Rudraprayag is new created district of Uttarankhand state on 16th September 1997. From Srinagar (34 km) is the district town housing primarily the Kedarnath Valley, situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda & Mandakini Rivers.

History of Rudraprayag

Today’s Garhwal was known as Kedar-Khand in the past. In puranas kedar-khand was said to be abode of God. It seems from the facts vedas puranas, Ramayna and Mahabharat that these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand. It is believed that God Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayas Gufa situated in the last village Mana only 4 km. from Badrinath.

According to Rigveda (1017-19) after Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village Mana. Besides there the roots of vedic literature seems to be originated from Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with sanskrit .The work place of vedic Rishis are the prominent pilgrim places in Garhwal specially in chamoli like Atrimuni Ashram in Anusuya about 25 km. from Chamoli town and work place of Kashyap Rishi at Gandhmadan parwat near Badrinath. According to Aadi-Puran vedviyas scripted the story of Mahabharat in Vyas Gufa near Badrinath. Pandukeshwar a small village situated on the Rishikesh Badrinath highway from where Badrinath is just25 km away is regarded as Tapsthali of king Pandu. In Kedar-khand Puran this land is regarded the land of lord Shiva.

The authentic script about the history of Garhwal is found only 6th A.D on word. Some of the oldest example of there are the trishul in Gopeshwar, lalitsur in Pandukeshwar .The Narvaman rock script in siroli the chand pur Gari rock script by king Kanakpal authentitcates the history and culture of Garhwal.

Some Historian and scientist believe that this land is origin of Arya race. It is believed that about 300 BC Khasa invaded Garhwal through Kashmir Nepal and Kuman. A conflict grew due to this invasion a conflict took place between these outsiders and natives .The natives for their protection build small forts called “Garhi’’. Later on Khasa defeated the native totally and captured the forts.

After Khasa, Kshatiya invaded this land and defeated Khasa accomplished their regime. They confined Garhwal of hundreds of Garhi in to fifty-two Garhi only. One kantura vashudev general of kshatriya established his regime on the northern border of garhwal and founded his capital in joshimath then Kartikeypur vashudev katyuri was the founder of katyura dynasty in Garhwal and they reign Garhwal over hundreds of years in this period of katyuri regime Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya visited garhwal and established Jyotrimath which is one of the four famous Peeths established by Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya. In Bharat varsh other these are Dwarika, Puri and Srinagar. He also reinstated idol of lord Badrinath in Badrinath, before this the idol of Badrinath was hidden in Narad-Kund by the fear of Budhas. After this ethicist of vaidic cult started to pilgrim Badrinath.

According to Pt. Harikrishna Raturi king Bhanu pratap was the first ruler of Panwar dynasty in Garhwal who founded Chanpur-Garhi as his capital. This was is strongest Garh for the fifty- two garhs of garhwal.

The devastating earthquake of 8th September 1803 weakened the economic and administrative set up of Garhwal state. Taking advantage of the situation Gorkhas attacked Garhwal under the command of Amar Singh Thapa and Hastidal Chanturia. They established there reign over half of the Garhwal in 1804 up to 1815 this region remain under Gorkha rule.

Mean while the king of Panwar dynasty Raja Sudarshan Shah contacted east India Company and soughted help. With the help of British he defected Gorkas and merged the eastern part of Alaknanda and Mandakani along with the capital srinagar in British Garhwal from that time this region was known as British Garhwal and the capital of Garhwal was set up at Tehri instead of Srinagar. After the death of Sudarshan Shah Bhawani Shah succeeded him, who died in 1871 and was succeeded by his elder son Pratap Shah. Pratap Shah ascended the throne of Tehri at the age of 21 only. He was the founder of Pratap Nagar. He also tried to improve the forest, judicial and police administration. During his rule several public uprisings took place in the state. He died in 1886.

Kirti Shah at the time of his father’s death was still in his adolescence, so his mother Rajmata Guleri appointed Vikram Singh as the regent. But after sometime she herself took over administration. Kirti Shah took over charge of the state in 1892. His rule saw a marked improvement in the functioning of courts, forest and other departments. He is said to have invented typewriter for Hindi but gave the copy write to a company. The religious inclination of Kirti Shah is aptly proved by the fact that he organized a religious conference of the followers of different religion at Tehri. He died on 25th April 1913.

Narendra Shah the successor of Kirti Shah was again a minor at the time of succession. Thus, during the initial years Regency looked after the state administration under the presidency of his mother. During the War period (1939-42) Tehri state supplied a huge amount of wood to the Britishers while the king himself offered his services for them during the First World War. Some of his achievement was developing the new township of Narendra Nagar, construction of Kirti Nagar, Tehri, Muni ki Reti. He died on 22nd September 1950 in a car accident but had already relinquished the throne in favour of his son Manvendra Shah on 26th May 1946. The later ruled the state from 1946 till the state was merged with the Indian Union in August 1949. The newly crated Rudraprayag District was part of three districts Chamoli, Pauri and Tehri. On 16th September 1997 Rudraprayag District was carved out from whole of Augustmuni & Ukhimath block and part of Pokhri & Karnprayag block from Chamoli part of Jakholi and Kirtinagar block from Tehri District, part of Khirsu block from Pauri.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Guptkashi: The place has a great significance like that of Kanshi (Varanasi). The ancient Vishwanath temple, Ardhnareshwar temple & Manikarnik Kund, where the two streams of Ganga & Yamuna are believed to meet are the main places of attraction. 3 km from `Guptkashi' the remains of Ramgarh (in Ronitpur) still seem to echo the love between Lord Krishna's son Anniruddha & Vanasur's daughters Usha. It is situated at 1479 mts. height of the sea level.

