The Alaknanda is a Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism. In hydrology, the Alaknanda is considered the headstream, source stream of the Ganges on account of its greater length and discharge; however, in Hindu tradition and culture, the other headstream, the Bhagirathi River, Bhagirathi, is considered the source stream.

Course

The Alaknanda rises at the confluence and foot of the Satopanth Glacier, Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in Uttarakhand. From its origin, it travels to the village of Mana, India, Mana, meets with the Saraswati River (Uttarakhand), Saraswati River, a right bank tributary, and continues downstream through narrow valleys. It reaches the Badrinath valley, arrives at Hanumanchatti, and meets with the Ghrit Ganga, a right bank tributary. From Hanumanchatti, the river goes to Pandukeshwar and flows through wide valleys and steep terrains. At Vishnuprayag it meets Dhauliganga River, Dhauliganga, a left bank tributary, and travels west to the town of Joshimath. From Joshimath, the Alaknanda crosses the Main Central Thrust near Helang. It then meets with Birahi Ganga, a left bank tributary at Birahi. The river reaches the town of Nandaprayag, Nandprayag and joins with the Nandakini, Nandakini River, a left bank tributary. At Karnaprayag, Karanprayag, the Pindar River, a left bank tributary, meets with the Alaknanda River. At Rudraprayag, it meets with the Mandakini River, a right bank tributary. As the Alaknanda flows past Rudraprayag, it enters a wide valley near Srinagar, Garhwal. At Devprayag the Alaknanda River converges with the Bhagirathi River and travels onward as the Ganges River. The Alaknanda contributes a significantly larger portion to the flow of the Ganges than the Bhagirathi. The Alaknanda system drains parts of Chamoli district, Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal district, Tehri, and Pauri Garhwal district, Pauri districts.Singh Negi, Sharad (1995). ''Uttarakhand: Land and People'', page 6. MD Publications Pvt Ltd. .

Religious significance

The Alaknanda River is of special interest to the pilgrims who visit the important pilgrimage places in Uttarakhand. The Ganges as Alaknanda rises in the southern Himalayas on the Indian side of the Tibet border. On the Satopanth Glacier up from Alaknanda's origin at its snout, the triangular Lake Satopanth Tal, Satopanth is found at a height of . It is named after the Trimurti, Hindu trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Badrinath Rishi Ganga River meet Alaknanda Badrinath, one of the holy destinations for Hindus in India is located near to the bank of the Alaknanda River. This place is surrounded by two mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan on either sides and Neelkanth peak located at the back of Narayan range. #Govindgath :. LaxmanGanga meet Alaknanda Panch Prayag Several rivers in the Garhwal region merge with the Alaknanda at places called prayag or 'holy confluence of rivers'. These are:Kapadia, Harish (2001). ''Trekking and Climbing in the Indian Himalaya'', page 89. Stackpole Books. . # Vishnuprayag, where the Alaknanda is met by the Dhauliganga River # Nandaprayag, where it is met by the Nandakini River # Karnaprayag, where it is met by the Pindar River # Rudraprayag, where it is met by the Mandakini River # Devprayag, where it meets the Bhagirathi River and officially becomes the Ganges Alakananda

Recreation

The Alaknanda river is among the best for river rafting in the world due to its high rafting grade.

Dams

There are 37 hydroelectric dams in operation, under construction or planned to harness the energy of the Alaknanda river and its tributaries and generate electricity.Hydroelectric Projects on Alaknanda River Basin
by South Asia Network on Dams Rivers and People, www.sandrp.in There are 23 other proposed projects in the Alaknanda river basin through which the power-potential of the Alaknanda and its tributaries can be harnessed. The proposed 23 hydel-projects are as follows - # Alaknanda (Badrinath) (300 MW) # Bagoli (72 MW) # Bowla Nandprayag (132 MW) # Chuni Semi (60 MW) # Deodi (60 MW) # Devsari Dam (255 MW) # Gauri Kund, Gaurikund (18.6 MW) # Gohana Tal (60 MW) # Jelam Tamak (60 MW) # Karnaprayag (160 MW) # Lakshmanganga (4.4 MW) # Lata Tapovan (310 MW) # Maleri Jelam (55 MW) # Nandprayag Langasu (141 MW) # Padli Dam (27 MW) # Phata-Byung (10.8 MW) # Rambara (24 MW) # Rishiganga I (70 MW) # Rishiganga II (35 MW) # Tamak Lata (280 MW) # Urgam II (3.8 MW) # Utyasu Dam (860 MW) # Vishnugad Pipalkoti (444 MW)

Towns along the Alaknanda River

As the river flows, the towns along its banks are Badrinath, Vishnuprayag, Joshimath, Chamoli, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, Srinagar and Devprayag. At each town with suffix prayag, Alaknanda meets another river.

Photo gallery

Image: Rudraprayag - Confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini.JPG, Rudraprayag - confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini River, Mandakini Image:Alaknanda near Srinagar.JPG, Alaknanda river near the town of Srinagar in Uttarakhand Image: Devprayag - Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda.JPG, Alaknanda joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form the Ganges

References

External links

Alaknanda River
''Britannica.com''
Prayags
at ''GMVN'' {{Authority control Rivers of Uttarakhand Tributaries of the Ganges Geography of Chamoli district Rafting Adventure tourism in India Rudraprayag district Pauri Garhwal district Rivers of India