Sacred Pond Created by Bhima – Near Har Ki Pauri
Bhimgoda Tank is a small but historically significant sacred pond (kund) located in Haridwar, very close to Har Ki Pauri ghat. The name "Bhimgoda" is derived from two words – "Bhim" (Bhima, the mighty Pandava hero) and "goda" meaning knee.
According to Hindu mythology, when the Pandavas were on their journey towards the Himalayas after the Kurukshetra war, Bhima struck his knee (goda) into the ground here to create this water tank. Immediately, a spring of sacred Ganga water gushed out. The tank has been considered holy ever since and is visited by pilgrims as part of their Haridwar yatra.
The Bhimgoda story is closely tied to the Mahabharata tradition. After the end of the great war, the Pandavas undertook a pilgrimage to wash away the sins of the battle. During their journey, they passed through Haridwar (then known as Gangadwar or Mayapuri). Bhima, the strongest of the five brothers, is said to have knelt here and pressed his knee into the rock, creating this sacred kund.
The kund is also associated with Ganga – the water in the tank is believed to flow directly from the sacred Ganga and bathing here is considered equivalent to bathing in Ganga itself.
Bhimgoda Tank is just 200 meters from Har Ki Pauri. From Haridwar Railway Station (1 km), take an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw to Har Ki Pauri and then walk to Bhimgoda Tank. It is well-signposted in the area.