Places in Panch Pryag

  Panch Prayag

Nandpryag

Nandaprayag, one of the sacred Panch Prayags is one holy site that’ll invariably lift your spirits and soul with the deep divinity that pervades the surroundings. If you wish to wash away your mortal sins forever visiting the Nandaprayag during your Chardham yatra is quite indispensable. Here follows the general travel info guide to Nandaprayag to make your journey easy. Read on-

Nandprayag

Rivers Mandakini and Alkananda meet at Nandprayag to form the sacred confluence. It is believed that if anyone takes a holy dip here, all the past sins are washed away. Nandprayag is second in line of the Panch-Prayag or the Sacred Confluences (namely, Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, and Devprayag) that cascades down the Himalayas. The Prayags are teeming with myths and legends and the scenic splendour around makes you to believe all of them unquestioningly!

Mesmerising and equally beautiful Nandprayag, like all others, has its own fair share of the myths too. Stories abound that once a devout King named Nanda performed a Yajna (fire-ritual) here to appease God. The confluence, henceforth, got named after him. Another tale relates to King Nanda, lord Krishna’s foster-father. In their previous incarnation, both King Nanda and Devaki were granted the boon that Lord Vishnu will take birth as their son. But, King Nanda had his wife as Yashoda, whereas Devaki was wedded to King Vasudeva. To resolve the dilemma, it was decided that Lord Vishnu will take birth from Devaki’s womb but will be brought up by Nanda. Sage Kanva too did his penance here, as the legend claims. King Dushyant married Shakuntala at this very place.

Sightseeing

Nand Temple, just at the confluence of the mighty Alkananda and Mandakini, holds a great reverence for the locals. The Puranic King Nanda performed yajna on a stone-slab here, which is used as the foundation stone for this temple. There is a Gopal Temple & Raghunath Temple here too and several other temples.

Raghunath Temple

Upwards, one may go to Vishnuprayag, the confluence of Dhauli Ganga and Alkananda. Downwards, there are Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag, worth visiting for their religious significance as well as the unadulterated natural beauty. Badrinath Temple, one of the spot of the sacred Chardham circuit, is 14 km from Nandprayag, is a major religious destination. Auli, at 73 km, is a popular skiing and paragliding destination. Auli has Asia’s highest and longest cable-car connecting Joshimath. Mini Switzerland of India is Chopta, for its mind-blowing views of the majestic and supremely beautiful Himalayas. It is 53 km from Nandprayag.

Activities

Major activities in Nandprayag for the tourists are Spirituality, Trekking, Hiking and Sight-seeing. The picturesque setting is a wonderful meditation retreat. The fresh air is simply refreshing and clears away all the toxic elements within heart and mind. Adi Badri, Auli, Badrinath, Bedni Ali Bugyal, Chamoli, Gairsain, Gauchar, Gaurikund, Ghangaria, Gopeshwar, Devprayag, Rudraprayag are some of the nearby destinations which compete in beauty and tranquillity of Nandprayag.

Accommodation

There is GMVN Tourist Rest house which provides comfortable stay. Besides, there are quite a number of budget hotels within affordable range and also several ashrams and dharamshalas that also provide decent accommodation for the tourists and pilgrims.

Shopping

Nandprayag is not a major shopping destination, but you may find various religious souvenirs like rosary beads, semi-precious stones, photo-frames of Hindu gods and goddesses and sundry others. The locals here are warm, full of smile, hard-working and honest.

Cuisine

Delectable cuisines includes Indian, south-Indian, Continental and local Uttarakhandi food. There are quite a number of hotels and restaurants to choose from. The north-Indian thali typically includes roti/paratha/naan,rice, daal, sabzi, pickle and dessert. The hilly fruits too are simply delicious, so do try out fruit-tasting too.

How to Reach:

By Air – Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport well-connected to the IGI airport of Delhi. It is 18 km from Rishikesh, the starting portal to the Garhwal Himalayas. Buses and taxis are available from airport.
By Rail – Rishikesh is the railhead connected to most of the major stations of the country. But, it is a small station and does not receive Express trains.
By Road – Nandprayag is on Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway and the journey starts from Rishikesh. Taxis and buses are available from major destination nearby. Rishikesh to Nandprayag is 190 km.

