Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand: Guide for Five Divine Sangams, Accomodation, Weather & How to Reach.
Introducing Panch Prayag
Panch Prayag are holy confluences of five divine spots of different rivers embarked with Hindu mythological importance. The rivers in these five spots are believed to be River Goddesses. Being a crucial integral part of the Chota Char Dham Yatra for pilgrims, people worship these river confluences at these divine banks or ghats and baths to seek blessings. The Panch Prayag or five sacred river confluences is in the Indian State of Uttarakhand of Garhwal Himalayas. The Panch Prayag meet together to merge in the Holy River Ganga. In Sanskrit, Panch Prayag, Prayag means ‘Sangam or confluence’.
The Panch Prayag that are in descending order of converging rivers are:
- Vishnuprayag: The First Meeting Point of Vishnu Ganga and Dhauliganga River that forms the Alaknanda River
- Nandaprayag: The Second Meeting Point of Alaknanda and Nandakini River
- Karnaprayag: The Third Meeting Point of Pindar and Alaknanda River
- Rudraprayag: The Fourth Meeting Point of Alaknanda and Mandakini River
- Devprayag: The Final and Fifth Meeting point of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers to form the Devi Ganga River.
The Vishnuprayag is a pilgrimage site whereas towns are named after the other four Prayag: Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag.
Table of Contents
- Introducing Panch Prayag
- Vishnuprayag: The Confluence Of Vishnu Ganga And Dhauliganga River
- Nandaprayag: The Confluence Of Alaknanda And Nandakini River
- Karnaprayag: The Confluence Of Pindar And Alaknanda River
- Rudraprayag: The Confluence Of Alaknanda And Mandakini River
- Devprayag: The Confluence Of Alaknanda And Bhagirathi River
- How To Reach Panch Prayag?
- By Airways
- By Railways
- Accommodations Near Panch Prayag
- Best Time To Visit Panch Prayag And Its Celebrations
- Festivals Celebrated Here
- FAQs
- Explore More Places Like The Holy Chronicles Of Panch Prayag
Vishnuprayag: The Confluence of Vishnu Ganga and Dhauliganga River
Geography:
Elevation- 1372 m(4500 ft)
Vishnuprayag is a holy city in the Chamoli district of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The Vishnu Ganga, or Alaknanda, originates from the eastern slopes of Chaukhamba from the Satopanth Glacier at Mana Pass and the Dhauli Ganga from Niti Pass at the Indo-Tibet border, and the intersection is called Vishnuprayag. Vishnuprayag derives its name from Lord Vishnu, a Hindu god, and the journey of River Ganga begins. There are pilgrimages and ashram sites to visit, and you can do fun water sports here like rafting and sightseeing. The Vishnuprayag Hydroelectric Project was initiated in 2013 by Jaiprakash Power Ventures, which built a 17 m high embankment to generate electricity in the region. However, taking dips in this confluence is prohibited as the rivers flow with full gusto but you can touch the river water from banks.
Spiritual Fact:
Vishnuprayag holds significant importance in Hindu mythology. As the name of the confluence is derived from the Hindu God – Lord Vishnu: the Preserver, the place holds sacred facts you might like to know:
- According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Vishnu has paid an obeisance in Vishnuprayag.
- In Vishnuprayag, Narad Muni rigorously meditated on Vishnu’s name to seek blessings. Here the Lord appeared to grant Narad a boon of wisdom.
- At a distance of 35 km, Shri Badrinath temple, a magnificent temple of Lord Vishnu is where thousands of devotees worship.
- Before heading to Badrinath – Char Dham Yatra, pilgrims pray and seek Lord Vishnu’s blessings in Vishnuprayag for a safe journey.
- The Vishnu temple in this confluence has a stair that leads to Visnu Kund (a water pool) at the confluence.
Visit places like:
- Vishnuprayag Dam
- Vishnuprayag Temple
- Kagbhusandi Lake
- Hanuman Chatti
- Vishnu Kund
- Chopta
- Badrinath Dham (32 km from Vishnuprayag)
What You Can Explore Here:
- Explore the Vishnu temples and ashrams and participate in spiritual practices.
- Adventure activities like river rafting, hiking and trekking nearby excursions like Valley of Flowers and Kuari Pass.
- Tate the local Garhwali cuisines like Kafuli, Jhangora Kheer, Phaanu, and Singodi.
