Devprayag is an angelic and pious hamlet nestled amidst the confluence of two rivers that hold a significant position in India's religious history, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. Translating it into English, we could say that it means a holy confluence. Though we know that this place is a confluence of two famous rivers, a third mythological river flowing underground called Saraswati flows along with them. On the one hand, the Alaknanda originated from the holy town of Badrinath; on the other hand, the Bhagirathi river emanates from Gangotri.

When we look back into the history of the name of this place, we find that Devprayag was named after a famous sage named Dev Sharma. Dev did penance here, and according to some sources, it is said that he also succeeded in getting a glimpse of the Almighty.

It is said that the Pind Daan Ritual at Devprayag is pretty famous because of the legendary story of Bhagirath. Long long ago, there lived a Suryavanshi king named Bhagirath. He was performing penance in the Himalayas to bring down Ganga from heaven to Earth. There was also a specific reason behind this motive. Only Ganga could liberate his ancestors from the cycle of birth and rebirth and help them attain salvation.

After several years of harsh penance, he finally convinced Goddess Ganga. But before unleashing her holy water on Earth, Ganga said, "I am prepared to descend to Earth to free your forefathers, but you cannot stop my strong waves and flow. I could wash away the entire world and end up at Patal Lok." Bhagirath was worried after listening to Ganga, and he asked her for a solution. Ganga said that only Lord Shiva could slow down her flow and channel the holy water of the Ganges smoothly. Hearing this, Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva. Pleased with his devotion, Shiva agreed to help him.

Shiva allowed Ganga to flow through his matted hair locks that would, in turn, slow down the pace at which the Ganges water flowed. This benefitted humanity and gave the ancestors of Bhagirath the happiness and peace of salvation. Shiva unleashed the Ganges water at Gangotri, and since Ganga flowed through Shiva's hair upon the request of Bhagirath, she is also known by the name of Bhagirathi. When it descends and meets with Alaknanda at Devprayag, she is known by the name of Ganga.

It is said that the town of Devprayag is the winter seat for all the priests or pandas. However, when the Badrinath Dham and temple were shut down, all the priests travelled to Devprayag to conduct the Pind Daan rituals. Pind is a type of symbolic offering performed following Vedic customs. It is the most crucial ceremony or worshipping for the departed spirits of ancestors or to provide emancipation to the ancestors. Skilled Pandas typically officiate the Pind Daan ceremony.

The history of the pandas is also pretty interesting. It is said that thousands of years ago, when Adiguru Shankaracharya came to Badrikashram, many other Brahmins from South India accompanied him. The name of these Brahmins was Tetriya Krishna Yajur Brahmins. After seeing their intelligence and wisdom regarding various religious matters, the Maharaja of Garhwal assigned them the duty of worshipping Lord Rama in the Raghunath Temple. Since then, the pandas have carried on the responsibility of serving Lord Rama.

Yet another interesting fact says that Lord Rama and King Dashratha meditated here. The Raghunath Temple built here was a symbol of the presence of Lord Rama in this place. The temple is almost ten thousand years old and is constructed precisely on the confluence. Standing atop a plinth, this temple consists of a cupola adorned with a golden onion-shaped dome. Baitalshila, a sacred spring nearby, is thought to have therapeutic properties to treat diseases. Many devotees come here to bathe in the holy waters of the kund.

Apart from being a religious centre, Devprayag is also endowed with breathtaking natural beauty, which draws visitors from worldwide. Devprayag has recently risen from a pilgrimage stop in a small village to a municipality. It has recently acquired popularity as its spiritual and religious importance has gained attention. With all the attention paid to its rich history and colourful past.

In contemporary times, Acharya, Pt. Chakradhar Joshi, a scholar in Astronomy and Astrology, established an observatory named Nakshatra Vedh Shala. Located on a mountain called Dashrathanchal, this observatory consists of more than three thousand manuscripts that date back to 1667 AD. These manuscripts were collected from different parts of the country and kept in one place for the convenience of research and other scholarly purposes.