Top 5 Famous Rivers of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand

Introduction

Uttarakhand, or should we say Devbhoomi, is blessed with rivers, which are a symbol of spirituality and cultural heritage. Holy Ganga River, Yamuna, and Bhagirathi – these rivers play an important role in the traditions and culture of Uttarakhand.

In this article, we take a closer look at the top 5 famous rivers of Uttarakhand and their significance.

1. Ganga River—Sacred Lifeline of Uttarakhand

One of the famous rivers of Uttarakhand is the Ganges River, which is considered as Mokshadayini not only in Uttarakhand but in the whole of India. Just by taking a bath in it, the mind gets peace and the soul becomes pure. This river originates from Gangotri Dham, one of the four famous shrines of Uttarakhand, which is also known in the world by the name of Gomukh. The Ganga River passes through holy districts like Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, where many devotees come every year to visit and take a bath in the temples. Along with this, it passes through UP, Bihar, and West Bengal. This famous river is a symbol of purity and culture.

2. Yamuna River—Spiritual and Scenic Beauty

The Yamuna River is a very revered and famous river of Uttarakhand, which is one of the four Dhams located in the Uttarakhand district. Yamunotri Dham is the place from where the Yamuna River originates. Where the first darshan is done among the four Dhams. According to ancient stories, Yamuna has been given the status of a goddess in Hindu religion, who is considered the daughter of Surya Dev and sister of Yamraj. It was said in ancient times that bathing in the Yamuna River ends the fear of death.
The Yamuna River is situated in a peaceful place in the lush green area between the mountains, the beauty of which impresses people, and they come here to visit. This famous river of Uttarakhand is considered a symbol of truth.

3. Alaknanda River—A Major Tributary of the Ganga

Alaknanda is counted among the famous rivers of Uttarakhand, which originates from Bekunth Dham and is the largest and most powerful river of Uttarakhand. The origin place of the Alaknanda River is the Sathopant glacier. According to ancient recognition, when Ganges emerged from the feet of Lord Shiva and, first of all, when he opened the earth, two streams emerged, of which one was Bhadirathi and the other was Alaknanda.
This river flows through Badrinath Dham, which is an important part of four religions. The Alaknanda River is not only a center of religious faith but also a source of water resources in hilly areas. It also plays an important role for. According to ancient belief, when Ganga emerged from the locks of Lord Shiva and touched the earth for the first time, two streams emerged, one Bhagirathi and the other Alaknanda.
This river flows through Badrinath Dham, which is an important part of four religions. The Alaknanda River is not only a center of religious faith but also plays an important role as a source of water resources in the hilly areas.

4. Mandakini River—Pilgrimage Route to Kedarnath

The Mandakini River is a sacred and famous river of Uttarakhand, which originates from the Chorabari glacier located near Kedarnath, where every year people come to visit the Shiv temple. A little further ahead, this river meets the Alaknanda River in Rudraprayag district, forming a confluence.
It is written in the Vedas that when Goddess Anasuya’s husband was engrossed in real penance, after the completion of his penance, he felt thirsty and asked for water from Anasuya; then, with her penance power, she originated the Mandakini in thousands of streams. Mahant Divyajeevan Das of Bharat Mandir said that all the sins of man are destroyed by taking a bath in the Mandakini River.

5. Saraswati River—The Hidden Sacred Stream of Uttarakhand

The Saraswati River is one of the lesser-known but spiritually significant famous rivers of Uttarakhand. This river originates from Mada village in Uttarakhand, which is near Badrinath Dham. There is a natural rock near this river, which is called Bhima Bridge. It is believed that during the Mahabharata period, Bhima built this bridge to help Draupadi cross the river. It used to be said in ancient times that whoever drank the water of this river would gain knowledge because the goddess Saraswati herself came to this place in the form of a river.
According to the Vedas, when Lord Ganesha was writing slokas after listening to them from Vedvyas Ji, the river Saraswati was flowing with its loud voice, due to which he was getting troubled. He asked the river to reduce its speed, but the goddess did not listen to him; then, in anger, Ganesha Ji cursed him.
The Saraswati River is a center of attraction for tourists. To date, no one has been able to find out where the river goes.