Panch Prayag
Location | Area (sq km) | Altitude (m) | Population | Pin Code | STD Code |
30°17'0"N
78°59'0"E |
1896 | 895 | 2242 | 246475 | 01354 |

Alakhananda river meets with Mandakini river at 610 meters above sea level forming Rudraprayag, one of the Panch Prayag (five confluences) of river Ganga and forth confluence among Panch Prayag in Rudraprayag district of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand state. The confluence derives its legendary history from the formation of Panch Prayag in ancient times. Rudraprayag attracts thousands of pilgrims every year with its religious significance and sacredness. Religious tourists take dip in Rudraprayag and feel blessed to get rid of the sins they have committed.
Rudraprayag Temple
The confluence Rudraprayag houses a temple of lord Rudra and another of goddess Chamunda. God Rudra is the Raudra (angry) form of lord Shiva and goddess Chamunda is one of the nine forms (popularly known as Nava Durga) of goddess Parvati. Nearby sits a stone worshiped as Narad Shila where sage Narada, the devotee of lord Vishnu meditated to please lord Shiva. Lord Shiva answered to Narada’s meditation in Rudra form at the confluence site and Narada asked him to teach him Veena playing (If you have watched any religious videos where Narada exists, you must have seen him carrying the musical instrument Veena). Lord Rudra performed the famous ‘Tandava’ nritya (dance) at the very place and taught Narada the skill to play Veena. Tandava is the vigorous dance which is considered to be the source of cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution- the three jobs assigned to lord Brahma, lord Vishnu and lord Maheshwar respectively.
Rudraprayag, 34Km from Srinagar, is one of the most visited and must visit places for CharDham pilgrims as it is where the way to Kedarnath and Badrinath divide. Kedarnath is 87Km from Rudraprayag and the route is through Agastmuni, Chandrapuri and Ukhimath. Badrinath is 157Km from Rudraprayag passing through Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag, Joshimath and Vishnuprayag.
Magnificent Himalayan peaks, playful sacred rivers and varied diversity of flora and fauna that tourists get to view from Rudraprayag keep them engrossed in the beauty of nature and fill with fresh air. Town Rudraprayag named after the holy confluence Rudraprayag offers the visitors with splendor natural beauty and a market to buy goods.
Rudraprayag | Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Rudraprayag is from March to October escaping monsoon months to escape heavy rain that damages road as it did this year. The flood of June 16th 2013 destroyed temples, houses and claimed numerous lives.
Rudraprayag can also be visited during winter when the weather is cool and pleasing to walk with heavy woolen clothes.
Rudraprayag | How to Reach?
- By air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Dehradun 154Km from Rudraprayag. Tourists need to apply other means of transportation from Jolly Grant airport to reach Rudraprayag.
- By rail: Rishikesh railway station, 138Km from Rudraprayag, is the nearest railhead connected to Haridwar railway station 24Km from Rishikesh and Haridwar railway station is a bigger station connected to all the cities of the country.
- By road: Regular bus service is from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag, 141Km away. Tourists can reach Rishikesh from New Delhi and other parts of the country passing through Haridwar.
Rudraprayag | Places Nearby
- Joshimath: Gateway to several mountain climbing expeditions, trekking route to major Char Dham pilgrimage Badrinath, Joshimath in Chamoli district of Dev Bhoomi
Uttarakhand is 6,150 meters above sea level. The Narsinha temple of Bhavishya Badri denoting the future Badri and one among Panch Badri sits majestically at Joshimath.
- Ukhimath: During winter, the worship of lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar is performed in Ukhimath of Rudraprayag district as Kedarnath temple remains closed due to heavy snowfall. At 1,317 meters above sea level, Ukhimath provides spectacular view of snow capped Himalayan peaks and also houses ancient temples dedicated to Usha (daughter of Banasur from whom Ukhimath derives its name), lord Shiva, goddess Parvati, Aniruddha and Mandata.
- Other popular places near to Rudraprayag are – Hanuman Chhatti | Rudranath | Devprayag | Karnaprayag | Tungnath | Kedarnath | Nandprayag | Vishnuprayag | Hemkund Sahib | Valley of Flowers | Badrinath | Kakbhushandi Lake | Auli