History
The Tilang Bhatt Brahmins, the largest community of Devprayag, came from South India to settle in Devprayag – their winter home – along with Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD.They have been traditional teerth-purohits at the Badrinath shrine since then and spend their summer months in Badrinath once the shrine opens after winter.
Huen Tsang, the Chinese traveller, has referred to Devprayag as Brahmpuri in his writings.Apparently it was called so in the 7th century AD, and was also referred to variously as Brahm Teerth and Srikhand Nagar.The South Indian ancient text Aravalgranth refers to it as Kandvenukatinagram from approximately 1000 AD to 1803, Devprayag – in common with the rest of Garhwal – was ruled by the Pals who later came to be known as the Shahs of the Panwar dynasty.In 1803, taking advantage of the devastating earthquake that killed one-third of the region’s population, the Gorkhas advanced towards Garhwal.Pradyuman Shah was the king at that time. Pradyuman Shah was killed in action and the Gorkhas took over the reigns of Garhwal.In 1815, Sudarshan Shah, Pradyuman Shah’s heir, managed to wrest his kingdom back from the Gorkhas with British help.The British handed all portions of Garhwal west of the Alaknanda, except Rawain and Dehradun, to Sudarshan Shah on March 4, 1815. He then proceeded to set up his capital at Tehri as he had lost the land on which his capital Srinagar stood to British Garhwal.When Tehri Riyasat merged with the Indian Union on India’s independence, Devprayag became a part of the Pauri district first in of Uttar Pradesh and then in Uttarakhand.
Geography and Climate
Devprayag lies at an altitude of 472 m, on Rishikesh-Badrinath route, about 75 Km from Rishikesh.Its coordinates are 30°08'42?N and 78°36'00E The details of temperature recorded at the meteorological observatories show that the highest temperature was 34°C and lowest 2°C and even lower. January is the coldest month after which the temperature begin to rise till June or July. temperature vary with elevation. During the winter cold waves in the wake of western disturbances may cause temperature to fall appreciably. Snow accumulation in valleys is considerable.
As of 2001 India census,Dev Prayag had a population of 2144. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%.Dev Prayag has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%,male literacy is 82% and, female literacy is 72%.In Dev Prayag, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age
Economy
The traditional occupation of the majority of Devprayagis has been that of teerth-purohits of Badrinath.Their rhythm of life has remained unchanged for centuries – since they were appointed teerth-purohits.Since then they have continued to assist their jajmaans, maintain a record of visits from their families, travelled to Badrinath in the summer and to the rest of India in the winter.The other Brahmins of Devprayag have also followed their profession for centuries. They have assisted devotes in performing the pind daan at the Sangam, instructing them in the correct rites and rituals.
For the villagers in surrounding areas, cattle rearing and agriculture were the traditional occupations of the people, even as they is today. Rice, mustard, maize, wheat, jhangori, rice, and lentils such as urad, toor, masoor were the traditional crops grown on terraced fields around the town, as they are even today.Employment also took the form of commerce, such as shop-keeping, running eateries or dharamshalas, to cater to the numerous foot pilgrims and visitors that pass through the town on their way to Badrinath. Today, this is handled on a bigger scale, with some large resorts coming up in the town.Traditional cuisine included Garhwali food, and especially well-known was Devprayag’s singuri and bal mithai, both preparations of milk khoya.Today, food is rather more cosmopolitan, with the inclusion of cuisine from other Indian states in the diet, brought about by the fact of teerth-purohits’ close links with the rest of India.
Flora and Fauna
Devprayag’s warm climate supports a range of trees that can also be found in the plains of north India.Major Flora includes laburnum, banana, eucalyptus, peepul, banyan, neem, curry patta and yellow bottlebrush.Flowering shrubs include bougainvillea and roses.Surprisingly, Devprayag also has quantities of cacti which flower in March-April.
The local fauna is made up of kakar deer, bagheera, wild fowl, wild boar, porcupine, bear, langur and monkey.While the langurs and the monkeys are very much in evidence, the other animals are sited very rarely now. Colourful insects and different species of butterflies abound but their numbers are dwindling due to urbanisation.