Panch Prayag

The southernmost prayag sits 70 km from Rishikesh where the grey-blue Alaknanda meets the green Bhagirathi - from this point the combined flow becomes the Ganga. The Raghunath Temple sits above the ghat with 200 stone steps leading down to the sangam point. During May afternoons when temperatures hit 36.8°C (98.2°F), the ghat stays crowded with pilgrims bathing and priests performing rituals - early mornings before 7 AM offer quieter photo opportunities.

Rudranath Temple at Rudraprayag town overlooks where the Mandakini from Kedarnath joins the Alaknanda - the confluence sits directly below the temple courtyard. Entry stays free and the temple opens 5 AM to 9 PM daily. Rudraprayag has the most hotels between Devprayag and Joshimath, making it a logical overnight base for splitting the five-prayag circuit into northern and southern legs.

The Pindar River enters the Alaknanda at Karnaprayag (785m elevation) with a wide sandy confluence visible from the main road bridge. The Uma Devi Temple sits at the sangam point with a small ghat below. The brown Pindar contrasts sharply with the grey Alaknanda during monsoon when September sees 174 mm rainfall and both rivers run full. The ghat has fewer priests and less crowd than Devprayag or Rudraprayag.

Nanda Devi Temple stands 100 metres from where the Nandakini River joins the Alaknanda at 910m elevation. The small temple courtyard has views of both rivers before they merge downstream. The prayag has minimal facilities - one dhaba and no proper hotels, so most travellers visit as a quick stop while driving between Karnaprayag and Joshimath. The confluence itself looks less dramatic than the other four prayags.

At 1,372m near Joshimath, the Dhauliganga River crashes into the Alaknanda through a narrow rocky gorge - the highest and most dramatic of the five confluences. A small Vishnu temple sits carved into the cliff above the gorge with a steep stairway leading down. The spot has no accommodation - stay in Joshimath 12 km away where temperatures drop to 6°C (42.8°F) on March mornings. The 2021 Dhauliganga flash flood damaged parts of the approach road, now rebuilt but watch for construction delays.