classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist, Kalidas.
  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. 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 
  As late as early 19th century it used to be a separate town, from Haridwar and Mayapur in the areas, 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. 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.
caption: Front facade of Naya Udasin Akhara, Kankhal, with elaborate frescoes.
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