Panch Prayag

The Panch Prayag are five holy sangams (confluences) where the Ganga's major tributaries merge en route from Himalayan glaciers to Rishikesh. In upstream-to-downstream order: Vishnuprayag (Alaknanda + Dhauliganga, near Joshimath at 1372m), Nandprayag (Alaknanda + Nandakini, named after King Nand), Karnaprayag (Alaknanda + Pindar, where Karna of Mahabharata meditated upon Surya), Rudraprayag (Alaknanda + Mandakini, where Lord Shiva manifested as Rudra to Narada), and Devprayag (Alaknanda + Bhagirathi, where Ganga is officially born and named). Each sangam has ancient temples and ghats; pilgrims take a holy dip at all five to wash away sins of seven lifetimes. The circuit is typically combined with Char Dham Yatra or Badrinath visit since all five lie along the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway (NH-7). Devprayag is also the headquarters of the Daivajna astrologers who maintain Hindu birth records spanning centuries.