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Devprayag Sangam is the place where the Alaknanda & Bhagirath rivers meet to form the holy river Ganga. Devprayag means godly confluence in Sanskrit.
Devprayag is a town in the Tehri Garhwal district, in the state of Uttarakhand, India. In the upper part of the village there is the temple of Ragunath ji, which is built by huge stones in a pyramidal form, and capped by a white cupola.
The amazing part about this town is that it lies on the way to Kedarnath. So if you ever plan a trip to Kedarnath, then we will suggest you take a halt over this place and enjoy the beauty of Sangam. There are four major temples located in Devprayag, which increase the spiritual importance of the place.
Rather than this, there are a total of 5 prayags in Uttarakhand, and Devprayag is one of them. And here, in this article, we are going to discuss all five prayags.
So let’s dive in:
History of Devprayag Sangam
In 1803, the whole town of Devprayag was destroyed in a massive earthquake. There is an ancient Rgunathji temple that is believed to be 10,000 years old.
Devprayag is also the abode of the late Acharya, Pundit Chakradhar Joshi, a scholar of astronomy who set up an observatory called ‘Nakshatra Vedh Shala’ in 1946. The well-equipped observatory has two telescopes and several books that show different research conducted in the field of astronomy.
Rather than this, it is believed that the sage Dev Sharma from Satyug lived his austere life there and worshipped Lord Vishnu. Because of his admiration for him, Lord Vishnu bestowed upon him the blessing that his house of worship would bear his name in the future.
And that is how the place got its current name, Devprayag. As one of the five holy confluences in the hills, it is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site.
Why is Devprayag famous?
Devprayag is famous for its beautiful traditions, myths, and mysticism. It is believed that Lord Rama and his father, King Dasharath, perform penance here, and the main temple of the town is Rajunathji Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Rama.
Devprayag is also well known for its sangam, where two holy rivers, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, merge and become the Ganga.
Rather than this, Devprayag is now gaining more popularity because of Central Sanskrit University, established by an act of parliament.
There are a total of 18 Sanskrit universities in India, of which two are located in Uttrakhand:
- Uttrakhand Sanskrit University, Haridwar, Uttrakhand.
It is situated in Haridwar, Uttrakhand, and is the first Uttarakhand Sanskrit university. The university was founded in 2005 and provides master of philosophy courses in a number of subjects, as well as certificate programs, undergraduate and graduate education, and doctoral programs.
2. Central Sanskrit University, Devprayag, Uttrakhand.
Being the world’s largest and only multi-campus language university, Central Sanskrit University holds a unique status. Another honor bestowed upon the Central Sanskrit University is its role as the main institution for the execution of Government of India policies and programs pertaining to Sanskrit. The government of India’s Ministry of Education and the university collaborate closely in that role.
The Indian President is the university’s guest. The university’s chancellor is the Union Minister in charge of the Indian government’s education ministry. And Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi is the present vice chancellor of the university.
The language and literature of Sanskrit have not only been essential to the evolution of most Indian and even foreign languages, but they have also served as the cornerstone of an illustrious Indian culture whose horizons reach back thousands of years into the past. Sanskrit continues to act as a storehouse for the distinct cultural legacy of ancient India.
Furthermore, Sanskrit has been the most resilient and powerful force maintaining this vast country’s unity despite its extreme social, geographic, and cultural variety. The most notable source of India’s soft power in the modern world is Sanskrit. The theoretical underpinnings of the ancient sciences are also present in Sanskrit.
Best time to visit Devprayag
The best time to visit Devprayag Sangam is in the summer, as it is the all time favorite place among the explorers. In monsoons, the river changes color and becomes muddy, which somehow lacks the beauty of nature, and winters are quite cold and freezing.
How to reach Devprayag Sangam?
There are many ways through which you can easily reach Devprayag Sangam . You can hire a taxi or rent a vehicle.
- By Air
The nearest airport to reach Devprayag is Jolly Grant Airport, just 21 km away from Rishikesh, and from the Rishikesh bus station, you can take a bus to reach there or you can hire a taxi.
- By Railway
The nearest railway station is at Rishikesh itself, but it is not well connected by railway networks with major destinations in India. So you can take a train up to Haridwar Railway Junction, which is very well connected with the major cities of India.
- By Road
Devprayag is well connected with the roads; it lies on the national highway NH58, which connects Delhi with Badrinath. Rishikesh is the starting point for the road journey to Devprayag, from where you can also take regular buses, which run daily on the route to Devprayag. The total distance from Rishikesh to Devprayag is 74 km by road.
Rishikesh-Devprayag 74 km
Devprayag-Srinagar: 34 km
Haridwar-Rishikesh, 24 km
How high is Devprayag?
Gaumukh, at the base of the Gangotri and Khatling glaciers in the Garhwal Himalaya, is where the Bhagirathi River forms its headwaters. Here in Devprayag, these two holy rivers unite to form the Ganges, or Ganga. It is 70 kilometers to Devprayag from Rishikesh. It is 830 meters (2,723 ft) above sea level on average in Devprayag.
What is the weather like in Devprayag?
The weather in Devprayag is clear and cold. The minimum and maximum temperatures vary from 7 degrees to 20 degrees. We recommend you wear light woolen clothes as it is cold throughout the day.
Stays near Devprayag
Check out these top hotels near Devprayag:
- Motel Dev
This property offers all the modern facilities to their entire guest, and you can also avail of recreational activities like yoga and trekking. You can also go on a village safari here.
2. The Ramkund Resort
The hotel provides beautiful interiors and exteriors to all of its guests. Also, the staff at this place is very cordial.
3. Hotel Chakasha Govindam
This property offers a hygienic and comfortable place for its guests. A 24/7 help desk facility is also available here. The stays here are very budget-friendly.
Other Panch Prayags
There are a total of 5 Prayags in Uttarakhand:
1. Vishnuprayag
It is the first prayag in Uttarakhand where the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers meet. It is located in the Chamoli district. Its name is on behalf of Lord Vishnu, reflecting the belief that it is a place where the sage Narada meditated and offered to worship God Vishnu, after Vishnu appeared before him.
2. Nandaprayag
Source: Instagram
Nandaprayag is situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, it is a town and also a nagar panchayat. It comes in second place after Vishnuprayag.
In this sangam, Alaknanda and the Nandakini River meet and form Alaknanda.
3. Karnaprayag
Karnaprayag is a municipal board and a town in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It comes at the third number in five prayag. In this sangam Pindar River and the Alaknanda River meet and form the Alaknanda River again. It is situated at an elevation of 2820 feet.
4. Rudraprayag
Source: Instagram
Rudraprayag is a city in Rudraprayag district. It is named after Lord Shiva, ‘Rudra’. Here, the Alaknanda River and Mandakini River meet and again form the Alaknanda River. The town is known for revered temples and pristine natural beauty.
This is the place where the routes of Kedarnath Dham and Badrinath Dham get separated. You can also visit Dhari Devi temple, Kartik Swami temple, which lie at Rudraprayag district.
5. Devprayag
After the four prayags, Devprayag comes at the end, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers meet and form the Ganga. It is situated in the Tehri Garhwal district. The best time to visit Devprayag is from March to June and from September to November.
This location is perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing throughout these months because of the excellent weather.
Also, if you love visiting religious places, you can also visit: Surkanda Devi Temple.