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Devprayag |
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is 1621.16 Kms.
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Devprayag is the point where the Bhagirathi River and the Alaknanda River join to form the Ganges river.Before this point, Bhagirathi is considered Ganga.It is one of the five sacred confluences in the hills and is an important place of pilgrimage for devout Hindus.Devaprayag stands at an elevation of 2265 ft.on the side of a hill which rises above it 800 ft.The small town of Devprayag can be said to be a temple town, due to presence of many temples here.The place is of high religious importance, as Ganga takes it real form here.The town is named after a sage Dev Sharma, who lived here and meditated.He is said to have been blessed with a glimpse of god.Devprayag is a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims.Religious ablutions take place at two basins excavated in the rock at the junction of the holy streams.One on the Bhagirathi known as the Brahm Kund and the other on the Alaknanda called Vashisth Kund.Devprayag, considered one of the 108 most divya or divine places in India and Nepal, is rich in mythological heritage and many gods and goddesses are associated with this sacred place.       Situated on the metallic road running from Rishikesh to Badrinath, Devprayag lies at about 87 km from Narendra Nagar, and a large number of pilgrims embark on tour to Devprayag every year.There are two suspension bridges near Devprayag – one on the Bhagirathi, and the other on the Alaknanda.The road to Badrinath crosses the former bridge by a third bridge.Devprayag is an ancient and holy town, and befitting its status it has a variety of mythical sites and temples that must be visited.The Sangam itself is a source of wonder and inspiration.The river rafting can also be done at Devprayag.      
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History of Devprayag city
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.      
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Geography and Climate of Devprayag city
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Economy of Devprayag city
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.
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Flora and Fauna of Devprayag city
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.
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