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 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 generously 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 worhsip
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 Aurangazeb the pujaris from
Rishikesh installed the same idol at Deoprayag as makeshift
arrangement and later took it back to Rishikesh.
A big stone
on the Bhagirathi's bank is called the Vashistkund named
after sage vashist, under whose auspices lord Indra
performed his Yoga. The stone has the exact spot marked
on it.
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 Named
after Lord Shiva (Rudra), Rudraprayag is situated
at the holy confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini
River, 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 Shiva's 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 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) and
Badrinath (159 km).
The
entire region is blessed with immense natural
beauty, places of religious importance, lakes
and glaciers.
50 years ago a blind
Sadhu Swami Sachidanand worshipped here and was
completely cured of his blindness, in gratitude
he renovated the temple and build several necessary
institutions at Rudraprayag. |
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 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 wodded thickets
of the hills surroundings Karnaprayag were the
meeting ground for Shakuntala and Raja Dushyanta,
immortalized in Kalidasa's immortal classic
and a favourite ballad ever since. The place
derives its name from Karna, the son of the
Queen Kunti and her fiery lover, Lord Surya
(sun), Karna's lineage was kept a secret, but
he propitiated the Sun God here,and acquired
a pair of earrings and armour that made him
invincible. Ultimately, he fell in the battle
between the Pandavas and Kauravas, but remains
a tragic hero for in life he never had the legitimacy
he desired. The Karna Maudi is on the left bank
of the river Hare Ganga first above the confluence
of the Pindari and the Alaknanda. Two large
stone images of Karna and his green Padmavati
are installed here. The place is further sanctified
owing to the belief that Ganga and Shiva also
appeared here to Karna in person. Beside the
temple dedicated to Karna, the temple dedicated
to Goddess Umadevi, Narayan and Gopal stand
at the confluence.
Karnaprayag is the
base for treks to Roopkund and the Bedni Bugyals
and the approach to the Pindari Glacier. |
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 22
km from Karnaprayag, Nand Prayag at 914 m forms
the confuence of the Alaknanda and 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. He came here
to perform the Maha Yagna. The slab on which
the Yagna was performed is the foundation stone
for the Nand temple. Nandprayag was once the
capital of Yadu Kingdom. It is also believed
a dip in this confluence cleaness one of all
the sins. 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 ingeneuos
if wily solution: Vishnu would be born as krishna
to Devki but would be brought up by Raja Nanda's
wife, Yasodha.
50 km north east of
Nandprayag is Vairaskund where Ravana is believed
to have done intense Tapasaya to appease Lord
Shiva and get his blessings. He offered as sacrifice
his ten heads. |
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One
of the five prayags of the region, this place
is situated at about 12 km from Joshimath.
Formed
by the confluence of the impetuouse Vishnu Ganaga
(known after this poingt as the Alaknanda) and
the Dhauliganga river, Vishnu Prayag, 1372 m.
has an ancient temple called Vishnu kund. It
is said that the sage Narad worshipped Vishnu
at this Sanctified spot. The temple is associated
with sage Narad's defiance of Lord Brahma. As
a worshipper of Vishnu he defied Brahma, incurred
his wrath and curse. It led to Narad's birth
in human form and construction of the Vishnu
temple. Visitors will find the Kagbhusandi Lake
bewitfhing 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
besides from Bhundhar village near Ghangaria.
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