Nandaprayag: The Confluence of Alaknanda and Nandakini River
Geography:
Elevation: 1358 m (4455 ft)
Nandprayag is the holy town 70 km from Vishnuprayag, the Nandakini river, a glacial river from the eastern Nanda Ghunti peak joins the Alaknanda at this stage. It was the capital of the Yadu Kingdom in ancient times and the Nagar panchayat of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand in recent times. One of the six main tributaries, the Nandakini River covers a distance of 105 km before merging with the Alaknanda. The Jalvidyut UJVN, a government enterprise has initiated the Bowala NandPrayag Hydro Electric Power Project and construction of an embankment on the Nandprayag confluence. The project aimed to generate 300 MV of energy for the region.
Spiritual Fact:
- According to Hindu mythology, Nanda Raja, the foster father of Lord Krishna and friend of Vasudev (the father of Lord Krishna) performed Maha Yajya to appease Vishnu for a son.
- Similarly, Vasudev and Devki did penance to grant a boon for a son from Lord Vishnu.
- Lord Vishnu granted boons to both Nandlal-Yashoda and Vasudev-Devki and Vishnu took incarnation of Lord Krishna in DwaparYug. Here a Gopalnath temple is built as the temple of Little Krishna.
- Vasudev-Devki gave birth to Lord Krishna, and Vasudev handed over the baby Lord to Nand Raja-Yashoda who took care of the child.
- As the Nand Raja was successful in appeasing the Lord, the town was named after him as Nandprayag.
- Also, the Nandakini River was named after it emerged from Nanda Devi Peak. Here Nanda Devi is referred to as Goddess, an incarnation of Shakti.
- Rishi Kanva, the foster father of Shakuntala who had a great role in Rig Veda and Yajur Veda has performed rigorous penance in the banks of this confluence.
- At this place, King Dushyanta married Shakuntala.
Places to Visit:
- Auli
- Joshimath
- Chandika Devi Temple
- Gopalji Temple
- Khirsu
- Hemkunt Sahib
- Pokhara
- Nanda Devi Temple
- Nanda Devi Peak
- Kanakchauri
- Gopeshwar
- Deoria Tal
What You Can Explore Here:
- Take a holy dip in the confluence of Nandprayag and practice religious worship.
- Enjoy boating, river rafting, and nature walks.
- Enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and going to bonfires in winter.
- Plan treks to Chandrashila, Tungnath, Kalpeshwar, Valley of Flowers, Nanda Devi and Trishul Peaks.
Karnaprayag: The Confluence of Pindar and Alaknanda River
Geography:
Elevation: 860 m (2820 ft)
The holy town of Karnaprayag in the Chamoli district is the confluence where Pindar joins the Alaknanda River. The Pindar River originates from Pindari Glacier in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The third pilgrimage site of Panch Prayag is 20.4 km from Nandprayag. The town connects the Garhwal and Kumaon regions at NH109. Swami Vivekanand is a monk, philosopher and religious teacher who has meditated at this place along with his Guru brothers: Guru Turianand Ji and Guru Akharanand Ji.
Spiritual Fact:
- The Karnaprayag is named
- The Karnaprayag is also called “ The City of Karna- the Suryaputra”.
- Here Karna meditated on the name of his father Surya Dev or Sun and a Karna Temple is located here.
- During the Mahabharata time, when the war of arrows was going on between Arjun and Karna, the Karna sun chariot was stuck in the mud. He was trying to take the chariot’s wheel out but was helpless. Shri Krishan knows that Karna has the only strength to stand against Arjun. He disguised himself as a Brahmin and asked Karna for alms. Karna was also known as Daanveer—the Great Donor. He gave his blood as alms, and then Krishan made him recall the wrong deeds of Karna. The Lord Krishna asked Karna, “Let the Dharma win,” showing his most celestial incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Krishna told Arjuna to hit the arrow when Karna was stuck. Krishna performed the cremation of Karna at this auspicious town of Karnaprayag.
- Also, Goddess Parvati, Uma Temple is situated near the confluence in Karnaprayag.
Places to Visit:
- Karnaprayag Sangam or confluence
- Karna Temple
- Uma Temple
- Chandika Devi Simli
- Haryali Devi Temple
- Adi Badri Nauti Village
- Auli
- Joshimath
What You Can Explore Here:
- Visit the confluence and take dips in holy water.
- Photography, exploration, nature walks, hiking and sightseeing are some activities you will enjoy.
- Visit temples and local shrines to seek blessings.
- Explore the local markets and handicrafts.
