Situated in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand, Karnaprayag otherwise known as the City of Karna, is the place where river Alaknanda and Pindar rivers merge. It gains its significance from being one of the Panch Prayags. It is generally the place where the travellers or pilgrims stay at night while they are on their journey to Badrinath or Kedarnath. Having various villages nearby, many temples, and a view worth watching, Karnaprayag attracts many tourists from all around the world. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit this place. We are going to help you out by providing a brief about all the details you need to know while you plan a trip to Karnaprayag.
Understanding The Significance Of Karnaprayag
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Karnaprayag is a place of religious as well as historical significance. It holds great importance, especially in Hindu mythology. As the name suggests, in The City of Karna, it is believed that Karna in Mahabharata meditated and performed extreme penance over here worshipping the sun god, pleased with his meditation sun god granted him powers and protective weapons in the form of earrings which made him undefeated. Everyone including Lord Krishna thought it was impossible to defeat Karna as he was being protected by the God of Dharma. Few stories suggest that Lord Krishna had cremated Karna in this place. This place is also home to many ancient temples including the famous Uma Devi temple which worships Devi Sati. It is also believed that Swami Vivekananda also spent some time here devoting himself to meditation. Witnessing the presence of so many great personalities, this place becomes even more valuable and worth visiting.
Apart from this, Karnaprayag also becomes important for being a part of Panch Prayag. The holy river of Ganga is called by the name of ‘Ganga’ only after it merges with the river Alaknanda. In the state of Uttarakhand, river Alaknanda merges with 5 different rivers and each of their confluence is named as a Prayag. The 5 other Prayags are:
- Vishnuprayag where river Alaknanda merges with the Dhauliganga River,
- Nandaprayag where river Alaknanda merges with Nandakini River,
- Karnaprayag where river Alaknanda merges with the Pindar River,
- Rudraprayag where river Alaknanda merges with Mandakini River and
- Devprayag where river Alaknanda merges with Bhagirathi river forming the holy Ganga.
Must Read: Hill Stations In Uttarakhand
Places To Visit In Karnaprayag
These are a few places you should not miss at any cost if you are planning a trip to Karnaprayag:
1. Uma Devi Temple
Image Credit: Chamoli Garhwal for Facebook
Located in Chamoli village in Garhwal, Uma Devi temple worships Goddess Parvati who is considered as the daughter of the Himalayas. This place is considered to have an idol in the form of Maa Parvati even before this temple was built. It is assumed that the Goddess came in the dreams of Pandit and asked him to construct a temple in a particular area. This temple of Uma Devi is worshipped as a Shakti Peeth and is often filled with devotees from all around. Once in every 12 years, this temple is known to organise a grand procession where everyone celebrates and the idol of Uma Devi is taken to her maternal home.
Distance From Karnaprayag: 0.16 kilometres
Best Known For Religious significance attached to Uma Devi, Shakti Peeth
Best Time To Visit: October-April
2. Adi Badri Temple
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Being within the Badrikhestra and thus named as Adi Badri which means Lord Vishnu. This place has around 16 temples which date back to the Gupta period. Having a black stone idol of Vishnu, the temple of Narayan is separated from the other temples of this place. Believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu lived for years, this temple is considered to have been built by Adi Gurusankaracharya. It is also believed that Maharishi Ved Vyas wrote Bhagwat Gita here. Situated 17 kilometres away from Karnaprayag, this place is a must-visit if you love exploring mythological places and religious sites. This is a perfect place to learn about the history as well as study the architecture of the temples of Uttarakhand.
Distance From Karnaprayag: 17 kilometres
Best Known For: Religious significance attached to Lord Vishnu
Best Time To Visit: April- November
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Rishikesh
3. Nauti Village
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Witness the beauty of rural life and the deep-rooted cultures and traditions of the local community in this Nauti village. This village is situated in the Chamoli district amidst the beautiful mountains. It is often referred to as the Village of Sati Mata and Nanda Devi. This is the place from where the procession of Nanda Raj Jat Yatra starts. This yatra is particularly important for the local people of this village and is celebrated with much happiness and enthusiasm. The serene environment here and the simple life of people will make you fall in love with this place. Visiting this place will give you a sense of peace and refresh your mind.
Distance From Karnaprayag: 24 kilometres
Best Known For: Rich history and cultural ties of the people
Best Time To Visit: April- November
4. Chandika Devi Temple
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The destroyer of evil, the ferocious Goddess Kali is said to be worshipped in this temple of Chandika Devi who is believed to be a form of Maa Kali. It is located in Simli village of Chamoli district. A lot of tantric and devotees of Goddess Kali often visit this temple. It is believed that the goddess will bless and protect the good ones and punish the wrongdoers. It is a great place where you will feel calm and will be able to connect yourselves with Goddess Kali. You can interact with the local people here and get to know more stories about Goddess Kali and their beliefs.
Distance From Karnaprayag: 6 kilometres
Best Known For: Tantric worship, the religious significance attached to Maa Kali
Best Time To Visit: October-March
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5. Nandaprayag
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Nandaprayag is a small town which is built at the place where river Alaknanda and Mandakini merge. It was believed that Nand Raja mediated on a stone in this place, which acted as a foundation for the Nand temple which was built in this place. It is considered that Nand Raja had worshipped Lord Vishnu in this place by meditating and was blessed with a boon to have a son. Apart from the mythological significance, you can visit the local villages nearby and learn about their culture and traditions. The villages have a serene environment you can enjoy. You can also go trekking and camping in the mountains and have a fun adventurous experience. This place provides an extremely calm and peaceful environment where you can sit, meditate, and treat your eyes by witnessing the scenic beauty.
Distance From Karnaprayag: 21 kilometres
Best Known For: local villages, scenic views, trekking
Best Time To Visit: April- June
Further Read: Wildlife Sanctuaries In Uttarakhand
Visit these places and many more on your next trip to Uttarakhandand enjoy a cosy and comfortable stay. Karnaprayag is a beautiful destination be it a business trip, solo trip, trip with friends, or pilgrimage. This place has a wide range of hotels and homestay options for you to choose from. This is a list of various places you must visit to have a memorable experience.
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Cover Image Credit: Fowler&fowler for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Karnaprayag
Why is Karnaprayag famous?
Karnaprayag, one of the parts of Panch Prayag is a place of religious as well as historical significance. It holds great importance, especially in the Hindu mythology. As the name suggests, in The City of Karna, it is believed that Karna in Mahabharata meditated and performed extreme penance over here worshipping the sun god, pleased with his meditation sun god granted him powers and protective weapons.
What is the speciality of Nandprayag?
It was believed that Nand Raja mediated on a stone in this place, which acted as a foundation for the Nand temple which was built in this place. The villages have a serene environment you can enjoy. You can also go trekking and camping in the mountains and have a fun adventurous experience.
How is Karna in Mahabharat related to the place Karnaprayag?
It is believed that Karna meditated and worshipped the sun god in this place, and was blessed with powers and weapons like earrings which made him even more strong. Others believe that this is the place where Karna was cremated after his death.
Why is Chandika Devi temple a famous tourist destination?
Ferocious Goddess Kali is said to be worshipped in this temple of Chandika Devi who is believed to be a form of Maa Kali. Devotees and Tantrics from all around the world visit this temple to seek the blessings of Maa Kali.
What is the best time to visit Adi Badri Temple?
Generally April to November is considered as a good time to visit this temple excluding the monsoons, due to heavy rainfall and landslides, it is advisable to avoid travelling in this season.
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