Mandakini
Mandakini is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Coordinates
- 30.56°, 79.07°
About Mandakini
The Mandakini River is a tributary of the Alaknanda River in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The river runs for approximately 81 kilometres (50 mi) between the Rudraprayag and Sonprayag areas and emerges from the Chorabari Glacier. The Mandakini merges with river Songanga at Sonprayag and flows past the Hindu temple Madhyamaheshwar at Ukhimath. At the end of its course it drains into the Alaknanda, which flows into the Ganges.
The Mandakini is considered by Hindus a sacred river within Uttarakhand as it runs past the Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar temples. For this reason, the Mandakini has been the site of pilgrimages and religious tourism, with treks passing significant sites of spirituality such as Tungnath and Deoria Tal. The Mandakini area also attracts millions of tourists annually for whitewater rafting, hiking, and religious tours around the winter Chardham being offered. In 2011, more than 25 million tourists visited the river (for comparison, the State of Uttarakhand has a population of about 10 million).
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Mandakini River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Mandakini in Depth
Course
With a total length of approximately 80 km (50 mi) between regions Kedarnath and Rudraprayag, the Mandakini stretches past many significant locations of Uttarakhand. It also acts as a means of direction for passage through that particular area of the Garwhal Himalayas. Due to great variety in weather and geographical conditions, such as the melting and reforming of the surrounding glaciers, discharge of the Mandakini fluctuates greatly throughout the year. For these reasons, yearly discharge for the Mandakini has been split into two categories: average monsoonal discharge and average daily discharge. This also charts the temperature and sediment levels of the water.
History
The Mandakini's rich pious significance dates back to its mention in the Srimad Bhagavad. Its plethora of ancient Hindu temples, including the Jagdamba temple and Shiva temple, also contribute to its holy significance. Over 10,000 pilgrims travel the main 16 km (9.9 mi) Kedarnath trek along the Mandakini every year to reach the Kedarnath temple. The trek can be completed on foot or on a mule's back for a small fee. Longer treks along the basin are also offered for locals and experienced tourists. These extend to the shrine of Tungnath and retrace the footsteps of important Hindu sages such as Swami Rama and Bengali Baba. People have also been known to bathe in the river during various religious events such as baptisms.
Ecology
The Mandakini basin ranges in elevation from 3,800 metres (12,500 ft) above sea level to approximately 6,090 metres (19,980 ft) at the head of the Chorabari Glacier. Climates are generally cooler than the Indian mainland with maximum temperatures ranging from 30–60 °C (86–140 °F) to a minimum of 0–8 °C (32–46 °F). Humidity is relatively high, especially in the monsoon season (usually exceeding 70%). The region houses very steep valleys and large slopes, which commonly result in great sediment movement and landslides.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Mandakini River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Mandakini: Key Facts
| Length | 70 km |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Alaknanda River |
| Drainage system | Ganges Basin |
Facts from Wikidata Q3520922 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Mandakini: Quick Answers
- Where is Mandakini?
- Mandakini is located in India, at 30.5587° N, 79.0679° E.
- Are there dams on the Mandakini?
- No dam on the Mandakini is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.