Rudraprayag District

Lying on the confluence of two holy rivers, Alaknanda and Mandakini, Rudraprayag is one of the 13 districts of Uttarakhand. Being one of the Panch Prayag, the beauty of this city is worth seeing, surrounded by various lakes and glaciers. Each district in Uttarakhand has its own charm and Rudraprayag is no exception. Situated around 174 km from Dehradun and 392 km from Delhi, visitors can access this beautiful city by road, availing various services from Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar. Tourists often visit here during Char Dham yatra and in winters. Its vivid landscapes and popular peaks offer a picturesque view, drawing a multitude of tourists.

It is believed that Rudraprayag has its name due to the ‘Rudra’ Avatar of Lord Shiva. As per the legends, once Narada Rishi had the urge to learn music under the guidance of Lord Shiva. Seeking mastery in music, Narada performed rigorous penance to please Lord Shiva. Eventually, Lord Shiva appeared in his rudra avatar to bless sage Narada, hence giving the city its name Rudraprayag. The rock used by Narada for penance is now known as Narad Shila. The city also serves as the gateway to the famous Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham, located at a distance of 150 km and 50 km respectively.

Along With this, the city is also home to ancient temples like Kartik Swami, Koteshwar Mahadev, Siddha Peeth Kalimath, Triyuginarayan, Madmaheshwar, Mathiyana Devi, Rudranath and world highest shiva temple Tungnath. Chopta is among the prominent tourist spots of Rudraprayag , that draws a huge number of tourists round the year and is often regarded as the mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand. On a clear day, visitors can observe the scenic beauty of Garhwal region and panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range from here. Its scenic beauty and lush green meadows always tend to lure tourists.

The significance of Rudraprayag further deepens, when scholars said that after the Mahabharata, Pandavas visited this place to seek penance to absolve themselves of the death of kin. Rudraprayag Pandav leela is quite famous, where villagers perform traditional Pandav dance. Moreover, the fair organised in Hariyali Devi and Madmaheshwar temple showcases a delightful blend of culture and religion, further adding to the charm of Rudraprayag. Additionally, the Baisakhi Fair in Mandakini Valley is celebrated with great pomp. Along with this, festivals like Rmanavami, Holi, Shivratri, and Nagpanchmi are celebrated enthusiastically. While celebrating these festivals, people often wear their traditional clothes to showcase their tradition and culture.

With a population of more than 2 lakhs, the district highly depends on tourism and agriculture. Pulses, wheat, rice, and vegetables are some of the majorly grown crops in the district. Garhwali is the predominant first language, spoken by over 94% of the census. Like other districts, the Garhwal young generation is keen to join the Indian army, which is why most of them are giving their services in the Indian Army. Rudraprayag district came into existence in September 1997, which was carved out from Chamoli, Tehri, and Pauri district. It shares boundaries with Uttarkashi to the North, Chamoli to the east, Tehri to the West and Pauri to the South.