Rudraprayag: The Confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini River
Geography:
Elevation:
895 m (2936 ft)
The fourth confluence is Rudraprayag, a district of Uttarakhand, where the Mandakini River from Charabari Glacier, Kedarnath, joins the Alaknanda. The Rudraprayag district, covering 2439 square km, is formed from the parts of the towns of Augustmuni-Ukhimath block from Chamoli, Jakholi-Kirtinagar block from Tehri, and Khirsu block from Pauri. This holy place was established as a district on 16 September 1997. This confluence is 31.9 km from Karnaprayag, which is naturally stunning and spiritually significant. During the Kedarnath devastating flood of 2013, the Rudraprayag area was damaged, and the footbridge, or Jhula, across the Mandakini was destroyed. Here Jim Corbett shot the ‘Leopard of Rudraprayag,’ which killed over 125 people.
Spiritual Fact:
- The city of Rudraprayag derives its name from Lord Shiva’s incarnation, Rudra.
- Lord Shiva in the avatar of Rudra, gave darshan to Narad Muni. He learned music from Rudra, also known as the Lord of Music.
- Narad Shila is here where Narad Muni has meditated.
- Rudraprayag is a significant part of Char Dham Yatra as the district lies in the path of the Kedarnath-Badrinath route.
Places to Visit:
- Rudraprayag confluence
- Rudranath Temple
- Jagdamba Temple
- Kedarnath temple
- Madhyamaheshwar temple
- Kartik Swami Temple
- Mathiyana Devi Temple
- Kalimath
- Vasuki Tal
- Triyuginarayan
- Koteshwar Mahadev
- Agastyamuni Temple
- Tungnath
- Guptkashi
- Gaurikund
- Villages like Maikoti, Jaggi Kandai, Baron Dewai, and Bawai
What You Can Explore Here:
- Visit the Rudraprayag confluence
- Explore villages, emerald lakes, incredible massifs and the natural surroundings
- Visit the holy shrines of Rudraprayag
- Check out the local handicrafts and other items.
- Enjoy exclusive traditional Garhwali cuisines.
Devprayag: The Confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi River
Geography:
Elevation: 830 m (2730 ft)
Devprayag, or “Godly Confluence,” is the final destination where Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda, completing the Ganga River System. This confluence is 67 km from Rudraprayag. Located in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand, the Bhagirathi River joins from Gaumukh. Here the river Ganga is formed, which is widely worshipped by the Indians to rinse off their sins. After this, the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati merge to form the Triveni Sangam at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Devprayag is surrounded by three peaks: Gidhhanchal, Narainghanchal, and Dashrathanchal. This holy place is also called the Land of Late Pandit Chandrashekhar Joshi, who set up Nakshatra Veda Shala, an observatory in 1946 at the peak of Dashrathanchal with ancient tools like Surya Ghati and Dhruv Ghati.
Spiritual Fact:
- It is believed that Lord Ram and his father King Dashrath did meditation here.
- Lord Rama has also meditated to get rid of the sin of Brahma Hatya—the killing of Ravana (a Brahma Rakshas).
- Here the Raghunathji temple is situated by Lord Rama.
- Dev Sharma, the sage who did great tapasya and had a glimpse of God.
- After the rigorous penance of Lord Brahma, the Creator, Bhagirathi succeeded in bringing Ganga to the earth.
- Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Tondeshwar Mahadev and Dhaneshwar Mahadev.
Places to Visit:
- Devprayag Confluence
- Raghunath temple
- Chandrabadni temple
- Mata Pundeshwari temple
- Tondeshwar Mahadev temple
- Danda Nagraja temple
- Peaks like Gidhhanchal, Narainghanchal and Dashrathanchal Peaks
- Nakshatra Veda observatory
- Yog Niketan Dham
- Kyunkaleshwar temple
What You Can Explore Here:
- Visit the confluence of Devprayag
- Take blessings from the holy shrines and explore the places nearby.
- Try the cuisines and explore the local markets.
- Sightseeing, trekking and photography.
How to Reach Panch Prayag?
The journey of Panch Prayag begins at the first confluence, Devprayag. Travelling from a major city like Delhi, first, reach Haridwar or Rishikesh and then take a bus or hire a cab to Devprayag.
Delhi (Kashmiri Gate) buses are available for Haridwar and Rishikesh.
The Panch Prayag route is well connected to the road, and you can seek the blessings of each confluence at the ghats where divine arti takes place.
