Rudraprayag – The Abode of Devine

Rudraprayag is a town that is located in the Uttarakhand State in India. The amazing feature of the town is its location at the holy confluence of two namely, the River Alaknanda and the River Mandakini. This place has immense religious significance owing to its nearness to the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples in the region and also for serving as one of the important destinations in the holy ‘Char Dham Yatra’. This place is well described as the place where Gods live. The Royal Himalayas, garrulous water of the holy rivers and the greenery and wildlife increase the beauty of the place.

Rudraprayag History

The word Rudraprayag is believed to have been derived from Rudra, which is a Sanskrit word and an aspect of Lord Shiva, so basically the place is named after Lord Shiva. Initially, Rudraprayag district was a part of three separate regions namely Pauri, Chamoli and Tehri. Later, on the 16^th of September in 1997, Rudraprayag was established as a separate district and was carved out of the Kedarnath valley alongside with parts of Tehri and Pauri districts. Rudraprayag speaks long forgotten history to the tourists.

Geography of Rudraprayag

The geography of Rudraprayag can be located on the map at the 30.28°N 78.98°E. The region is elevated at an average height of 895 meters. The district of Rudraprayag is bounded by the district of Uttarkashi on its North, the district of Chamoli on its East, the district of Pauri Garhwal on its South and the district of Tehri Garhwal on its South.

Climatic Conditions of Rudraprayag

The region experiences distinct weather throughout the year. The climatic conditions of summer season are mild and it extends from the month of April to June; the average maximum temperature of the season is 30°C. The season of monsoon sets in the month of July and lasts till September. The season is humid and brings in heavy rains. The month of December to February are extremely cold and brings with it low to moderate snowfall. The average minimum temperature during this season is around 0°C.

Best Time to Visit Rudraprayag

The climate is extremely pleasant during the summer season since the heat of the sun is not very extreme even during the peak summer days, the month of April to June can be deemed as the best time to visit the place and enjoy the hospitality of Rudraprayag tourism.

Rudraprayag Tourism: The Best Tourist Attractions

Rudraprayag hill station is undoubtedly one of the most crucial holiday destinations in India and also a top show runner in Uttarakhand tourism. The presence of two holy rivers, the Mandakini and the Alaknanda which form the holy confluence of other three rivers of the Panch Prayag, add religious significance to the place. The tourism in Rudraprayag also offers two separate courses for the Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham.

Besides religious and spiritual importance, Rudraprayag is abundantly blessed with immense scenic beauty in form of waterfalls, lush green forests, hills, popular sightseeing places and adventurous places all of which make it one of the best vacation spots of tourism in India. The following are some of the popular places to visit in the region:

