Alaknanda

Alaknanda is a major river in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, northern India. It is one of the principal headwaters of the Ganges and is considered sacred in Hinduism. The river rises from the Satopanth Glacier near Badrinath and flows generally southward through high Himalayan valleys, passing towns such as Joshimath and Rudraprayag before joining the Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form the Ganges.

Along its course, the Alaknanda is joined by several tributaries at well-known confluences: Dhauli Ganga at Vishnuprayag, Nandakini at Nandaprayag, Pindar at Karnaprayag, and Mandakini at Rudraprayag. These confluences are traditionally regarded as important prayags, or sacred confluences, along the river.

The river runs for roughly 195 kilometers and drains part of the central Himalayan region. Its basin lies in the Garhwal Himalaya and supports alpine and subalpine ecosystems, as well as numerous villages that rely on the river for irrigation, drinking water, and livelihoods.

Hydroelectric development along the Alaknanda is extensive, with several power projects exploiting its flow. The river also faces environmental pressures from glacial melt, landslides, and seasonal floods, prompting ongoing rehabilitation and conservation efforts in the upper Ganges basin.

Devprayag is the confluence where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers meet to form the Ganges, making the site an important pilgrimage location and a notable geographic landmark in Uttarakhand.