Badrinath Temple is a Hindu temple located on the stakes of the Alaknanda River in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand State. It is a temple committed to the Hindu god Vishnu, and the place is defined as one of the holiest places in the religion, the Char Dham, an ancient temple dating back to the 7th-9th centuries. The city around it is also called Badrinath after the temple’s name. Geographically, the place is situated on a spur of the Himalayan range at 3,133 meters above sea level among the high peaks of the Himalayan range in the Garhwal region.
The Badrinath temple worships “Badrinarayan,” a form of the Hindu deity Vishnu. There is a 1-meter-high statue of him made of Shaligram, which is believed to have been installed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century from the nearby Narad Kund. Many Hindus consider this idol one of the eight Swayambhu points of Vishnu.
Places to Visit in Badrinath
Generally, pilgrims prefer to visit Badrinath Dham for a day trip or a maximum stay of 1 night. Because of this, pilgrims need to remember to visit some attractive places of interest. However, if you plan to visit Badrinath Dham for a day or two, remember to visit the following locations in Badrinath. Badrinath has various places of interest for all kinds of tourists.
Yogdhyan Badri Temple
Yogdhyan Badri Temple is one of the holy ‘Sapta Badri’ or Seven Badris located at Pandukeshwar, Badrinath. The Utsava-murti (festival-image) or the winter abode of Lord Uddhava and Lord Kubera, the Yogdhyana Badri temple is a zone of adoration for the idol of Lord Vishnu in the contemplative posture. Legend has it that King Pandu installed a bronze idol of Lord Vishnu in the Yogdhyan Badri temple.
Tapta Kund Badrinath
Before entering the Badrinath temple, every devotee takes a holy dip in the Tapt Kund. Tapt Kund is a natural hot water pool, which is said to be the abode of Agni, the god of fire. There are separate arrangements for men and women in the bathing area. Although the average temperature remains at 55 °C, the water temperature gradually increases during the day. It is believed that this kund has high medicinal value. Bathing here cures skin diseases.
Pandukeshwar
Pandukeshwar, at an altitude of 1829 meters, is a holy place situated on the way to ‘Badrinath,’ the abode of Lord Vishnu. At a space of 18 km from Joshimath, Pandukeshwar is believed to be where King Pandu, the father of the great Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic, worshiped Lord Shiva.
There are two well-known temples in Pandukeshwar. Yogdhyan Badri Temple, one of the ‘Sapta Badri’ or Seven Badris, is another Lord Vasudev temple. The Yogdhyan Badri temple is the abode of the Utsava-murti in winter when Badrinath is closed.
Neelkantha Peak
Behind the Badrinath temple, on one side, the valley opens into a conical-shaped Neelkanth peak (6600 m). Also known as the ‘Garhwal Queen,’ there is a snow-capped peak in the shape of a pyramid that forms the backdrop of Badrinath. Tourists can come here to the Brahma Kamal area.
Mata Murti Temple
Mata Murti Temple has located about 3 km from Badrinath, on the right stake of Alaknanda; this temple is dedicated to the mother of Shri Badrinath (Mother Murthy).
Charan Paduka
This place is situated just 3 km away from Badrinath. The beautiful meadows here are covered with wildflowers in the summer. There is a huge rock here on which the footprints of Lord Vishnu are marked.
Mana Village
It is the last village on the Indian border with China and just 3 km from Badrinath. The claims of Mana village are linked to the activities of the Shri Badrinath Temple as they offer clothes to the Lord on the day the temple is closed – a traditional annual obligation. Mana village is full of caves. It is said that Ved Vyasa narrated his famous epic of Mahabharata to Ganesha in what is now known as Vyasa Gufa (cave).
Bheem Pul
A vast rock acts as a natural bridge across the Saraswati River. The Saraswati River flows between the two mountains and joins the Alaknanda River. It is believed that Mahabali Bhima, one of the five Pandavas, threw a huge rock to make a way between two mountains so that Draupadi could easily walk on it.
