Alaknanda River

Encyclopedia

The Alaknanda is a Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, 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 tradition and culture, the other headstream, the Bhagirathi, is considered the source stream.

Course

The Alaknanda rises at the confluence and foot of the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in Uttarakhand. From its origin, it travels to the village of Mana, meets with the Saraswati River, a right bank tributary, and continues downstream through narrow valleys. It reaches the Badrinath valley, arrives at Hanumanchatti, and meets with the Ghrit Ganga, a right bank tributary. From Hanumanchatti, the river goes to Pandukeshwar and flows through wide valleys and steep terrains. At Vishnuprayag it meets Dhauliganga, a left bank tributary, and travels west to the town of Joshimath. From Joshimath, the Alaknanda crosses the Main Central Thrust near Helang. It then meets with Birahi Ganga, a left bank tributary at Birahi. The river reaches the town of Nandprayag and joins with the Nandakini River, a left bank tributary. At Karanprayag, the Pindar River, a left bank tributary, meets with the Alaknanda River. At Rudraprayag, it meets with the Mandakini River, a right bank tributary. As the Alaknanda flows past Rudraprayag, it enters a wide valley near Srinagar, Garhwal. At Devprayag the Alaknanda River converges with the Bhagirathi River and travels onward as the Ganges River.

The Alaknanda contributes a significantly larger portion to the flow of the Ganges than the Bhagirathi. The Alaknanda system drains parts of Chamoli, Tehri, and Pauri districts.

Religious significance

The Alaknanda River is of special interest to the pilgrims who visit the important pilgrimage places in Uttarakhand. The Ganges as Alaknanda rises in the southern Himalayas on the Indian side of the Tibet border. On the Satopanth Glacier 6 km (3.73 mi) up from Alaknanda’s origin at its snout, the triangular Lake Satopanth is found at a height of 4,350 m (2.70 mi). It is named after the Hindu trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Badrinath Rishi Ganga River meet Alaknanda

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 on either sides and Neelkanth peak located at the back of Narayan range.

  1. Govindgath :. LaxmanGanga meet Alaknanda

Panch Prayag

Several rivers in the Garhwal region merge with the Alaknanda at places called prayag or ‘holy confluence of rivers’. These are:

  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

River Alaknanda near Badrikashram

Recreation

The Alaknanda river is among the best for river rafting in the world due to its high rafting grade.

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.

# Name Electrical output capacity (MW) Status Dam height (m) Full reservoir level (MSL) (m) River bed level at dam site (MSL) (m) Head race tunnel length (km) Tail race tunnel length (m) Tail water level (MSL) (m)
1 Badrinath 1.25 operational
2 Tapovan 0.8 operational
3 Tharali 0.4 operational
4 Tilwara 0.2 operational
5 Urgam 3 operational
6 Vishnuprayag 400 operational 14 11.323
7 Kaliganga-I 4 under construction
8 Kaliganga-II 6 under construction
9 Koti Bhel IB 320 under construction 90 521 452.5 230 463.2
10 Koti Bhel II 530 under construction 82 458.5 401.4 390 411.1
11 Madhamaheshwar 10 under construction
12 Tapovan Vishnugad 520 under construction 22 803.5 513 1267
13 Shrinagar 330 under construction
14 Singoli Bhatwari 99 under construction

There are 23 other proposed projects in the Alaknanda river basin through which the power-potential of the Alaknanda and its tributaries can be harnessed. The proposed 23 hydel-projects are as follows –

  1. Alaknanda (Badrinath) (300 MW)
  2. Bagoli (72 MW)
  3. Bowla Nandprayag (132 MW)
  4. Chuni Semi (60 MW)
  5. Deodi (60 MW)
  6. Devsari Dam (255 MW)
  7. Gaurikund (18.6 MW)
  8. Gohana Tal (60 MW)
  9. Jelam Tamak (60 MW)
  10. Karnaprayag (160 MW)
  11. Lakshmanganga (4.4 MW)
  12. Lata Tapovan (310 MW)
  13. Maleri Jelam (55 MW)
  14. Nandprayag Langasu (141 MW)
  15. Padli Dam (27 MW)
  16. Phata-Byung (10.8 MW)
  17. Rambara (24 MW)
  18. Rishiganga I (70 MW)
  19. Rishiganga II (35 MW)
  20. Tamak Lata (280 MW)
  21. Urgam II (3.8 MW)
  22. Utyasu Dam (860 MW)
  23. Vishnugad Pipalkoti (444 MW)

Towns along the Alaknanda River

As the river flows, the towns along its banks are Badrinath, Vishnuprayag, Joshimath, Chamoli, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Srinagar and Devprayag. At each town with suffix prayag, Alaknanda meets another river.

Photo gallery

  • Rudraprayag - confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini

    Rudraprayag – confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini

  • Alaknanda river near the town of Srinagar in Uttarakhand

    Alaknanda river near the town of Srinagar in Uttarakhand

  • Alaknanda joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form the Ganges

    Alaknanda joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form the Ganges