Devprayag
Devprayag (Deva prayāga) is a town and a nagar panchayat, near New Tehri city in Tehri Garhwal District in the state of Uttarakhand, India, and is the final one of the Panch Prayag (five confluences) of Alaknanda River where Alaknanda meets the Bhagirathi river and both rivers thereafter flow on as the Ganges river or Ganga.
The celestial city of Devprayag is situated at an altitude of 830 meters above sea level. Devprayag is the last Prayag or the sacred confluence of the Alaknanda River, from here the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers is known as the Ganges. The city is the seat of the Pandits of Badrinath Dham. Devprayag means divine confluence as “Dev” is the god of man and “Prayag” means confluence.
Devprayag Sangam Story
All the cities of Uttarakhand have a history in themselves, but Devprayag has its own unique history. This town is the abode of Pandits who are related to Badrinath Dham. Those who do not know where the origin of the Ganga is, tell them that the birth of the Ganga starts from here after the meeting of two rivers named Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. Situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi, the town of Devprayag is situated at an elevation of 830 meters.
On the paved road from Rishikesh to Badrinath and about 81 km from Narendra Nagar. The town is the headquarters of the tehsil of the same name and is one of the five holy Prayags of the Alaknanda. Tradition has it that the city is named after a sage Dev, who led a life of penance here and managed to catch a glimpse of the Lord. The mesmerizing and divine beauty of this town attracts a lot of tourists and it is also believed that Lord Rama and King Dasaratha meditated here.
For tourists who have devotion and faith in their hearts, the ancient and great temple of Raghunathji is claimed to have been built about ten thousand years ago and is made largely of uncemented stones. It stands on a terrace in the upper part of the city and consists of an irregular pyramid covered by a white dome with a golden ball and spire.
The religious bath takes place in 2 basins dug in the rock at the junction of sacred streams – one on Bhagirathi known as Brahma Kund and the other on Alaknanda called Vashishtha Kund. The temple, along with other buildings in the city, was shattered by an earthquake in 1803, but the damage was later repaired through the generosity of Daulat Rao. The temple is visited by a large number of pilgrims every year.
The town is the seat of the Pandas of Badrinath Dham and has a post and telegraph office, a public call office, a police outpost, a post office of the Public Works Department, and a hospital. Apart from the temple of Raghunathji, the city has Baital Kund, Brahma Kund, Surya Kund, and Vashishtha Kund; Indradyumna Tirtha, Pushyamal Tirtha, Varaha Tirtha; flower garden; Baitalashila and Varahashila; temples of Bhairava, Bhushandi, Durga, and Vishweshwara; and a temple dedicated to Bharata. Bathing in Baithalshila is claimed to cure leprosy.
Nearby is the Dasarathachal peak, which houses a rock, known as the Dasarathashila, on which King Dasaratha led a life of penance. A small stream named Shanta flowing downstream from Dasarathachal is named after Shanta, the daughter of King Dasaratha, and is considered holy.
Places to visit in Devprayag
Raghunathji Temple:-
Believed to be over 1,000 years old, it is one of the oldest temples of Lord Rama located in India. The temple is made of huge rocks situated a little above the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers. According to myths and legends, when Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya after his victory, he did penance here.
Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev Temple:- Reflecting the Hindu renaissance of the 8th century, the temple houses idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati as well as those of Kartikeya and Ganesha. If you are going to Devprayag with your family, do visit this temple with them.
Nakshatra Vedh Shala Observatory:-
Devprayag, situated at an altitude of 830 meters, provides clear skies for spectacular views of celestial bodies. The city is home to the Nakshatra Vedh Shala, said to be India’s first astronomical observatory, established in 1946 by Pandit Chakradhar Joshi, a renowned scholar. It houses telescopes and various other instruments for star-gazing, and many old manuscripts.
Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda:- One of the Panch Prayags, Devprayag is the place where the Alaknanda River meets the Bhagirathi and forms the Ganges. Literally meaning ‘divine confluence’, it is considered one of the most sacred confluence of rivers. The blue-green waters of the Bhagirathi at the confluence with the light brown waters of the Alaknanda are a sight to behold.
Chandrabadani Temple:- Chandrabadni Temple is one of the Shakti Peethas and is the holy shrine of Goddess Sati. It is situated on the top of Chandrakoot mountain. An idol of Goddess Sati is installed in the sanctum sanctorum, it is believed that the torso of Goddess Sati fell here along with her weapons. The temple also offers a panoramic view of the Garhwal hills and the Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Surkanda peaks.
Dashrathshila:- Dasharathashila Temple is one of the popular ancient temples of Devprayag situated on the banks of river Shanta, named after the daughter of King Dasharatha. According to Hindu mythology, King Dasaratha, the father of the Hindu god Rama, did penance here. Don’t forget to see the throne of King Dashrath situated on the terrain called Dashrathchal peak.
Teen Dhara:- Situated on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway (NH 58) Teen Dhara is barely 10 km from Devprayag (towards Rishikesh). The place got its name from three small springs nearby. It has developed as a popular stoppage for travelers with a number of eateries (dhabas) serving delectable food amidst pictures of surroundings.
Best Time to Visit Devprayag
Devprayag is an all-time favorite destination among explorers. Summers are pleasant with ample amounts of sunshine. The winters are very cold and freezing. Monsoon is also pleasant.
How to Reach Devprayag
By Road:- Devprayag is well-connected with most of the major cities in the state, like Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. Buses and cabs are easily available from the major cities across the Garhwal region. Haridwar to Devprayag distance is 92.8 km via NH 7.
By Train:- The nearest railway station to Devprayag is placed in Rishikesh. Rishikesh from Devprayag is 72.3 km via NH 7. Motorable roads are also well-joined with Devprayag. The common connecting city is Delhi for most of the trains.
By Air:- Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport which is located at a distance of about 90 km. Cabs and taxis are easily available for hire in Devprayag and surrounding areas.