 Vishnupryag

Vishnuprayag’ one of the holy Panch Prayags perched in the high altitudes of Uttarakhand is a site of mystic natural beauty and spiritual splendor. Pilgrims to Chardhams make it a point to visit Vishnuprayag to bathe in its divine aura. If you are curious about Vishnuprayag and need to know its travel info in details, read on-

Vishnuprayag forms one of the Panchprayags with Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag and Devprayag being the other four. You will come across Vishnuprayag if you are going on to Badrinath on your Chardham yatra. This place of pilgrimage is located about 10 km from Joshimath in Chamoli, which is also the point from where one goes on to Badrinath. Vishnuprayag is where the holy Alaknanda meets the Dhauliganga after it originates at Chaukhambha and passes by Badrinath temple.

Activities

It is a long trip from Rishikesh and if you plan to return, there will be little time to visit any other places. Besides, you may have planned to go on to Badrinath. If you stay over in Joshimath then you can visit Auli, a winter sports destination about 29 km away with a 4 km rope-way giving you a breathtaking view of the scenery below. Chopta is another scenic destination about 117 km away.

The Vishnuprayag hydroelectric power project site is also worth a visit. Plan the trip in summer and you can visit the fabulous Valley of Flowers National Park, only 16 km from Govind Ghat. Closer to Vishnuprayag you have the beautiful Kagbbhushandi Lake with its crystal clear waters reflecting the mountains giving you a real treat.

Best Time to Visit

Vishnuprayag is located at a height of 1370 metres and as such it is open throughout the year unlike char dhams.
Summer is the best time to visit but it may be crowded since most pilgrims prefer this season for travel. It is pleasantly cool during the day and may get chilly at night so do not forget to pack woolens. Monsoon is when the entire region takes on a mantle of green and there are small rivulets cascading down the mountainside so this may be a better season to travel but be prepared for landslides and delays. Winter is when it becomes quite chilly. If you love winter sports Auli is not far away and you can combine an adventure and fun trip with a pilgrimage to Vishnuprayag.

Getting There

Haridwar is a major junction connected to major cities of India and from here you go on to Rishikesh, which is about 263 km from Vishnuprayag.

From Rishikesh it is easy to travel by private taxi or buses to Joshimath and from there to Vishnuprayag or direct. One can also travel by buses from Delhi or from Nainital.

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, about 283 km from Vishnuprayag.

Vishnuprayag appears almost desolate with little human habitation and you have to walk over a hanging bridge and descend down staris in the hillside to reach the confluence.

Accommodation

Stay in Rishikesh since there are different kinds of accommodation available here and leave for Vishnuprayag early in the morning. Alternatively, you can stay at Joshimath. If you visit in winter then this is all to the good since Joshimath happens to be the winter home for Lord Badrinath. Joshimath can also be your starting point to trips to nearby places.

Dining

Joshimath is where you should dine since Vishnuprayag is just without any satisfactory dining or stay facilities. There are dhabas on the highway but then the quality of food is always suspect.

Shopping

There is only one reason to visit Vishnuprayag and that is to

Devpryag

Uttarakhand, the Daivya Bhoomi or the land of Gods is dotted with many sacred places apart from the Holy Chardhams. For the pious pilgrims who make a bee line to the Chardhams, ‘Dev prayag’ too is a must-visit place. Dev Prayag falls no less in spiritual glory than the Char dhams. It is the holy confluence of River Bhagirathi and River Alakananda. These two sacred rivers join at Dev Prayag to give rise to the mighty and one of the holiest rivers of Hindu mythology, the Ganges. Visiting Dev Prayag would indeed be a lifetime experience for you, if you are a true God believer and devout Hindu at heart. To know more in details about the place, read on.

In addition to the famous char dhams of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath, there are five other holy places that are a must on the pilgrim’s itinerary. These are the panch prayag. Prayag means confluence and these panch prayags are places where the holy rivers confluence. Vishnu Prayag, Nanda Prayag, Karn Prayag, Rudra Prayag and Dev Prayag form the quintet of confluences of which Dev Prayag is considered the most important because this is where Alaknanda meets Bhagirathi and the mythical Saraswati also comes together to form the Holy Ganges.

