Alaknanda River

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This article is about the tributary of the Ganges.
Alaknandā (अलकनंदा)
River

The sediment-laden Alaknanda river

flowing into Devprayag, Uttarakhand.
Country  India
State Uttarakhand
Region Garhwal division
Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri
Districts
Garhwal
Tributaries
Saraswati, Dhauliganga,
 - left
Nandakini, Pindar
 - right Mandakini
Confluence of Satopanth
Source Glacier and Bhagirathi
Kharak Glacier
 - elevation 3,880 m (12,730 ft)
Source
Bhagirathi River
confluence
Mouth Ganges
Devprayag, Uttarakhand,
 - location
India
 - elevation 475 m (1,558 ft)
 Length 190 km (118 mi)
Basin 10,882 km2 (4,202 sq mi)
Discharge
 - average 439.36 m3/s (15,516 cu ft/s)

The Himalayan headwaters of the Ganges

river in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand,
India. The Alaknanda is the left bank
tributary of the Ganges at Devprayag.

The Alaknanda is a Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and one of the two
headstreams of the Ganga, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism. In
hydrology, the Alaknanda is considered the source stream of the Ganges on account of its greater
length and discharge;[1] however, in Hindu mythology and culture, the other headstream, the
Bhagirathi, is considered the source stream.

Overview
The Alaknanda is considered to rise at the confluence and foot of the Satopanth and Bhagirath
Kharak glaciers in Uttarakhand, though the Saraswati River tributary flowing from Mana Pass is
longer; the two meet at Mana, India, 21 km from Tibet. Three km below Mana the Alaknanda
flows past the Hindu pilgrimage centre of Badrinath. It meets the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag
after flowing for approximately 190 km (118.1 mi) through the Alaknanda valley. Its main
tributaries are the Mandakini, Nandakini, and Pindar rivers. The Alaknanda system drains parts
of Chamoli, Tehri, and Pauri districts.[2]
River Alaknanda near Badrikashram

Following the merging at Devprayag, the river is known as the Ganges. The Alaknanda
contributes a significantly larger portion to the flow of the Ganges than the Bhagirathi. The
Alaknanda is also known for adventure sports such as rafting.

In mythology, the Goddess Ganga descended to earth at Gangotri, the original source of the
Bhagirathi before the Gangotri Glacier receded to its current location at Gomukh. The Alaknanda
is believed to have split off from the celestial Ganges when it descended from heaven.

The origin of Alaknanda River is of special interest to the tourists who visit the important
pilgrimages in Uttarakhand. The Ganges rises in the southern Himalayas on the Indian side of the
Tibet border. The five headstreams of the Ganges including the Bhagirathi, Mandakini,
Alaknanda, Dhauliganga and Pindar, all rising in the northern mountainous regions of
Uttarakhand.

On the Satopanth Glacier six km up from Alaknanda's origin at its snout, the triangular Lake
Satopanth is found at a height of 4350 m. It and the glacier are named after the Hindu trinity
Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva.

Nanda Devi is the highest point in the Alaknanda basin.

Attractions
Badrinath:

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 and
Neelkanth peak is located at the back side.

Recreation
Rafting

Alaknanda River origin is of great interest for the tourists who visit the pilgrimages in
Uttarakhand. Rise of the Ganges in India is from the southern part of the Indian Himalaya, near
the Tibet border. This river is among the best for river rafting in the world due to its high rafting
grade.[citation needed]

Panch Prayag
Several rivers in the Garhwal region merge with the Alaknanda at Panch Prayag or 'holy
confluence of rivers'. These are:[3]

1. Vishnuprayag, where the Alaknanda is met by the Dhauliganga River

2. Nandaprayag, where it is met by the Nandakini River
3. Karnaprayag, where it is met by the Pindar River
4. Rudraprayag, where it is met by the Mandakini River
5. Devprayag, where it meets the Bhagirathi River and officially becomes the Ganges

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.