DEOPRAYAG

Deoprayag is a beautiful showcase of traditions, myths and mysticism. This is the place where the holy rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet, making it a unique pilgrimage like the Prayag of Allahabad.From here onward two rivers merge into one and take the name 'Ganga'.

Deoprayag though situated, at an altitude of 618 m, is endowed with abundant natural beauty. According to a belief, Lord Ram and his father King Dasharath did penance here. The main temple of the town is the 'Raghunath Temple', dedicated to Lord Rama.

The bathing ghat at Deoprayag is built with multiple levels to accommodate different water levels during the monsoon. It is also the winter home of the priests of Badrinath.Deoprayag is a pilgrimage centre of great significance. In Treta-yuga, Lord Ram and Lakshman performed a yajna here to atone for killing Ravan, who was a Brahmin. The ancient Raghunath Temple here with a 15-foot tall statue of Sri Ram (Sri Raghunath) is one of the 108 most important temples in India. In front of the temple is a statue of Garuda. Behind the temple and slightly up a hill is Vamana's cave and nearby is Lord Ram's stone throne.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

The region of Devprayag enjoys a sub tropical climate, and the basic seasons are those of summer, winter and monsoon. Summers in the town of Devprayag are mild, and the weather is very inviting during this time. Winters are very cold, and the monsoon season brings good rainfall. Devprayag can be visited throughout the year, as the weather is pleasant generally.

Summers in the town of Devprayag are very mild, when compared to the rest of the subcontinent. The maximum temperature that the region experiences during the summer months will range around thirty one degrees (31°C) and the minimum temperature will range around seven degrees (7°C). March, April and May are the summer months.

Monsoon in Devprayag is during the months of July, August and September. These months experience good rainfall, and temperatures are brought down further during this time.

Winters in the town of Devprayag are quite cold, and they extend through the months of October, November, December, January and February. These months will experience a maximum temperature of around seven degrees (7°C) and a minimum temperature of around one degree (1°C). This is also a good time to visit Devprayag, provided you carry proper winter clothing along with you.

Raghunathji Temple

It is one of the oldest temples of Lord Rama situated in India as it is more than 10,000 years old. The temple is made up of huge rocks placed slightly above the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers. The special aarti of the temple is sung on special occasions and even a non believer of god rhymes to its tune. The temple is visited by many devotees all around the year.

The shrine of Rama was shattered by an earthquake in 1803 but was subsequently repaired by Daulat Rao Scindia. According to myths and legends, when Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya after his victory over Lanka he did penance here. The temple compound also hosts Annapurna Devi temple, Hanuman temple, Shankaracharya temple and Garud temple.

Dashrathshila

This is the place where Raja Dashratha, father of Lord Rama performed penance. There is a small water stream here named after Raja Dashrath’s daughter, Shanta. The seat of Dashrath is one a small hillock called Dashrathachal Peak.