Though the Ganga is said to start at Gangotri, the actual starting point is considered as Devprayag. Dev Prayag is also the place where the Devasharma, an ancient Hindu sage, spent time in meditation. The temple of Raghunathji, in the shape of a pyramid and built with large stones, can be found in this small town. It is said that Saraswati, Ganga and Alaknanda join at the feet of Raghunathji in this temple.

A dip in the holy waters is obligatory and is said to wash away sins and free a pilgrim from the eternal cycle of rebirth. In fact, a number of times one has observed pilgrims entering the swirling waters to be swept away to eternal bliss.

Sightseeing & Activities

The main attraction in Devprayag is the Raghunathji Temple of Lord Rama located at the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. Then there is the Dashrathshila where it is said Dashratha performed penance. The other places of interest are the Brahm kund, the Vashistha Kund, Baital Kund, Surya Kund, Pushpavatika and temples dedicated to Bharata, Durga, Vishveshvara and Bhushandi. From Devprayag you can go on to Shivpuri for some adventure sports like mountaineering, water rafting and kayaking. Shivpuri also has yoga camps and offers full facilities for trekking alongside the Ganga, on the mountains and along forest trails. Chandrabadni temple is one of the siddhpeeths and is said to house the torso of Goddess Sati. Tehri dam is also in the vicinity, at a distance of 80 Km.

How to Reach Devprayag

You can travel directly to Devprayag from Delhi by coach, bus or by private car. It is a journey of 300 kilometres across scenic landscape on National Highway NH58 taking you across the Mana Pass. However, it is better to travel overnight. Another way is to travel by train to Haridwar or fly to Jolly Grant airport at a distance of 116 km from Devprayag and then take a bus or taxi. Haridwar is the main railway junction connected to all parts of India and is 24 kilometres from Rishikesh. From Rishikesh itself Devprayag is about 74 km away. Alternatively you can fly in to Srinagar and drive the 34 km distance. If you travel from Delhi it is better to make Rishikesh your target for overnight stay. The distance from Rishikesh to Devprayag takes about 3 hours of travel by car.

Usually pilgrims have other plans too such as visiting Hemkund Sahib or Badrinath since these two holy places are in the vicinity.

Devprayag is a small hamlet and there are hardly any hotels worth the name, though this may be considered as a very holy destination. In order to reach the actual confluence you have to cross a small bridge and then walk downhill.

Best Time to Travel

Devprayag is open throughout the year. In the monsoons you may be faced with landslides and heavy downpours blocking the road. In winter the area may become snowbound. Therefore, summer is the best time. The weather is cool and nights can become quite chilly so carry along woolens, wear a good pair of boots and have head protection too. Do not forget to wear dark sunglasses.

Accommodation

If you can tolerate plain accommodation there are a few hotels and dharamshalas in Devprayag. It is, however, far better to book a hotel in Rishikesh and make an early morning trip to Devprayag, returning in the afternoon to your accommodation in the main city.

Cuisine

Your best bet is to eat at Teen Dhara, a stop on the Rishikesh-Devprayag Highway. There are numerous dhabas serving snacks, lunch and dinner. It is only 10 km from Devprayag. In Devprayag itself there are a few dhabas serving local cuisine like Urad Bhuda, Palau, Dandalee ka saag and Mandua ki roti.

 Rudrapryag

All pious Hindus are fascinated by the various mythological tales associated with the uncountable pilgrimage destinations that dot our country. Rudraprayag is one such pilgrimage spot that enchants and elevates the soul of any pious Hindu with the garland of fascinating mythological tales weaved around it. So if you have made up your mind to visit, Rudraprayag, the travel information guide below will surely prove helpful:

Rudraprayag is a small holy town in Uttarakhand and its significance is that it is located at the confluence of two holy Rivers, Mandakini and Alaknanda. Pilgrims who undertake chardham yatra usually make it a point to visit Rudraprayag as well because of its association with Lord Shiva. According to legend Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Rudra and blessed Narad Muni. It is one of the Panch Prayags, the other five being Karn Prayag, Nand Prayag, Vishnu Prayag and Dev Prayag, all of them confluences of these two holy rivers. Rudyraprayag is picturesque, the mighty Himalayas towering up, gushing waters of the two rivers at its feet and scenic greenery on all sides.

