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Alaknanda

Alakanandā (अलकनंदा)
River
Alaknanda devprayag.jpg
The sediment-laden Alaknanda river flowing into Devprayag, Uttarakhand.
Country  India
State Uttarakhand
Region Garhwal division
Districts Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri Garhwal
Tributaries
 - left Saraswati, Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pindar
 - right Mandakini
Source Confluence of Satopanth Glacier and Bhagirathi Kharak Glacier
 - elevation 3,880 m (12,730 ft)
Source confluence Bhagirathi River
Mouth Ganges
 - location Devprayag, Uttarakhand, 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)
HeadwatersGanges1.jpg
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; however, in Hindu mythology and culture, the other headstream, the Bhagirathi, is considered the source stream.

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.

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.


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