Karn Prayag is one of five sites where the confluence of rivers occurs. The five prayags are Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karanprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. Allahabad where the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati join, is known as Prayag, and is one of the holy places of Hindu pilgrimage. The confluence of the Pindari River, which arises from the icy Pindari glacier and the Alaknanda, occurs at Karanprayag. At a height of 788 m (2,600 ft.), Karanprayag is believed by many to be the place where Karna, hero of the Mahabharata, was to have worshiped Saturn (Surya) or the Sun God. Nanda Devi, towering above at 7,816 m (25,634 ft.), and surrounded by an array of glittering peaks, Trishul, Drona Giri, Narad Ghunti, Mrigathuni and Maiktoli. It is the ancient temple, devoted to Uma and Karna.

Karna Prayag (788m) is where the Alakananda meets the Pindar Ganga (from the Pindar Glacier). Karna, the half-brother of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata, is said to have performed austerities here to please Surya Deva and Rudra. Karna Prayag is 34km from Rudra­prayag