As we started
our return journey back from Syalsaur, I had made it a point to revisit
Rudraprayag (having visiting the famed destination way back in June, 2001 –
here is the link to my previous blog - https://ghummakar-biswas.blogspot.com/2011/12/towards-badrinath.html).Having traversed a few kilometres we had
reached Agastmuni, although very few travellers stop by this holy township that
is named after the Sage who goes by the same name and there is a temple
dedicated to him in this township.However, we too did not stop here as we had to reach Haridwar before
commencement of the evening Ganga Aarti there.
Going past Agasthmuni
Rudrapryag from other side - shot during my visit in 2001
Close up of Rudraprayag from the town side - shot during my visit in 2001
Rudraprayag from the opposite side of the town - shot in 2018
Rudrapryag is at a distance of about
19 Kms. from Agastmuni township and the road runs along the tranquil Mandakini
River that emanates from the Kedarnath region.
Rudra Prayag is a small township that is located in the state of
Uttarakhand and in the district that goes by the same name. The town is
situated at the confluence of the River Alaknanda and River Mandakini, perched
at an altitude of 610 meters. Some locals describe the place, as where the two
rivers resembling like two sisters embrace each other and there is a quaint mystery
about the place. The entire district is
steeped in immense natural beauty and one can visit many a famed holy
destinations other that trekking destinations encompassing lakes, glaciers,
rivers and streams here. There are a few temples that are located in the town
as well and these are a must visit while travelling to Rudra Prayag. The main temple that sits at the confluence
is known as Rudranath temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the town also
gets its name from the same. The
township is all the more important for the Chardham Yatra as it is the
destination wherefrom the road splits towards Kedarnath, after crossing the
bridge across Alaknanda River and the other road, after crossing the township,
heads straight towards Badrinath along the Alaknanda River.
As the Mandakini flows in from Kedarnath side at Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag the confluence of Mandakini & Alaknanada Rivers
The close-up shot of Rudraprayag confluence - Alaknanda & Mandakini meeting
A panoramic view of Rudraprayag
As the River Ganga meanders amongst the hills
We gradually head back towards the plains of Haridwar
Mythology
of the region states that the Narad Muni (a holy
sage) has meditated and prayed for years together to please Lord Shiva so as to
gain expertise in music. Through his
dedicated worship, Lord Shiva was pleased to bless him and appeared before
Narad Muni in his ‘Rudra Avtaram’ (a fierce form of Lord Shiva) at this
confluence and the temple was built and dedicated to Lord Shiva since. The confluence of Alaknanda with Mandakini is
one of the holiest of confluences amongst the ‘Panch Prayag’ (Holy confluences
of holy River Ganga) and the others being Dev Prayag (wherefrom Ganga River
emerges as one and is considered as the holiest) followed by Nandprayag
(confluence on Alaknanda and Nandakini Rivers the latter emanating from the
Nanda Devi glacier), Karanprayag (this
confluence is of Alaknanda and Pidar Ganga Rivers and the latter emanating from
Pindari glacier) and Vishnuprayag (the confluence of Alaknanda with Dhauli
Ganga River and the latter emanates from the Niti pass region). Having spent some time trying to get some
shots of the confluence albeit across the light, we headed back towards the
plains for our next halt for the night i.e. Haridwar.
