Panch Prayag - The confluence

Panch Prayag connotes the confluence of five sacred rivers in the Himalayas located in the state of Uttarakhand in India. These five prayags are considered holy and bathing at these points of confluences is considered as cleansing of soul. The last rites of the departed are also prevalent at these points.

As per Hinduism, the confluence of three rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati at Allahabad is considered the holiest. The Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand is next in order.

Enroute Badrinath, the Prayags are located at scenic locations with the snow covered peaks of Himalayas and enchanting valleys. It is believed that Panch Prayag is the road to heaven and is said that the Pandavas followed this route to attain salvation.

The story of River Ganga

One of the many bridges

In Hinduism, River Ganga is considered sacred and is thus personified as Goddess Ganga. The water of River Ganga is considered holy and it is believed that bathing in the river causes the remission of sins and in attainment of Moksha.

When Goddess Ganga descended to Earth, the might of Ganga gushing down to earth would have been too immense for the land to bear. There would have been earthquakes, floods and the crops would have been ruined for years to come. So, Lord Shiva sat at the spot where Ganga will fall and bear the impact of her power on his head. Ganga cascaded down from the sky as a mighty waterfall on Shiva, wherein Lord Shiva imprisoned her in the locks of his hair.

When Ganga reached Earth, she was harmlessly split into various streams. After passing through five confluences the streams unites and form the sacred Ganga.

In the descending flow sequence the five points of confluence are:

• Vishnu Prayag
• Nand Prayag
• Karna Prayag
• Rudra Prayag
• Dev Prayag

Vishnu Prayag

Vishnuprayag is the confluence of River Alaknanda and Dhauli Ganga. Alaknanda originates from the Satopanth glacier whereas Dhauli Ganga originates from Niti Pass. After flowing for around 26 kms Dauli Ganga meets River Alaknanada at Vishnuprayag.

Places to see near Vishnu Prayag

Badrinath Temple is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations as per Hindu religion and forms one of the Char Dham sites. Badrinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is perched at an altitude of 3133 metres above sea level. The temple is opened for six months in a year because of the extreme weather conditions in the Himalayas. The temple is located along the banks of Alaknanda River in the Chamoli district of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Auli is a hiking and skiing destination and is located 3050 above sea level. Auli is blessed with a paranomic view of the Himalayas and is surrounded by coniferous and oak trees. Auli slopes are intended for novice and professional skiers. It has a 4 kms cable car, chair car and ski lift and has two resorts by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited. Check out my blog of Auli here

Nandprayag

River Alaknanda is joined by Nandakini River at 1358 meters above sea level approx. River Nandakini originates from the glacier below Nanda Ghunti. This confluence is located 22 kms from Karnaprayag and around 194 kms from Rishikesh. The place is named after King Nanda who had performed yagna at this place and gave generous donations to people to seek blessings of God.

Places to see near Nandprayag

Tungnath is one of the highest Lord Shiva temples in the world. Tunganath is perched at an altitude of 3680m/12,073 ft above sea level and is located just below the peak of Chandrashila. Tunganath literally translates to “Lord of the Peaks”.  Tunganath can be accessed through roads till Chopta (2926m/9600 ft) and then an uphill trek of 5 kms. Check out my trek to Tunganath here.

Chopta is a small village very popular amongst the trekking enthusiast. Chopta forms as a base camp for trekking to Tunganath Temple and Chandrashila. Chopta is accessible through roads and is well connected to Dehradun and Rishikesh.

Karnaprayag

After flowing through Vishnuprayag and Nandprayag, River Alaknanda joins the River Pindar which originates from Pindar Glacier. It is believed that Karna did the penance at this location and this is the place where Lord Krishna cremated Karna.  

Places to see near Karnaprayag

Hemkund Sahib is a place of worship for Sikhs and is devoted to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth sikh guru. It is located in the Himalayas at an elevation of 4632m/15197 ft and is approached from Govindghat which is 275 kms from Rishikesh. 9 kms trek from Govindghat to a small village Ghangaria is reasonably well maintained. From Ghangaria 3600 ft climb on a 6 kms stone paved path leads to Hemkund Sahib. Overnight stay is not allowed.  

