Panch Prayag is the confluence of five rivers that include Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karn prayag, Rudra Prayag and Dev Prayag. Panch Prayag starts with the Vishnu Prayag on the Alaknanda River. Prayag means confluence of two or more rivers.
Alaknanda River descends from the foot of the Satopanth which is named after the Hindu trinity: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. It flows down towards Rishikesh and Haridwar. Several pilgrims visit these confluences. During Makar sankranti, Vasant panchami, Uttarayan, people gather at these five prayags for a holy dip in these sacred confluences.
Dev Prayag
This is the confluence of Bhagirathi River and the Alaknanda River. It is a small town in the Tehri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand. It is also the meeting point of the river Bhagirathi and the Alaknanada River. It is located at a height of 2265 feet above sea level.
Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag is a celestial spot that is situated at the meeting of River Alaknanda and Mandakini. This is named after Lord Shiva`s incarnation as Rudra. It is also believed that Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Rudra and here he blessed Narad Muni. It is also the junction for visiting Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham.
Nandprayag
This is the confluence of river Alaknanda and Nandakini. Nandaprayag is also a town as well as a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district.
Karnaprayag
It is a city as well as a municipal board in Chamoli District in Uttarakhand. Karanprayag is one of the five confluences of Alaknanda River. It is situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Pindar River.
Vishnuprayag
It is the confluence of the Dhauliganga with the Alaknanda. The Alaknanda River originates in the eastern slopes of glacier fields of Chaukhamba that is joined by the Saraswathi River. The legend says that Narada offered prayers to god Vishnu at this confluence. There is also an octagonal shaped temple.
These five confluence locations can be accessed through the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway that is reckoned from Rishikesh. It is the gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas. Rishikesh is like a junction from where one can access the Panch Prayags.
