Devprayag
Devprayag is a small town situated in the Tehri District of Uttarakhand. A sacred city in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India, Devprayag is the site of the confluence of the two rivers Bhagirathi and Alakananda, before they flow out of here to form the river Ganga. Devprayag is a much-revered pilgrim destination of the Hindus . Located en-route to Badrinath from Rishikesh, the destination lies at an average altitude of 472 meters above sea level, at a distance of about 75 km away from Rishikesh.
Devprayag is significant as one of the five sacred confluences in the hills, and the site is hailed as a place of considerable natural forces as well as spiritual forces. A Tour to Devprayag will introduce you to this holy town, which essentially marks the beginning of the sacred Ganges River.
Devprayag, which means ‘Holy Confluence' in Sanskrit, was named after a Hindu ascetic, sage Devsharma. As per legend, Devsharma devoted his entire life in intense penance to attain a glimpse of Lord Vishnu and was subsequently blessed by Lord Rama.
According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama and King Dasharatha did penance at Devpraryag, to relieve off their sin of Brahmahatya. Pandavas also performed ablutions at Devprayag before visiting Badrinath to attain salvation, during their journey for Svargarohana.
According to the Vaishnavite clan, Devprayag is one among the 108 Divya Desams or the sacred abodes of Lord Vishnu. Devprayag holds the fifth place among the five sacred river confluences or the Panch Prayag, the other four being Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karn Prayag and Rudra Prayag. The piousness of Devprayag is considered equivalent to the Triveni Sangam located at Allahabad.