The following route for Panch Prayag goes like this:
- Rishikesh to Vishnuprayag via NH7(that connects Rishikesh, Dehradun, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Chamoli, Badrinath, and Mana)
- Vishnuprayag to Rudraprayag via NH7
- Rudraprayag to Karnaprayag via NH7
- Karnaprayag to Nandprayag ghat road via NH7
- Nandprayag to Vishnuprayag via NH7 near Joshimath
Destinations | Distance | Duration |
Rishikesh to Devprayag | 70.3 km | 2 hrs |
Devprayag to Rudraprayag | 66 km | 1-2 hrs |
Rudraprayag to Karnaprayag | 32.2 km | 1 hr |
Karnaprayag to Nandprayag | 21 km | 40 minutes |
Nandprayag to Vishnuprayag | 71 km | 2 hrs 30 minutes |
Delhi to Devprayag | 309 km | More than 5 hrs |
Dehradun to Devprayag | 112 km | 3-4 hrs approx |
Haridwar to Devprayag | 97 km | 3 hrs approx |
By Airways
Visitors who want to travel by airways from major cities can fly to Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, which is 88 km via SH24 and NH7 roads from Devprayag. From the airport, hire a taxi or cab to the destination.
By Railways
Rishikesh railway station is nearest to Devprayag, from where the Panch Prayag journey begins. The railhead of Rishikesh is 69.5 km via the NH7 road near the Indo-Tibetan border. You can hire a taxi or local bus.
Accommodations near Panch Prayag
Accommodations | Features | Price |
Hotel Pyas Ganga, Devprayag | A standard hotel with basic amenities | Price on request |
Hotel Raghunath Palace, Devprayag | Deluxe hotel and room options, all facilities available | Rs. 6000 |
The Tattva, Devprayag | 4-star stay with all luxury facilities, beautiful ambience | Price on Request |
Motel Dev | Restaurant and clean stay | Rs. 4000-5000 |
Riverside Homestay | Accommodation near the river, beautiful views, great hospitality | Rs. 3500 |
GMVN Devprayag | A Tourist Bungalow with clean rooms, and amenities available. 24-hrs services | Rs.700-1500 |
Shiv Forest Villa, Devprayag | Located amidst the mountains of Devprayag, there is an on-site coffee shop with all amenities | Rs. 2600-3500 |
best time to visit panch prayag
Summer(April to June):
In summer, experience pleasant weather at Devprayag with clear skies and warmth. The temperature is around 30℃ to 20℃, which is ideal for visiting the Panch Prayag and the journey is comfortable.
Monsoon(July to September):
Heavy rainfall makes the route difficult to travel due to landslides, slippery roads and monsoon floods near ghats. This is not an ideal season to travel near Panch Prayag.
Autumn(October to November):
Autumn arrives after post-monsoon showers, making the sky clearer. The temperature starts dropping from 20℃ to 10℃, so it is the best time to visit all the five confluences.
Winter(December to March):
The winter is chilly and can experience snow in the middle of the season. The temperature may range from 10℃ to -9℃. This is not a comfortable season to visit the Panch Prayag, people who can travel in snow can plan a tour.
Watch This Video to Check How to visit Panch Prayag
Festivals Celebrated Here
The festivals are celebrated with full enthusiasm near the ghats of Panch Prayag. Holy dips are considered auspicious as part of the rich Hindu heritage. Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Basant Pachmi, and Ram Navami are integral Hindu festivals where devotees worship and take dips at the holy confluences to rinse off sins, purify their souls, and meditate on God’s name. In other Hindu festivals like Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Navratri, etc., the puja and Aartis are performed at the Panch Prayag banks.
Timings of Arti:
Morning – 6.00 AM
Evening – 6.30 PM
FAQs
What is the importance of Panch Prayag?
The Panch Prayag are the five holy confluences that form the river Ganga.
When is the best time to visit Panch Prayag?
You can visit the Panch Prayag from March to June and September to November.
Are there any entry fees for visiting the Panch Prayag?
No fees are there to visit the Panch Prayag confluences.
What important points must be taken care of while visiting the Panch Prayag?
- Take valid ID proofs with you
- Take the necessary things required while travelling
- Stay polite and maintain decorum while visiting holy places.
Is visiting the river confluences safe?
Yes, bathing steps are made so people can bathe with care from the river water level.
Can we take holy dips in Panch Prayag?
Yes, you can take holy dips in the four confluences: Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, and Devprayag. But do not get too close to Vishnuprayag because of the strong flow of rivers.
Can we visit the Panch Prayag confluences anytime?
Yes, you can visit anytime.