• Rudranath Temple: This temple is named after Lord Shiva and this temple is situated at the convergence of Alaknanda and Mandakini. There is a myth that Narada used to worship Lord Shiva at this place to learn music from him. Shiva used to teach him the music in Rudra avatar.
• Koteshwar Mahadev Temple: This tourist attraction is a renowned temple which is in the form of a cave. It is situated on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has vital mythological significance. The tourists and devotees flock to this temple in large numbers on Maha Shivratri when a massive fair is organized to commemorate the occasion.
• Basukedar: It is believed that this famous temple was constructed by the Pandavas. It is situated at a distance of 35km from Augustmuni and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The idols and architecture of the temple are at least 1000 years old and has an ancient charm about itself.
• Chamunda Devi Temple: This temple is also located at the joining of the two sacred rivers. Chamunda is worshipped as a wife of Lord Shiva.
• Vasuki Tal: It is located at distance of 6kms at the Gangotri National Park in Taknaur Range. The presence of crystal clear lake that overlooked by ancient mountains forms an excellent view. The place also offers a beautiful and vivid view of the majestic Chankhamba Peaks. It also serves as a romantic getaway for the couples.
• Augustmuni: Named after saint Augutmuni, this place is situated at a distance of 19kms from Rudraprayag. This place has spiritual sentiments attached to its name and A magnificent cave temple is the specialty of the place, which offers an example of perfect artisanship.
• Kedarnath: Located at an altitude of 3584meters amidst the majestic Himalayan peaks, Kedarnath attracts millions of devotees. It is located at a distance of 86km from the Rudraprayag. It is one among the holiest pilgrims for the Hindus and every year it draws tourists and devotees from all around the world.
• Gaurikund: Gaurikund is situated at a distance of 72km from the district of Rudraprayag. This place is one of the trekking bases and camp site to Kedarnath. The temple of Gauri can be seen from this location and it also offers the sight of the hot springs of the region.
• Kartik Swami:This temple is committed to Lord Kartikeya- the son of Lord Shiva. It is situated at the Rudraprayag-Pokhri route and can be reached here by 3 Km trekking from Kanak Chauri village. Snow covered Himalayas are visible from this temple.
• Trijuginarayan: This place is situated at a distance of 12 Kms from son Prayag. As per the epics, Lord Shiva and Parvati’s marriage ceremony was held at this very location. The tale of the flame of everlasting marriage makes this one of the most frequented romantic places for the couples and newlyweds.
• Barsu Village: Erie ambience and multiple of ghostly rumours, this village is situated Ukhimath tehsil of the Rudraprayag. It is situated at a distance of 50km away from the district headquarter, Rudraprayag. The village is popularly known as the ‘ghost town’ since the massive displacement of people due to lack of basic and proper amenities. Besides Barsu there are other 840 abandoned villages in the Uttarakhand districts. Many tourists tread the desolate paths of the village in search of adventure and out of curiosity.
• Chandrashila: Right in the laps of Himalaya of the Devbhoomi Garhwal and offers a scenic over view of the crystal clear lakes, lush green meadows and rare flora and fauna. The place offers the tourist with an array of adventurous sports activities that include skiing, scaling and trekking.
• Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary: The sanctuary is situated in the Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of Uttrakhand. It is renowned as one of the richest bio reserves of the world and reputed to harbor many rare and endangered species of plants and animals. Most plant species found here have high medicinal properties. Jackal, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard Cat, Yellow Throated Marten, Snow Leopard, Common Langur, Royale’s Pika and Red Giant Flying Squirrel are some of the animals found in Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary nests many bird species and reptiles too.

Fairs (Melas) Festivals of Rudraprayag

The land of incredible India is rich in diversity and cultural charm. The entire district of Rudraprayag imbibes the traditions and cultural value of its people and their religious sentiments.  Unique customs and rituals are followed by the locals of the region to celebrate each of the festivity of the land.

• Ramnavami: It is celebrated on the auspicious day of Sri Ram’s birthday; Ramnavami takes place on the ninth day of Chaitra month. From singing ‘Bhajans’ to worshipping Lord Rama with incense sticks, the devotees dedicated themselves to Lord Rama for this day.
• Holi: The festival of colours is celebrated with fun. Apart from playing with colours, the people of Rudraprayag dance around bonfires and drinks Thandai.
• Bishwat Sankranti: One of the biggest fairs of the year, Bishwat Sankranti is held on Ming (April 14), Aser (April 15), Hans Koti (April 16), and Kulsari and Adbadri (April 17).
• Shivaratri: A festival arranged to honour the mighty Lord Shiva; the temples of Lord Shiva are decorated during Shivaratri. Devotinal songs are sung and rituals are followed on this day. Even fairs are arranged.
• Nagpanchmi: A day celebrated for thanking the Nagas or serpent gods, Nagpanchami is celebrated on the fifth day of Sravana. The Nagas are offered milk and figures of snake are made.

Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Diwali, and Dussehra are among the major festivals that are celebrated with great pomp and show in the region. Folk dances and spirit dances are a part of festivities and culture of the land. The fairs of Gaucher Mela, Nanda Devi, Naumi, Dattatreya Pooranmasi and Nagnath are among the popular fairs of the region. The fair of Makarshankranti is observed with a great deal of zeal and attracts a lot of tourists at the location.

Shopping Hunt in Rudraprayag

The district has a number of shops that are run by the cooperation by government of Uttarakhand to promote local artisans and handicrafts. The market abounds in variety of medicines, handicrafts, wooden crafts, spiritual items, woolen items and worship items. Rudraprayag the beautiful destitute of Lord Shiva and beautiful hill town situated at the Sangam of the rivers Alakananda and Mandakini, is also a major shopping destination for the tourists.

