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Panch
Prayag
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Panch
Prayag, confluence of most sacred rivers, is considered
the epitome of immortal piety. River confluences in
India are considered very sacred, especially since
rivers themselves are extolled ad goddesses. And outside
of Prayag, the great confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and
the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the most revered
confluences are in the Garhwal Himalayas. Since the two
mighty rivers and tributaries trace their source to
these mountains, the points at which they meet are
sanctified as major pilgrimage centers. It is here that
propitiatory and cleansing ceremonies are performed as
part of the tenets of Hindu religion. Five Prayags are
Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karna Prayag, Rudra Prayag
and Deo Prayag.
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| Deo
Prayag is regarded as the most complete showcase of
legends, heritage and tradition. If on one hand Lord
Rama and his father King Dashratha did penence here.
On the other, some of the oldest stone inscriptions in
the region can be found here. However, the most
celebrated event at Deo Prayag is the congregation of
devotees, who come here to worship the image of Lord
Rama at Raghunath temple. |
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| Located
at a height of only 618 mts, Deo Prayag is an
invocation to the gods who have generously endowed
this spot with tremendous natural beauty. Other
believes its name comes from a Brahmin priest who
meditated here for long years, asking for the birth of
Vishnu's incarnation, finally granted in the guise of
Ram. For most Indians, this confluence is no less holy
then the Sangam at Allahabad. |
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General
Information
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| Nearest
Airport : |
Jolly
Grant 87 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail : |
Rishikesh
71 Km. |
| Accommodation
: |
TA
Tourist Rest House, Pwd Inspection Bungalow,
Dharamshalas and Private Hotels are
available. |
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| When
the Alaknanda and the MandaKini, two of the
most beautiful among Himalayan rivers, meet,
the confluence is called Rudra Prayag. Here so
says legend, the sage Narada came, hoping to
complete with Shiva ( or Rudra ) in a music
composition. The smug sage was humbled,
however, when the nymphs of musical
composition complaint about his insensitive
handling of musical composition. It was here,
also that Shiva's wife, Sati was reborn after
her self - immolation because her father had
humiliated her husband. In her new wife, as
the daughter of Himalaya, she did penence here
to ask the boon of Shiva as a husband once
again. |
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| The
dense forests around this region are full of
wildlife. and were held ransom to a man -
eating tiger that was shot by the famous
conservationist hunter , Jim Corbett. A plaque
at Rudra Prayag commemorates the even. |
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General Information
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| Nearest
Airport : |
Jolly
Grant 159 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail : |
Rishikesh
144 Km. |
| Accommodation
: |
A
Tourist Rest House, Pwd Inspection Bungalow,
Dharamshalas and Private Hotels are
available. |
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icy flow from the Pindari glacial becomes the
Pindari river, and when it joins the Alaknanda
at 788mts, the confluence is known as Karna
Prayag. The wooded thickets of the hills
surrounding Karna Prayag were the meeting
ground for Shakuntala and Dhyanta,
immortalised in Kalidasa's immortal classic of
the same name, and a favorite ballad ever
since, There is a temple dedicated to Karna
here, the son of queen Kunti and her fiery
lover , Lord Surya. Karna's lineage was kept a
secret, but he practiced austerities before
his father and was granted the boon of a pair
of earrings and armour that made him
invincible, Ultimately, he fell in the bettle
the Pandavas and Kauravas, but he remin a
tragic hero for in life he never had the
legitimacy he desired. Other temple at
the confluence are dedicated to Narayan, Gopal,
Shiva and Uma. |
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| General
Information |
| Nearest
Airport : |
Jolly
Grant 190 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail : |
Rishikesh
173 Km. |
| Accommodation
: |
A
Tourist Rest House, Temple Committee Guest House,
Dharamshalas and Private Hotels are
available. |
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| The
confluences of the Alaknanda and Nandakini
rivers forms Nand Prayag at 914 mts. Trekkers
are often seen here on their way to Tapovan
across Kunwari pass, or on their way to
Roopkund. This beautiful spot is a major
tourist point. |
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| It
is said that the confluence is named for the
pious Raja Nanda who had performed a huge fire
purification ceremony here. According to
one legend, the king had been granted to
Devaki, the imprisoned sister of the tyrant
king Kansa. Ultimately, the gods found an
ingenuous if wily solution: Vishnu would be
born as Krishna to Devaki but would be brought
up by Nanda's wife, yashoda. |
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General
Information
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| Nearest
Airport : |
Jolly
Grant 211 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail : |
Rishikesh
205 Km. |
| Accommodation
: |
A
Tourist Rest House, Temple Committee Guest House
& Private Hotels are available. |
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| Formed
by the confluences of the impetuous Vishnu
Ganga (known, after this point, as the
Alaknanda) and the Dhauliganga rivers, Vishnu
Prayag, 1,372 mts. has an ancient temple here
by a pool called Vishukund. It is said that
the sage Narada worshipped Vishnu at
this sanctified spot, and the Lord, pleased
with his austerities, had given him his
blessings. |
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| Visitors
are find the Kagbhusandi lake bewitching with
its emerald green depths giving it a still
surface, while on the banks, blossoms evoke
the colours of nature in all her glory. The
lake can be approached from either Bhundar
village near Ghangaria or from Vishnu Prayag. |
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General Information
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| Nearest
Airport : |
Jolly
Grant 284 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail : |
Rishikesh
268 Km. |
| Accommodation
: |
All
accommodation are best at Joshimath. |
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