The river that begins at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda in India is the Ganges.
The meeting occurs at Devprayag in Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills. Upstream, the Bhagirathi descends from the Gangotri Glacier region, while the Alaknanda gathers water from several high Himalayan tributaries. After they meet, the river is known as the Ganges, or Ganga in India.
The distinction between the two headstreams creates a frequent source of confusion. Hindu tradition commonly regards the Bhagirathi as the sacred source stream, reflecting the story of King Bhagiratha bringing the heavenly river to Earth. Hydrologists generally identify the Alaknanda as the source stream because its overall course is longer and its discharge is greater.
Devprayag is one of the celebrated Panch Prayag, or five major Himalayan confluences associated with the Alaknanda system. It is also a pilgrimage site, and the visibly different colors and currents of the two rivers can often be seen as they merge. Downstream, the Ganges crosses northern India and continues into Bangladesh as the Padma.