The river Ganga in the Himalayas is formed by the confluence of the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. At which of the following places do these two rivers meet to form the Ganga?

Introduction / Context:
This question falls under Indian physical geography and focuses on the origin of the river Ganga. Many Himalayan towns are located at important river confluences, and it is common for exams to ask which tributaries meet at which place. Knowing where Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join to form the Ganga is a frequently tested fact.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The rivers mentioned are Bhagirathi and Alaknanda, both Himalayan streams in Uttarakhand.
• The question asks for the specific place where these two rivers meet.
• The resulting river after the confluence is called the Ganga.
• The options are Himalayan towns such as Devprayag, Karnaprayag, Gangotri, Rudraprayag and Rishikesh.

Concept / Approach:
In Uttarakhand, several confluences are known as "prayag". Each prayag is formed by the meeting of specific rivers. Devprayag is the confluence where the river Bhagirathi, coming from the Gangotri region, meets the Alaknanda to form the Ganga. Other prayags involve different tributaries, such as Karnaprayag where the Pindar meets the Alaknanda, and Rudraprayag where the Mandakini joins the Alaknanda. Remembering this matching pattern helps solve many related questions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the mythological origin of the Ganga is linked with Gangotri, but the official name "Ganga" is given only after a particular confluence. Step 2: Identify Bhagirathi as the stream flowing from the Gangotri glacier, while Alaknanda flows from another Himalayan region through various prayags. Step 3: Remember that Devprayag is the place where Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet. Step 4: At this point downstream of Devprayag, the river is collectively known as the Ganga. Step 5: Therefore, among the options, Devprayag is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Many school geography textbooks and pilgrimage maps of Uttarakhand show a sequence of the famous five prayags along the Alaknanda. These are Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. Diagrams typically label Devprayag as the confluence where the Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda and the joint stream is called Ganga. This consistent representation across sources provides a strong check that Devprayag is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Karnaprayag is the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Pindar, not of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda.
Gangotri is an important pilgrimage site near the origin of the Bhagirathi, but it is not a major confluence where the Alaknanda meets it.
Rudraprayag is the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Mandakini, not the point where the Ganga is named.
Rishikesh lies downstream on the Ganga and is a famous pilgrimage and yoga centre, but the river is already called Ganga before reaching there.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often mix up the different prayags because all of them involve the Alaknanda joining another river. Another mistake is to assume that the name Ganga starts right from Gangotri, because of its religious importance, rather than at a specific confluence. To avoid confusion, remember the pattern that Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet at Devprayag and from there the river is formally called Ganga. Creating a mental map or simple list of prayags with their tributaries helps fix this information for examinations.

Final Answer:
The rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet at Devprayag to form the Ganga.