Getting There

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, at a distance of about 160 Kilometers and from here you can take taxis or catch a bus to reach Rudraprayag. Rishikesh is the nearest railhead; about 140 km away and from here one takes a taxi, hires a private car or gets on a bus that travels on NH58 to reach Rudraprayag. If you wish to travel by road you can do so all the way from Delhi, Allahabad, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Srinagar and Uttarkashi. There are state transport buses, private bus operators, taxis and private cars available for hire. Rudraprayag is 380 km from Delhi, 306 km from Meerut, 140 km from Rishikesh, 165 km from Haridwar, 190 km from Dehradun,165 km from Uttarkashi, 35 km from Srinagar and 70 km from Chamoli.

Accommodation

Rudraprayag is a holy place so you can expect widely varying types of accommodation here. For the budget minded there are dharmshalas run by charitable trusts where entire families can stay at very nominal costs. For single travelers there are budget rooms as well as dormitory accommodation in low to mid-end hotels. For the average family there are about 14 different hotels to choose from, ranging from modest to expensive, well-furnished, comfortable rooms. You can also find cottages such as the Tourist Rest House at Tilwara and tourist bungalows. The Jwalpa Palace offers 2 star accommodations with room tariffs starting at around Rs. 4000.

Sightseeing

1. In addition to being the staging post for onward travel to Badrinath or Kedarnath, Rudraprayag itself offers plenty of opportunities for sightseeing.
2. Agastamuni is only 18 km from Rudraprayag and is famously known as being the place where Agastya Rishi meditated.
3. 66 km on the road to Kedarnath you will come across Gaurikund, named after Goddess Parvati. Folklore has it that Lord Shiva agreed to marry Parvati here and, more relevant in the present context, it has hot springs where you can bathe.
4. It is said that Lord Shiva formally married Goddess Parvati at Trijuginarayan and a flame is kept alive, said to be burning since ancient times, to commemorate the divine wedlock.
5. Kedarnath is the major pilgrimage spot, one of the char dhams that you can reach from Rudraprayag. You travel to Gaurikund, about 66 km away and from here it is a 14 km trek to Kedarnath, home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and a place that is also divinely enchanting in terms of its raw beauty.
6. Uttaranchal is not about pilgrimages; you can visit Chopta, 64 km from Rudraprayag and it is the State’s own Mini Switzerland offering a host of adventure sports and exploration trips. If other places blossom in summer, Chopta is a winter destination, perfect for skiing.
7. Khirsu is a scenic and peaceful resort and the view of the Himalayas is simply magical. It is so enchantingly charming with its serenity, a far better option than many of the popular hill resorts.
8. Okhimath, about 37 km away is another temple town but it also offers a scenic view of the Himalayas.

Fairs and Festivals

A holy town, Rudraprayag does witness festival celebrations during Dussehra, Diwali, Holi and other occasions. However, since the town is associated with Lord Shiva it is the Nagpanchmi festival during Shravana month that is worth a look with devotees offering prayers to Naga devta. Shivratri is another festival when devotees flock to the temple of Lord Shiva with votive offerings and fairs come up at various places such as Gopeshwar, Bairaskund, Nagnath and Dewal. Makar Sankranti, around the 14th January is when the Sun comes up North and devotees observe it as a holy day by taking a dip in the Alaknanda River. Fairs are organized and the place wears a festive look.

Cuisine

A holy town, Rudraprayag offers a variety of vegetarian foods, mostly North Indian style. If possible, eat at roadside stalls to get a taste of local cuisine made from Mandua and Jhangora coarse grains and dals made from urad, lopia and masoor. It is possible to find restaurants serving chicken and mutton.

Shopping

A small town, Rudraprayag offers limited shopping choices but local handicrafts are what you may want to buy here.

