Where the Ganga gets its name: the confluence of the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda at Devprayag
Background
The rivers that the pilgrim routes of Uttarakhand follow come together at a set of confluences called Prayags.
At Devprayag the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi meet, and their confluence forms the Ganga.
The Bhagirathi descends from the Gangotri glaciers.
The Alaknanda originates from the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers.
Devprayag sits at about 472 metres above sea level and is one of the five sacred Prayags of Uttarakhand.
Brahm Kund lies on the Bhagirathi and Vashisht Kund on the Alaknanda.
Rivers meeting at Devprayag:
Alaknanda and Bhagirathi
River formed:
The Ganga
Altitude of Devprayag:
About 472 m
Source of the Bhagirathi:
The Gangotri glaciers
Why it matters for exams: Which two rivers form the Ganga, and where, is one of the most frequently asked Indian geography questions.
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