alakananda hindoo pauranik granth mahabharat ke anusar kailas aur badrinath ke nikat bahane vali ganga nadi ki ek shakha hai. yah ganga ke char namoan mean se ek hai. char dhamoan mean ganga ke kee roop aur nam haian. gangotri mean ganga ko bhagirathi ke nam se jana jata hai, kedaranath mean mandakini aur badrinath mean 'alakananda' ke nam se jana jata hai.[1]