Indian pilgrimage geography: Identify the river on whose bank Badrinath is situated. Full question: Badrinath (a major Char Dham shrine in Uttarakhand) lies on the bank of which Himalayan river? Choose the correct option.

Given

• Location asked: River beside the Badrinath temple town (Uttarakhand).

Concept/Approach
Badrinath is located in the Garhwal Himalayas on the banks of the Alaknanda River, one of the principal headstreams that later helps form the Ganga.

Eliminating distractors
Bhagirathi and Mandakini are other Ganga headstreams (Gangotri/Kedarnath regions respectively). Yamuna and the Ganga in the plains do not pass the Badrinath site.

Final Answer
Alaknanda.