Agastyamuni: At an altitude of 1000 mts. and on the bank of river Mandakini, 18 km from Rudraprayag, it is the place where sage Agastya meditated for years. The temple of archaeological significance has figures of Gods & Goddesses carved out on stones. A large fair is held on the occasion of Baisakhi.

Devariatal: It is situated on the Chamoli-Ukhimath route about 2 km. trek from the road head at Sari Village. This beautiful lake is at an altitude of 2438 mts gives the spectacular reflection of the mighty Chaukhamba peaks in the lake water.

Sonprayag: This is the place of confluence of Mandakini. The Mandakini flows from Kedarnath & the Sone Ganga comes from the Basuki Lake. The Sone Prayag at an elevation of 1829 mts, on the main Kedarnath route, it is said that a mere touch of the holy water of Son Prayag helps one to attain the Baikunth Dham.

Gaurikund: 5 km from Sonprayag at an altitude of 1982m, Gaurikund is the last bus terminus on the Kedarnath route. At per religious texts Goddess Parvati (another name of Gauri) meditated for a long time to win a consort in Lord Shiva. The Lord agreed & the cosmic couple was wed at Triyuginarayan. An ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Gauri. Near the temple is a thermal spring of medicinal value.

Chopta: Situated on the Gopeshwar-Ukhimath road, about 40 km from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2900m, Chopta is one of the most picturesque spans the entire Garhwal region. From Chopta one can view the majestic peaks of the Himalayas breathtaking in their beauty against the clear blue sky. The open grassland near Chopta are excellent places for camping. Chopta is the base for 5 km trek to famous temple of Tunganath ¬the highest Shiva Shrine among the Panch-Kedar. The Musk Deer Sanctuary famous for breeding Musk Deer is 7 km on the Chopta-Gopeshwar road and is the ideal place to view rare Himalayan wildlife. Rishikesh is 210 km. from Chopta.

Hariyali Devi: The famous Siddh Peeth of Ma Hariyali Devi is 37 km from the main town of Rudraprayag. A confluence of pristine beauty and religious fervour, the temple of Hariyali Devi is situated at an altitude of 1400m. Around it, for miles together, one witnesses a captivating view of forested land and a majestic range of mountains. The temple houses a regally be jewelled idol of Ma Hariyali Devi, astride a lion. She is also popular by the name of Sheetla Mata in Almora, Jageshwar & Srinagar. During Janmashthami & Diwali tourists & pilgrims in large numbers throng this place. During Diwali, the idol of the Goddess is carried in a palanquin to Hariyali Kantha, the main Siddh Peeth of Hariyali Devi, which is at a distance of 7 km from here at an altitude of 3000m. From Hariyali Kantha one can see the mountain range in a semilunar spread and the splendour of the range is just awesome. According to Hindu mythology, when Mahamaya was conceived as the seventh issue of Devki, Kansa threw Mahamaya violently on the ground. Consequently, several parts of Mahamaya got strewn all over the earth. One part-the hand- fell at Hariyali Devi, Jasholi. Since then it became a revered Siddh Peeth one out of a total of 58 Siddh Peeths. The temple houses chiefly three idols namely, Ma Hariyali Devi, Kshatrapal & Heet Devi. The temple is situated on Rishikesh - Badrinath Motor Road-". Rishikesh is 180 km. from the temple.

Trijuginarayan: 9 km + (5 km trek) from Sonprayag at an altitude of 1980 mts., this place is of great religious importance. Mythology has it that the wedding of Lord Shiva and Sati (Goddess Parvati) was solemnised here in the presence of Lord Vishnu. Of special interest is an eternal fire which according to legend believed to never extinguish. Kedarnath is 31 km from here.

Ukhimath: This is the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath and worship is done here during the winter when the temple of Kedarnath remains closed. The temples of Usha & Anniruddha (son of Lord Krishna), Shiva & Parvati are worth visiting. Ukhimath is at a distance of 41 km from Rudraprayag and 13 km from Guptkashi at an elevation of 1311 mts. Ukhimath is connected by direct bus service with Rudraprayag, Gauri Kund, Guptkashi & Srinagar. From Ukhimath one can see on a clear day the beautiful view of the Kedarnath Peak, Chaukhamba & other green beautiful valley. Ukhimath is 182 km from Rishikesh.

Kalimath: It is situated close to Ukhimath, 23 km by road & 10 km trek. It is one of the Siddh Peeths of the region & held in high religious esteem. The temple of Goddess Kali located here is visited by a large number of devotees round the year and specially during the navratras. The Peeth comprises of temples made of wood & iron surrounded by several smaller ones made of stone, dedicated to different deities Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati, Gauri Shankar Mahadev & Bhairay. The Goddess, who vanquished evil, is depicted beautifully alongwith the four handed Shankar with Ganesh & Kartikeya placed at the feet of Gauri.

GETTING THERE
Airport : Jollygrant 159 km.
Railway station: Rishikesh 142 km