 Karnpryag

India is a land of deep spirituality, mysticism and holiness. Our country has been a seat for the great Puranas, Epics and mythological tales and has allowed many great yogis to carry out their penance and extend it to the highest level of spirituality. There are many places in our country where spirituality and myths rule supreme. Karnaprayag is one such place. If you have a mind to make a yatra to Karnaprayag, this travel information guide below will prove helpful certainly. So read on.

karnaprayag

Chamoli in Uttarakhand is known for its beautiful locales and Karnaprayag is one such endearingly charming place. It is at a height of 145 metres and is at the junction of the Pindar and Alaknanda Rivers. More of interest to devout Hindus is that this is where Karna of Mahabharata fame worshipped Surya deva to obtain a shield that would make him impregnable. A temple stands here dedicated to Karna and Uma devi. Since two holy rivers have their confluence here, the place is considered holy.

Getting There

Karnaprayag is about 410 km from Delhi, 340 km from Meerut, 172 Km from Rishikesh, 197 Km from Haridwar, 221 Km from Dehradun, 66 Km from Srinagar, 198 km from Uttarkashi and 125 km from Ranikhet. Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the closest for people wishing to travel by air. From here you can hire private cars, taxis or take a bus. For rail travelers, Rishikesh is the nearest railhead from where you travel on NH58 to reach Karnaprayag. Karnaprayag is connected by NH58 to major routes in the North and one can travel from Delhi to Karnaprayag, an overnight journey.

Accommodation

Check into a hotel when you arrive in Karnaprayag and make it the base for your excursions. Happily, Karnaprayag has a number of hotels in the budget category. You can find a few guest houses and even dormitory accommodation as well as dharamshalas for the cost-conscious travelers.

Places to See

Once on Karnaprayag stretch your legs and take a walk to the Uma Devi-Karna Temple. Then you can go on to Nauti Village. The village’s claim to fame is in the once-in-12 years Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra in honor of Goddess Nanda. This done it is time to plan excursions to nearby places of interest.

Chopta is perhaps the first place you may want to visit. Considered the mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand, this is a lovely place, especially in winter when you can go skiing. Even in summer, the place has a magical beauty with forests, mountains and water bodies making an overture fit to delight the senses. From here you can visit Tungnath and have darshan at the temple of Lord Shiva.
If Chopta is beautiful then Bedni Bugyal is no less so. You come upon green rolling grasslands with the Himalayas for a backdrop and the Kund making up the visual poetry.
Gopeshwar, about 40 km away, is for the religiously inclined and it has a number of temples chief of which is the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Rudranath temple at a distance from Gopeshwar.
If you love sports then head to Auli, about 85 km away, from where you can go paragliding. Auli is at a height of 3050 metres and in addition to the paragliding opportunity, you can take a ride in a cable car, the highest and also the longest in Asia, connecting it to Joshimath.
For the devout Karnaprayag is only the starting point to a trip to Badrinath, home to the temple of Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is one of the famous char dhams in Uttarakhand.

Best time to visit Karnaprayag (or any other destination in Uttarakhand, for that matter) is during summer months when roads are open, when the weather is moderate and the land appears in its majestic glory. Summer is also a time when there is a rush so expect to pay more for transport and hotels. In winter, when you visit Auli, rates are low but freedom of movement is also restricted.

Shopping

If your hand itches to buy something, there are opportunities to acquire local handicrafts and local produce from the Umadevi and Narsinh temple areas. Anyway, shopping is not the point of the trip unless it is to pick up souvenirs.

Cuisine

Since this is a pilgrimage city you can expect mostly vegetarian food to be available in the numerous restaurants as well as street side stalls. Select restaurants serve non-vegetarian dishes. However, try out local Garhwal and Kumaoni foods such as Rusi, Phannu and Badi, based on lentils and herbs, Arsa sweets, Gulgula and Kandale ka saag. Modernisation has caught up with Karnaprayag and you can also find fast food joints.

Fairs and Festivals

Festivals like shivratri, Holi, Basant Panchmi, Nag Panchmi, Ram Navmi and Dussehra have a special significance in Karnaprayag but it is the great Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra that takes pride of place. Unfortunately, it is organized only once in 12 years so, if you are lucky enough to visit when it is time for this fair, then you will enjoy a grand spectacle.

Cities take on a modern layer but it is places like Karnaprayag where centuries old traditions are still kept alive. If want to see rituals the way they were done in ancient times, head to Karnaprayag. If it is natural beauty that you find attractive, Karnaprayag is enticing, especially since it is not at a great height and is so easily accessible.