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Uttaranchal Karnaprayag Temple
The place is considered to be the holy place, where one of the heroic characters of the epic Mahabharata, Karana worshiped the god of sun, thus getting the name as Karnaprayag. This temple is devoted to both Karana and Uma. The place is situated on the foot hills of Badrinath and at the exact convergence of the two rivers of Pindar and Alaknanda. The legend goes that the epic character, karma meditated at Karnaprayag for numerous years in order to attain the invincible shield which would make him a very strong warrior who would be difficult to defeat. Another famous history associated with place is that, the great swami Vivekananda stayed and meditated for a stretch of 18 long days with the famous Guru Turainandhji, Akharananda and Guru Bhai for peace of mind.
How To Reach
By Air
Airport access is quite far from the temple. The closest airport is at Dehradun, which is approximately 220 kms away from the shrine. The taxi and cab facilities are accessible in plenty from the Dehradun airport.
By Rail
The nearest railway station that is available is at Rishikesh. The place is about 180 km away from Karnaprayag temple. Local transport availability to reach the place is little less. It is advised to hire a cab and reach the nearest point of the area with ease.
There is another railway junction at Haridwar, which is about 24 km away from Rishikesh. It has train connections which come from all across India, thus making it a main junction.
By Road
The place is part of the national highway 58. This highway connects Badrinath to Delhi. The Mana pass which is located in the state of Uttarakhand is also near to the Indian border with Tibet. There by, all types of vehicle intended to travel from Delhi to Badrinath via Rishikesh and Haridwar passes through the area of Karnaprayag. The road to Karnaprayag has its starting point situated at Rishikesh. All buses and tourist vehicles start from Rishikesh Bus Stand. The entire road distance from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag is almost 180 kilometres. This route engulfs through Srinagar as well.
Important Shrines
Uma Devi Temple
The temple of Uma Devi and the ever famous Karana temple are the primary attractions in the area. The idol of Uma devi is taken as a procession to the origin village of Dimmer. This ritual is done once in 12 years. The shrine holds a high value amongst the local people.
Karana Temple
It is the most famous temple in the area of Karnaprayag. The legend goes that the epic character, Karan meditated at Karnaprayag for numerous years in order to attain the invincible shield, which would make him a very strong warrior who couldn't be defeated by anyone.
Significance Of Temple
The Karnaprayag is one of the five prayags of the ever famous Alaknanda River. It is placed at the confluence of the two rivers of Pindar and Alaknanda. The Karana temple is famous as it is the place where Karana, one of the heroic characters of the epic Mahabharata worshiped the god of sun.
Weather And Time To Visit
The best time to visit the temple is from October to March during the winter season, when the temperature is very enjoyable and excellent for sightseeing. The summers at Karnaprayag are usually moderately hot with temperature reaching around 30 degrees Celsius. The evenings are accompanied with a cool breeze which lifts the visitor's mood. The monsoon months from August to October are a very good time for viewing the beautiful hill regions. The winters could be really cold, with temperatures reaching to sub zero levels at times. It's a very good time for viewing nearby attractions as well. November marks the start of the winter season.
Accomodation
The place of Karnaprayag lies in the highway leading to Badrinath. This is a place where most of the tourist would prefer to stay overnight during the journey. The options available for stay are less. The option of Home stay is available at nearby places. Many Dharmashalas are also present in the area, which would give a free stay for the pilgrims visiting the temple. Kedar Dev hotel and the river view hotel are few of the popular hotels that are available in and around the area.
Tips For Devotees
Breathing exercises will come in handy, as the oxygen levels in the high altitudes is very less. It is advised for the tourist to take a halt at Karnaprayag and visit the temples of Uma Devi and Karan while on route to Badrinath as it is considered very sacred.
Rules And Rituals Of The Temple
The idol of Uma Devi is taken as a procession to the origin village of Dimmer. This ritual is done once in 12 years. The shrine holds a high value amongst the local people. The people having the privilege of viewing this event are considered very lucky and full of sacredness.
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