Panch Prayag of Uttarakhand are five sites of river that amalgamate itself with  river Alaknanda to flow further as River Ganga.Panch Paryag  means Five Confluences. River Ganga or also referred as Ganga Maiya by the locals or 'the Ganges' by foreigners is beleived to be one of the most sacred rivers in India and its water is used in almost each and every auspicious rituals of India. Devotees from all around India visit the Panch Prayag to take a dip in the holy water of these five confluences as the mythalogical beliefs refer taking dip here cleanses once soul and their sins leading them closer to the path of moksha. The Panch Prayag are located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand which are named as Vishnuprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. 

It is when Maa Ganga was ready to decend on earth to mitigate her power of flow it was divided into twelve channels which later unify  at Devprayag and finally flow as River Ganga. 

Vishnuprayag

Listed as the first Panch Prayag, Vishnuprayag forms River Alaknanda after the confluence of Vishnu Ganga also known as Alaknanda appearing from the peak of Mana and Dhauliganga that flows from the Niti Valley  This confluenceVishnuprayag is at an altitude of  1372m in Chamoli  District. Its is said this the place where Sage Narad worshipped Lord Vishnu. People can visit the temple of Lord Vishnu located 2 km away from the Vishnuprayag which is believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu appeared in front of Sage Narada and blessed him with his cosmic energies. Vishnuprayag is also a getway point to several treks like trek to Kagbhusandi Lake, Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers.

Nandaprayag

River Alaknanda formed at the confluence of Dhauliganga and Vishnu Ganga further meets Nandakini at Nandaprayag. Several legends revolve around the the second Confluence of Panch Prayag,One of the legend leads to an honest King named Nanda performed an auspicious yagya here and was given a boon of Lord Vishnu as his son, however similar boon was given to his Sister Devki. After Devki give birht to Sri Krishna one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu  he was brought up by Raja Nanda and his wife Yashoda.One can also visit Nand temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. Nandprayag is located at an height of 810 m in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. 

Karnaprayag

On the way to Badrinath one can witness the confluence of River Alaknanda and  River Pindar. Karn, One of the Pandavas from Mahabharat kaal is believed to have meditated at this place for years and was blessed with two of the Kavachas. Also there is a Uma Devi Temple dedicated to Mata Sati first wife of Lord Shiva who reincarnated as Parvati. Karn Prayag also known as the 'City of Kran' located at an altitude of 1451m.

Rudraprayag

River Alaknanda and River Mandakini meet at the confluence of Rudraprayag, named after Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva  in front of Narad Muni Rudraprayag is also renowned for its temples in the city like Koteshwar Mahadev Temple

Dev Prayag

Devprayag holds immense spiritual and cultural significance as one of the Panch Prayags, the five sacred confluences of the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand. It is revered for being the site where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers merge to form the Ganges, making it a pivotal location in Hindu tradition. This confluence is considered highly sacred, symbolizing purity and divine union. Devprayag is also linked to numerous ancient legends and is a prominent pilgrimage destination, drawing devotees who seek blessings and spiritual enlightenment. The town's serene environment and religious heritage make it a vital part of India's spiritual landscape.