You can shop beautiful souvenirs in this holy town and take them back with you to your own abode as memories of your trip. From wooden miniature sculptures of the Rudra to different art crafts can be bought here in Rudraprayag. There may not be numerous shopping malls but several small shops have been setups that are doing their best to cater to the tastes of every tourist in the holy land of Rudraprayag. Let the shopping hunt begin.

Interesting Facts about the Rudraprayag

• The district of Rudraprayag spreads across an area of 2439 km²
• The administrative headquarters of this district is located at Rudraprayag town.
• As per the census of 2011, the Rudraprayag city population is 236,857
• The population density of the district is 119 inhabitants per square km
• There is no specific regional language of the district
• The average literacy rate of the district is 82.09%
• Ukhimath and Jakholi are the tehsils of Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand.
• The nearest airport to Rudraprayag is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun. The Nearest Railway Station from Rudraprayag is Rishikesh.
• Tungnath is not only the highest Shiva shrine in the Panch Kedar but also it is situated at an altitude of 4090m.
• The ‘Mela Nritya’ is a popular form of folk dance that is performed by the locals on Diwali.
• The ‘Bhut Katha’, which is among the popular ghost stories of the region of Ravain/Garhwal. It has aroused the interest of visiting ghost towns, one of the major tourist places among the tourists.

Hotels and Resorts in Rudraprayag

There are a lot of cheap hotels and resorts accommodations are available across the Rudraprayag city. Go through the Rudraprayag travel guide websites and browse through the top tips before you go on a vacation. It is advisable to trust reliable hotel and travel websites to land on to desirable deals for best hotels.

1. Samrat Hotel & Resort: Badrinath Road, Naugaon, National Highway 58, Devimanda, 246171
2. Mayadeep Herbal Resort: Okhimath, Gopeshwar Road, Duggal Bittha, 246469
3. Magpie Jungle Camp Chopta: Dugalbitta, Chopta, 246469
4. Hotel Pushpdeep Grand: NH 58, Bhanadhar, Malyasu Malla, 246171
5. Monal Resort: Badrinath Road, Gwar Thapali, 246475

Hospitals in Rudraprayag

The one thing everyone looks for is a well equipped hospital treating all sorts of diseases. Rudraprayag will amaze you with its commendable hospital services. The best hospitals are nearby are:

1. Himalayan Institute Hospital: Swami Rama Nagar, Joly Grant, Baksar Wala
2. Seema Dental College & Hospital: Virbhadra Road, 249203, Aam Bag, IDPL Colony, Veerbhadra
3. District Hospital – Rudraprayag
4. Veterinary Hospital – NH-58, Rudraprayag
5. Mittal Orthopedic Hospital – NH 58, Rudraprayag
6. Siddharth Hospital – NH-58, Rudraprayag

Nearby Hospital in Rudraprayag

1. Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences: Kargi, Patel Nagar Bypass Road, Industrial Area, Patel Nagar, Dehradun.
2. Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital: Industrial Area, Patel Nagar, Dehradun.
3. Ahujas’ Pathology and Imaging Centre: Ugrasain Road, Ashtley Hall, Irigation Colony, Karanpur, Dehradun
4. Combined Medical Institute: 54, Haridwar Road, Guru Nanak Nagar, Race Course, Dehradun

Educational Institutions in Rudraprayag

The district of Rudraprayag has several proficient educational institutes; for a district in the hills of Uttarakhand, Rudraprayag is quite advanced in education. Here are some top educational institutions of Rudraprayag:

1. Dr Jacques Vigne National School: Narottamnagar, Thaglasi, Guptakashi, 246439
2. Jawahar Navodaya Vidalaya (JNV): Bansu Jakdhar, 246439
3. Kendriya Vidalaya : This branch of Kendriya Vidalaya is located in Augustyamuni, 246421
4. Sri A. P. Bahuguna Govt. PG College: Augustyamuni, Rudraprayag-246421
5. R.C Academy: Sumari, Tilwara

Indian tourism is promoting Rudraprayag as this beauty is still not explored by the travelers. Rudraprayag being one of the major Uttarakhand districts is gaining recognition now. Well, you can expect a landslide but the government of Rudraprayag is there to look after the safety of the tourists. It is time to get lost in this exquisite beauty.