Goddess Ganga, according to Hindu mythology, wished to descend to Earth and bless humanity, but Her power was too great for Earth to bear.
Lord Shiva decided to split Her energy and distribute it evenly across the lands. He channeled Her energy through His matted locks and directed it to flow into Earth through twelve channels.
Vishnuprayag is the first of the famed Panch Prayags situated where the Vishnu Ganga ( later renamed Alaknanda) joins the Dhauliganga, An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu
At Nandprayag, there is a well-known Gopalji (Lord Krishna) sanctuary. The marriage of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala is said to have taken place here.
The Pindar River, which flows from the Pindar glacier, joins the Alaknanda river in Karnaprayag, about 174 kilometers from Rishikesh.
The holy town of Rudraprayag is located at the junction of the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers. It is named after Lord Shiva, also known as Rudra,
Devprayag is the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi rivers. All five rivers confluence here to form the holy Ganga.