Valley of Flowers is another 3 kms trek from the village Ghangaria. The visitors to Valley of Flowers need to get a permit from the Forest Department at Ghangaria and the permit is valid for three days. Trekking to valley of flowers is allowed only during day time. The best time to visit is in july and early September when the valley is full of flowers.

Rudraprayag

The fourth confluence amongst Panch Prayag is situated at the convergence of two holy rivers – River Alaknanda and Mandakini in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. River Mandakini originates from Chorabari glacier near Kedarnath and flows around 50-60 kms before reaching Rudraprayag. The most popular story associated with his place is of Lord Shiva also known as Lord Rudra. It is said that Lord Shiva performed Tandav dance here and played his favourite musical instrument – Rudra Veena.

The main road fork at Rudraprayag – one runs parallel to River Alaknanda and will take you to Badrinath. The other road runs parallel to River Mandakini all the way till Gaurikund which is at the foothills of Kedarnath.

Places to see near Rudraprayag

Kedarnath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located near the Mandakini River in the Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand. Due to extreme climate the temple is open from April to November only. The temple is not directly accessed by road and has to be reached by a 16 kms uphill trek from Gaurikund. Kedarnath Temple is one of the twelve jyotilingas, the holiest Hindu shrine for Lord Shiva.

Ukimath – During winters the deity from Kedarnath Temple is carried down to Ukimath and is worshipped for six months. Ukimath is situated 41 kms from Rudraprayag.  

Devprayag

Green water of Bhagirathi and Mudy water of Alaknanda

Devprayag is the last confluence where River Bhagirathi from Gangotri glacier meets the holy River Alaknanda and the sacred River Ganga comes to life. Devprayag is located at an elevation of 830m/2700 ft and the name translates to “Godly confluence”. The confluence is clearly visible here, with muddy coloured Alaknanada meets the bluish green Bhagirathi which flows at a high speed.

At Devprayag, you can clearly see the rushing green water of River Bhagirathi converging with the clam muddy water of River Alaknanda.

Places to see near Devprayag

Teen Dhara – As the name suggests three water streams are located in this area. This place has become one of the favourite resting places of the tourist along the pious River Ganga and is located with many budget friendly restaurants and dhabas.

Raghunath Temple is located at the confluence of Alaknanada and Bhagirathi River. It is considered as one of the oldest temple of Lord Rama and pilgrims come here to seek blessings of Lord Rama.

How to reach:

By Air: Jolly Grant, Dehradun is the closest airport. There are many car and bus options from here.

By Train: Closest railway station is Rishikesh and Dehradun. From the railway station, opt for bus or taxis.

By Road: Located on NH-58, this is the best way to reach the panch prayags. The drive is long but rewarding with beautiful views.

Tunganath & Chandrashila Peak

Chandrashila Trek with Tunganath is one of the most exciting and adventurous trails in Uttarakhand. Rocky terrain leading to the summit to witness the impressive panoramic views of the Himalayas leaves you enchanted. Soaring upto 13000 feet decked with snow, oak trees, clouds and mists, this is one trek you must take.

Tunganath Temple is the highest Shiva Temple in the world perched at 3680 metres. The 1000 year old temple is open to public from April end to November and is closed during winters and the deity is shifted to Mukku Village.

Chandrashila Trek Route Map

Haridwar – Chopta – Tunganath – Chandrashila Peak – Chopta - Haridwar

Where is Chopta?

Chopta is actually a small settlement on the main road with few restaurants. It’s not even a village but a collection of restaurants and hotels. It is the starting point for the trek to Tunganath and Chandrashila Peak.

But do remember there are two Choptas in this region. The second Chopta is located near Rudraprayag which is actually a bigger village and is thus shown more prominently on Google maps. Do not get confused.

Just to let you know, there is a Chopta Valley is Sikkim also.

