At Devprayag Sangam, Alakananda meets Bhagirathi. Two myriad rivers converging in different colours into one ‘confluence’ at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.

Let’s Introduce Devprayag

Devprayag, located at an elevation of 830 m, is a renowned mini-settlement in the district of Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand. You can practically see the beginning and the end, but the intimate serpentine streets can still give you the essence of getting lost. Being one of the five confluences (Sangam), Devprayag is the home to two revered rivers in Uttarakhand, Alakananda and Bhagirathi, commemorating the birthplace of Ganga (Rudraprayag is another such genesis nearby). Sage Dev Sharma is rumoured to have led his spiritual life in one of the most beautiful regions in Uttarakhand, hence the name Devprayag.

How I Reached the Devprayag Sangam

Don’t think for a moment I own a Royal Enfield. Nor can I ride a bike. So, the solution? Yes, hitchhiking.

Due to heavy construction on the Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar route, the bus ride did not seem to be a comfortable idea. Hitchhiking is my favourite mode of transportation anyways. Hence I borrowed a ride from a fellow traveller who was taking the Chopta-Rishikesh route (he gave me some insights about the famous Chopta-Chandrashila trek) on his Enfield. A 28-km-long road trip with another solo traveller – the breathtaking views and a charming ride!

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The Devprayag Sangam – Alakananda Meets Bhagirathi

As stated earlier, in Devprayag, the Ganges takes its full form and visionary as Alakananda and Bhagirathi strategically overstep one another. The point of emergence is where the Sangam Ghat is located. Even though the river (one or the other) would stay by your side all along, only in Sangam Ghat they brush up wholeheartedly against each other.

A lot of religious rites take place in the Ghat, as this is the residing place of the pandas of Badrinath. Religious rites, after-death rituals, and the fakirs sitting under the trees – at the point of confluence you will come across life’s own caricature.

But if you are a Ghat person who can gaze at the green water forever, you should slice out a side for yourself and spend some secluded time contemplating and relishing this gorgeous enigma in Devprayag.

There’s Raghunathji Temple, a temple highly revered by the pilgrims, which I personally did not visit. I was so taken aback by the force and strength of this divine sight that I sat on a huge black rock near the water and made up my mind to stay in Devprayag for the night.

The river coming from Badrinath (Alakananda) is more of a calm and mature flow, determined not to get agitated by any means. On the other hand, Bhagirathi is a juggler in a circus, playing with people’s minds and attention. And when they choose to meet, we have a whole, Ganga. The mythology reflects the existence of a third river, Saraswati River. This underground river also contributes to the formation of the Ganges. But that’s only the myth.

There was a prohibitory advisory in Devprayag from the local police not to wander near the river. The fortuitous glacier melt in Joshimath in February caused an escalation in the current, posing the possibility of a flood. Thankfully the water level at Devprayag Sangam did not rise.

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Uttarakhand Special – What Should You Definitely Eat in Devprayag?

Singori is a delicious sweet sold in the sweetshops in this colourful town of Uttarakhand (Rs. 10). The sweetshops are few, so you can easily spot them. Singori is a must-try if you are in Devprayag. Don’t miss it! (I mean it)

Stay near the Sangam

Since I had no particular plan of staying (and the internet showed me some really expensive places to stay in Devprayag), initially I thought I would go back to Srinagar or Toliyon. But then I reached Devprayag. And I knew I had to stay there. So I asked some locals for a comfortable and inexpensive stay and they directed me to ‘Parjatak Abash Griha’ and two more adjacent rest houses for pilgrims.

Parjatak Abash Griha is located on the lower banks of the Sangam. On the consequent morning, my initial thought was… it may have been raining! Then I realised it was the fierce and gorging whisper of the Ganges.

I was given a four-bed room for Rs. 300 (since there was no other visitor around Covid), the standard rate being Rs. 600 for two people.

Where else can you stay in Devprayag? There’s another rest house next to it which charges Rs. 200 per person. But they don’t have the provision for food. The resthouse I stayed at provided me with a dinner for Rs. 80 (four rotis, daal, and soybean). Mind you these are very basic accommodations.

Also, there’re hotels and resorts on the other side of the town, for luxury travellers. It’s advisable to look for stays around the vantage point of the Devprayag confluence (the side of the Jhula that connects to the main road), as they are comparatively cheaper.

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How to Reach Devprayag

By bus: You can reach this town by bus from all the cities within Uttarakhand (Rishikesh, Dehradun, Srinagar, and so on). The bus fare from Srinagar to Devprayag is Rs. 40. Devprayag is well connected via roadway to all the cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Pune, and others. There’s no need to book buses beforehand. They are state-run buses that connect the cities on a daily basis.

By flight: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. State govt buses run on an hourly basis on the Dehradun-Rishikesh-Devprayag route from the airport. You can also go for a shared cab or taxi from the airport.

By train: When it comes to the railway, Dehradun Railway Station is the primary means of communication. From Dehradun, local buses run on the Dehradun-Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar route. Or else, you can hire a shared cab from the railway station. Both local buses and shared cabs are available to take you from the railway station to Devprayag.

Devprayag Sangam, among five such confluences in Uttarakhand, certainly comforted me with its whetted continuity. A force so exacting that the sound can bellow a fat wake-up call to the ears!

How did you find Devprayag? Let me know!

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