Narad Kund
The Narad Kund adorns the holy city of Badrinath and is another major attraction of Badrinath. It is a sacred place where Adi Shankaracharya discovered the idol of Lord Vishnu. Narad Kund is a gulf in the Alaknanda River and is naturally surrounded by a rock.
Sheshnetra
Sheshnetra is a holy place a few kilometers from Badrinath. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu took shelter in a snake named Ananta Shesh. Thus the visit to Sheshnetra reminds the mind of the devotees of this mythological belief.
Brahma Kapal
Near the temple, there is a place for Yatris to perform the Shraddha of their ancestors, which has a significant area where person can perform the Shradh of his ancestors.
Panch Dhara
The five famous Panchdhara (five streams) in Badripuri are Prahlad, Kurma, Bhrigu, Urvashi, and Indira Dhara. The largest is Indira Dhara, about 1.5 km north of Badripuri town. Bhrigudhara flows through many caves. On the right side of the Rishi Ganga river is the Urvashi stream of the Neelkanth range. The Kurma stream has freezing water, while the Prahlad stream has lukewarm water, which flows down from the rocks of Narayan Parvat.
Vasudhara Falls
Near the holy city of Badrinath, the sweet Vasudhara Falls is one of the most stunning places in Uttarakhand. This mesmerizing waterfall falls from a height of 400 feet from a height of about 122 meters above sea level.
People believe that only those who are clean, pure, and free from impurities can enjoy the heavenly beauty of Vasudhara Falls. Though it is a remote destination, the pristine beauty and serene atmosphere of this waterfall entice nature worshipers to visit it.
Satopanth Trek
Satopanth Tal is a triangular lake of crystal clear water at 4600 meters above sea level, adorned amidst snow-clad cliffs. Satopanth Tal is a high-altitude lake near the Badrinath pilgrimage in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
Apart from the spiritual importance, Satopanth has also become one of the famous treks in Uttarakhand. This glacier trek offers superb views of the Mountain.
Vyas Cave
Vyas Gufa is situated near Mana village, where Sri Vyas Muni wrote the excellent text of Mahabharata. Caves associated with ancient sages and yogis, such as the Ganesha Cave, Bhima Cave, and Muchakanda Cave, have been known for a long back.
Surya kund Badrinath
Surya Kund is a hot water spring located near the famous Narada Kund. Surya Kund is also visited by pilgrims and enthusiasts who take a holy dip in the pool to wash away their sins. Adi Shankaracharya also can discover the Lord Vishnu idol from this place.
Saraswati River
Saraswati river originates from a glacier 3 km north of Mana village. Saraswati is known as the goddess of wisdom, who blessed Ved Vyasa to compose the epic Mahabharata. After touching the Vyas Gufa, the river empties into the Alaknanda at Keshav Prayag. From here to Allahabad, the river Saraswati flows through a secret route. It is said that at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati in Allahabad, Saraswati remains invisible.
Alkakpuri Glacier
Alkapuri is the origin of the river Alaknanda. It is perched at an altitude of 4,600 meters above sea level at the base of Balkun peak near Badrinath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
Best Time To Visit Badrinath
Badrinath is a cold place with snowfall for most of the year. However, the best time to visit this holy city is from May to June and mid-September to October when the weather is pleasant.
How to Reach Badrinath
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun is the nearest airport to Badrinath, approximately 317 km. It is situated in a dramatic setting with the Himalayas in the backdrop. It is a domestic airport and is located at a distance of 22 kilometers from the Dehradun city center.
By Train: Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to Badrinath. Rishikesh Railway Station is located 295 km east of Badrinath on NH58 and is well connected by the Indian Railways network with significant destinations in India. Trains frequently run to Rishikesh, and Badrinath is well connected with Rishikesh by motorable roads.
By Road: Badrinath is connected by motorable road to the major cities of Uttarakhand. Buses are available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi, to Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. Badrinath is further connected by regular buses to cities like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli. Badrinath is connected to Ghaziabad via NH 58.
