Key Facts about Alakananda River

About Alakananda River:

• The Alaknanda River is one of the two main headstreams of the Ganges River, the other being the Bhagirathi River.
• It originates from the meltwaters of the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.
• The river is joined by many tributaries in Uttarakhand.
• Five of the tributaries are considered major, and their points of confluence are also worshipped. They are listed below:
  • Vishnuprayag: Alaknanda meets Dhauliganga River
  • Nandprayag: Alaknanda meets Nandakini River
  • Karnaprayag: Alaknanda meets Pindar River
  • Rudraprayag: Alaknanda meets Mandakini River
  • Devprayag: Alaknanda meets Bhagirathi. This is the most revered confluence, as it is here when the surging water coming from the mountains are finally called the Ganga.
• At the time of formation of Ganga, Alaknanda’s contribution to the flow is much larger than that of Bhagirathi.
• From its source till its union with Bhagirathi, Alaknanda travels for 190 km (approx.).
• Along the banks of the Alaknanda are numerous important pilgrimage sites such as Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, and Joshimath.
• The Alaknanda River valley is a significant part of the Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage circuit that encompasses four sacred sites—Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

Q1: Which are the main tributaries of Ganga?

A large number of tributaries like Alaknanda, Ramganga, Kali, Yamuna, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi and Sone, draining 11 states of the country join River Ganga at different confluence points during its journey.

Source: TOI