How to reach Chopta

Enroute Chopta

By air: Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun is the nearest airport to Chopta. It takes around 6 hours to cover 180 kms from Airport to Chopta by road on a private vehicle

By rail: Haridwar is the nearest railway station which is well connected with major Indian cities. Local buses and Taxis are available from Haridwar.

By road: Government buses, private buses and taxis run all the way from Haridwar to Chopta and takes about 8 hours.

Trek from Chopta to Tunganath Temple

Trail to Tunganath Temple

The very nature of this beautiful and easy trek, distance and connectivity to Chopta makes this an ideal trek for novice.

Trek to the top

The trekking distance between Chopta and Tunganath is 4 kms and it usually takes 3 hours.

Time taken to trek from Chopta to Tunganath Temple is usually three hours for an average person and another one hour from Tunganath to Chandrashila. It can be classified as a fairly easy trek and is an ideal trek for first timers.

Tunganath Temple - The Highest Shiva Temple

The trekking path from Chopta starts from the main road. The trekking trail is well marked and is properly paved till Tunganath. Trees welcome the trekkers as soon as the trek begins and an endless array of snowcapped peaks can be seen on the left side.

Tunganath Temple

Snow Shivling at Tunganath Temple

The trail zigzags and steadily climbs up gaining altitude. There are places where one can sit and enjoy the views of the snow capped Himalayan range.

Trek from Tunganath Temple to Chandrashila Peak

View from Chandrashila Peak

The trek from Tunganath Temple to Chandrashila Peak is of 1.5 kms and is a steep climb gaining 600 feet ascent to 13000 feet. The path to Chandrashila starts from Tunganath itself and cannot be missed. There is a small temple at Chandrashila Peak. One can savour the 360 degrees panoramic view of the Himalaya Range from the Chandrashila Peak. Prominent peaks visible from the peak are Trishul, Nanda Devi, Kamet, Kedar dome.

While we were climbing Chandrashila Peak, it became cloudy and as soon we payed our regards to the temple at the Peak it started snowing (how cliche!!). 

Chandrashila Peak

According to mythological legends, Chandrashila is the place where Lord Ram performed penance after killing Ravana.

Trekking back to Tunganath and Chopta

The downhill trek to Chopta will be an easy task and will roughly take half the time taken to ascend the Chandrashila Peak. If there is no hurry, take a leisure walk back and enjoy the mesmerizing views of the mighty Himalayas.

Stays and accommodation at Chopta

Tents at Chopta

Many lodges, guesthouses and tents are available in Chopta and in the nearby village Sari on a single and sharing basis. Campsites are also available in Chopta and Sari.

Dos & Don’t’s

Our very own SNOWMAN

• Carry sufficient water and keep yourself hydrated.
• A good trekking shoe is a must. It can save your life.
• Wear light clothes. Avoid jeans and body hugging clothes
• Dress as per the weather
• Carry some nuts and chocolate bars for instant energy
• Trekking poles are helpful and work as a third leg sharing the body weight and pressure
• Physical Fitness is essential. Trekking needs a lot of physical and mental strength and stamina. Start practicing from today.
• Always remember that you are the inferior one in the Himalayas. Listen to the weather.

Auli - Paradise on Earth

Are you looking to spend some peaceful days, away from the hustle bustle of city life?  

Heading for the mighty Himalayas??

Are you looking for a not so touristy (and less crowds!!) destination – unlike Manali, Shimla, Nainital.

Are you looking for a place where you can go for trekking or simple hiking?

Are you looking for a place where you can enjoy some snow and learn skiing too?

If your answer to these questions is yes, then I have a place for you.

Snuggled within the grand Himalayas in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, lies the ultimate ski destination of India, Auli. In literal sense, Auli means “meadows” and is situated at a height of 7500 feet above sea level. Auli has put India on the world map for skiing.

GMVN Nanda Devi Eco Tourist Resort

Auli encompasses spectacular views of the Himalayas which will leave you spell bound. During winters the entire area is covered with snow and is visited by skiing and snowboarding enthusiast. During summers this simple town offers lush greenery and is akin to a hill station - to beat the heat from the plains and an exciting trekking experience.

