Deoprayag
Deoprayag is regarded as the most complete showcase
of legends, heritage & traditions. 70 km from
Rishikesh , here the Bhagirathi from Gaumukh &
the Alaknanda from Satopanth unite and for most
Indians, this confluence is no less holy than the
Sangam at Allahabad. These three rivers flowing
majestically through sculptured channels carved
through the rocks have carved angular blocks of
land around the confluence & the town is set
into these three angles. Located at a height of
only 618 m, Deoprayag is an invocation to the gods
who have gfenerously endowed this spot with tremendous
natural beauty. It is believed that Lord Rama and
his father King Dashratha did penance here. The
temple of Raghunathji houses a tall image of Lord
Rama made of black granite. The most celebrated
event at Deoprayag is the congregation of devotees,
who come here to worship at Raghunath temple. There
is also a small temple popular as Bharat Mandir
of Rishikesh in recluse. It is said that on fearing
attack by Aurangzeb the pujaris from Rishikesh installed
the same idol at Deoprayag as makeshift arrangement
& later took it back to Rishikesh.
Srinagar the ancient capital of Tehri Garhwal is
at a distance of 35 km from here.
Rudraprayag
Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), Rudraprayag is situated
at the holy confluence of Alaknanda & Mandakini
rivers, at a distance of 34 km from Srinagar. It
is believed that to master the mysteries of music,
the sage Narad worshipped Lord Shiva, who appeared
in his Rudra incarnation to bless the sage. It was
here, also, that Shivas wife, Sati, was reborn after
her self immolation because her father humiliated
her husband. In her new life, as the daughter of
Himalaya, she did penance here to ask the boon of
Shiva as a husband once again. The ancient temple
of Rudranathji is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Rudraprayag is the point where the two roads branch
off to the holy Shrines of Kedarnath (84 km) &
Badrinath (159 km).
The entire region is blessed with immense natural
beauty, places of religions importance, lakes 8c
glaciers.
Karna Prayag
Situated 11 km from Gauchar, the icy flow from the
Pindari Glacier becomes the Pindari river, and when
it meets the Alaknanda at 788 m, the confluence
is known as Karnaprayag. The wooded thickets of
the hills surrounding Karnaprayag were the meeting
ground for Shakuntala C Raja Dushyanta, immortalised
in Kalidasa's immortal classic and a favourite ballad
ever since. The place derives its name from Kama,
the son of the Queen Kunti and her fiery lover,
Lord Surya (sun), Kama's lineage was kept a secret,
but he propitiated the Sun God here, and acquired
a pair of earrings & armour that made him invincible.
Ultimately, he fell in the battle between the Pandavas
& Kauravas, but remains a tragic hero for in
life he never had the legitimacy he desired. Besides
the temple dedicated to Kama, the temple dedicated
to Goddess Umadevi, Narayan & Gopal stand at
the confluence.
69 km from Gwaldam, Karnaprayag is on the main
Rishikesh Badrinath highway. From here, the road
to SriKedarnath (115 km) goes through Rudraprayag
& the road to Sri Badrinath (128 km) through
Joshimath.
Karnaprayag is the base for treks to Roopkund and
the Bedni Bugyals and the approach to the Pindari
Glacier.
Nandprayag
22 km from Kama Prayag, Nand Prayag at 914 m forms
the confluence of the Alaknanda & Mandakini
(flowing from a glacier near Nanda Devi Peak) rivers.
On their way to Tapovan across Kunwari Pass or on
their way to Roopkund, it is popular with trekkers.
It is said that the confluence is named for the
pious Raja Nanda. According to one legend, the king
had been promised the boon of Vishnu as a son. Unfortunately,
the same boon had been granted to Devki, the imprisoned
sister of the tyrant king, Kansa. Ultimately, the
gods found an ingenuous if wily solution: Vishnu
would be born as Krishna to Devki but would be brought
up by Raja Nandas wife, Yasodha.
Vishnuprayag
Hormed by the confluence of the impetuous Vishnu
Ganga (known after this point, as the Alaknanda)
and the Dhauliganga river, Vishnu Prayag, 1372m,
has an ancient temple called Vishnu Kund. It is
said that the sage Narad worshipped Vishnu at this
sanctified spot. Visitors will find the Kagbhusandi
Lake bewitching with its emerald green depths giving
it a still surface, while on the banks, blossoms
evoke the colours of nature in all her glory. The
lake can also be approached from Vishnuprayag beside
from Bhundhar village near Ghangaria.