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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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