We visited Auli in the first week of March which was the perfect time to explore the place in all its glory. During our visit, Auli, the surrounding areas were covered with a thick blanket of snow and the sky was clear too - giving us the opportunity to witness and enjoy the scintillating Himalayan Peaks.

During our stay we witnessed snowfall a couple of times. We were lucky to experience the two aspects of Auli – the clear weather because of which we were able to witness the snow covered mountains all around and the snowfall which is an experience in its own.

Things to experience in Auli

Skiing in Snow

Auli is the skiing destination in India. So when in Auli, get ready for skiing. See how beautifully the slopes of the Himalayas are covered in glittering snow. Professional guides and equipments required for skiing are easily available on rent.

Auli Ski Track

Auli skiing slopes vary from 400 m to 4 kms and if you really want to learn skiing, you can join the 15 days or a 1 month training program run by GMVN.

Longest & 2^nd Highest Ropeway

Auli is connected to Joshimath (base point) through ropeway which is the longest (4 kms) and the 2nd highest ropeway in Asia. The highest Ropeway is in Gulmarg, Kashmir and is 5 kms long!! The ropeway is run by GMVN and cost Rs 700 per person for a return journey. You can also try the cable lift which cost Rs 300 per person and offers a spectacular view of the Himalayas.

The Ropeway

When we took the cable ride, it left us speechless with the calmness (not a whisper expect for the wind whistling past) and dazzling snow covered slopes.

Highest Manmade Lake

Auli has the highest manmade lake in the world which was created to produce synthetic artificial snow in skiing season in case of scanty snowfall. Sometimes in snow if there are lot of tourist in Auli, the operators produce artificial snow for tourist delight.

Highest Manmade Lake

During our visit the artificial lake was covered with snow as you can see in the picture. The mesmerizing frozen lake set against the backdrop of Nanda Devi peak is a must visit.

360 degree view of Himalayas

The wake up view

Auli provides the 360 degree panoramic view of the Himalayas. In fact if you arrive at night, the morning view from your room is quite fascinating and touches you to the core. During the winters the mountains are covered with thick white blanket of snow which can make a beautiful postcard pic. Auli boasts of some of the majestic Himalayan mountain ranges like the very famous Nanda Devi Peak, Kamet Kamat, Trishul Peak, Maha Parbat.  The snow covered mountains left us speechless and instil a sense of calm and serenity.

Trekking

There are many trekking routes in and around Auli. So for trek lovers and hikers Auli is the place to be. 

Here is a list of trekking routes:

Trek to Gurso Bugyal (3 kms)
Trek to sweet water Chattrakund Lake (4 kms)
Hiking to Kwani Bugyal via Gurso Bugyal (13 kms)
Trek to Kuari Pass (20 Kms)
Nanda Devi National Park trek from Joshimath/Auli (Difficult)

A cup of coffee & maggi at the top

Enjoy piping hot maggi and a cup of strong coffee at the top amidst snow covered slopes as the backdrop and the mighty Himalayas at the front. There is a small stall just at the exit of the cable car lift center in upper Auli. Don’t miss on the delicious maggi and the absolutely delicious coffee that he has to offer.

We had stayed in the GMVN Ski Resort and the restaurant in the resort offer good food. The resort also has a bar so you can keep yourself warm in the late evening with a drink.

Other activities In Auli

Other than the activities mentioned above you can also do the following:

• Camping under the million of star filled sky
• Riding ATV Bikes on the slopes of Auli
• Explore Joshimath
• Go to Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath

Auli Ropeway Details

The ropeway in Auli boasts of being the longest and the 2^nd highest ropeway in Asia with a total stretch of 4.15 Kms which it covers in 22 minutes. The cart can accommodate 25 people in one go and the tariff is Rs 750 per person for a return journey. Kids above the age of 5 years are charged full ticket.

You can also opt for taking a chairlift (800 m in Rs 300 per person for a return journey) or a ski lift (500m) if you want a shorter ride. Both of them offer stunning views of the mighty Himalayas.

