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A laid back town in the Garhwal Himalayas, Rudraprayag is more popular as the junction
where the road coming from Haridwar bifurcates into two, travelling onwards to Badrinath
and Kedarnath. But stopping for a day or two at Rudraprayag will help you to recharge
your mind's batteries.
Leave the town and cross over to the countryside. The slopes of the lower Himalayas
will please you with their verdant glamour. Go down the flight of stairs beside
the temple of the ruling deity and you'll reach a tiny headland that overlooks the
confluence of the rivers Alakananda and Mandakini. The ripple of the water over
the boulders will tell you stories of their long journey down the mountainside.
At night, as the stars twinkle overhead, Rudraprayag goes to sleep, comfortable
in the thought that the divine spirits are always hovering protectively over the
town.
The Confluence
The confluence of river Mandakini originating from Kedarnath Dham and river Alaknanda
originating from Badrinath Dham is a beautiful sight to behold. The confluence has
a great religious significance and thousands of people come here to take a holy
drip.
Koteshwar Temple At a distance of 3 km from Rudraprayag and on the holy bank
of the river Alaknanda is situated the Koteshwar temple in a cave. There are many
idols, which have been formed naturally. It is believed that before going to Kedarnath,
Lord Shiva meditated here. During the months of August and September, thousands
of devotees come here to worship Lord Shiva.
ARROUND RUDRAPRAYAG
Hariyali Devi On the way to Karanprayag, a road diverting from Nagrasu (16
km from Rudraprayag) leads to the Siddh Peeth of Hariyali Devi (1,400 m), 22 km
away. It is 38 km from Rudraprayag surrounded by high peaks and thick forests. The
temple houses a regally bejewelled idol of Maa Hariyali Devi who is also worshipped
as Bala Devi and Vaishno Devi. It becomes home to festivities during Janmashtami
and Deepawali. Around it, for miles together, one witnesses captivating view of
forested land and a majestic range of mountains.
About 23 km from Rudraprayag, in the glorious valley of Mandakini lies the popular
town of Agastyamuni - a miniature paradise. Here, on the banks of the murmuring
deep blue Mandakini sat the great sage Agatyamuni in deep meditation. The Agastya
temple honours the great sage, is an ideal place to relax and for fishing on the
banks of the river.
The town is also a base for Pawan Hans helicopter services to Kedarnath temple
and back during the summer months.
Guptkashi Steeped in legend and lore, the scenic town of Guptkashi is an
important town on the routes to Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar. Here, in sylvan surroundings
came Shiva to hide from the Pandavas who were following him to seek redemption for
their sins. To escape detection, the Lord lived incognito and the town has been
named Gupt (hidden) Kashi ever since. The ancient temples of Vishwanath, Ardhnareshwar
and Manikarnik Kund are the main places of attraction in Guptkashi.
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