Timing for the ropeway from Joshimath:

Summers – 8:00 am to 5:10 pm
Winters – 9:15 am to 4:20 pm

How to reach Auli

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest Airport. From there you have to travel by road (Taxi or Bus) and the distance is approximately 290 Kms. It takes 12 hours to cover this distance.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Rishikesh and from there again you have to travel by road. Rishikesh to Auli is around 250 Kms. You can also take a train to Haridwar or Dehradun and then travel to Auli by road.

By Road: Joshimath is the base point for Auli and is well connected from major cities like Delhi, Haridwar, Dehradun. From Joshimath there are two ways you can reach lower Auli – either take the very famous ropeway (which can drop you at lower Auli and upper Auli both) or go by road. The road will be closed if it had snowed heavily.

Upper Auli cannot be reached by road. You have to either take the ropeway or trek up.

Best time to visit Auli

The best time to visit Auli depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. If you want to enjoy snow, try skiing then plan your visit anytime between November and March.

If you are looking for a respite from the scorching heat in the plains, April to June is the perfect time to visit Auli. In summers, the weather is clear and you can enjoy clear view of the Himalayan Peaks and treks in the lush green surrounding areas.

GMVN Resort in Lower Auli

The monsoon in the region starts from July and scanty rains continue till October. This is the period where I will request you to avoid travelling in the Hills due to increased risk of accidents and landslides.

Where to stay in Auli

Auli has not been commercialised yet and thus have few stay options – Cliff Top Club, Himalayan Ecolodge and Garhwal Government (GMVN) run accommodation. GMVN has two stay options in Auli namely, GMVN Auli Ski Resort (Lower Auli) and GMVN Nanda Devi Eco Tourist Rersort (Upper Auli)

All these options are comparatively expensive, the most economical being GMVN Tourist Guest House which can be booked online through their website http://gmvnl.in/

If you want a cheaper stay options you can stay at Joshimath which has a plethora of budget stay options and visit Auli on day tour.

Some Tips:

• Accommodation in GMVN is highly recommended. Book your stay early using the GMVN website as the resort.
• In GMVN Auli you can contact Mr. Kamal Kishore – 9568006629 for all your queries. He is a jovial person and will assist you.
• No matter what the season always keep some woollen clothes with you. If you are visiting in winters the temperature easily goes below zero so be adequately prepared.
• We had travelled by Nanda Devi Express (Train No. 12205) from New Delhi to Haridwar and then booked an Innova to take us to Auli. The train departs from New Delhi at 23:50 and reaches Hridwar at 03:52. While coming back we again took Nanda Devi Express (Train No. 12206) from Haridwar at 23:30 and reached New Delhi at 05:20
• We had booked Innova from Haridwar to Joshimath and return with Car Rental In Haridwar. You can check the website on www.carrentalinharidwar.com
• During your drive to Joshimath you will cross the four prayags (sacred river confluence as per Hindu religion) out of the five prayags – Nanda Prayag, Karn Prayag, Rudraprayag and DevPrayag. The fifth prayag i.e. Vishnu Prayag is a short drive away from Joshimath, if you have time please stop over at the prayags and enjoy the sacred convergence.

The day after - Icicles

We did our entire trip from Mumbai – Delhi – Haridwar – Auli and back in four days. The fifth early morning we took a flight back from New Delhi to Mumbai and were in our respective offices in the morning. Ours was a very packed trip which is not recommended. We were in Auli for only one day which is a very short time.

Finally a dash of colour

It is recommended to stay in Auli for 3-4 days to enjoy its calmness and serenity. I know that one day in Auli was worth the entire effort made to reach there. We all have promised ourselves that we will come to Auli again with more time in hand because we all have fallen in love with Auli. I would highly recommended to visit in Auli because then you will get to see the snow covered slopes, Winter clouds and enjoy the beauty that the colour white (snow) holds. It will awaken your spirit and snow and you will never even realise when you have fallen in love with Auli.