Badrinath Dham Travel Guide: History, Legend, How To Reach And Best Places To Visit

Badrinath Temple: One Of The Panch Badri Temples

Situated in the Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, Badrinath Temple is also known as ‘Badrinarayan Temple’. Surrounded by the enchanting Garhwal hills, Badrinath Temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya in around the 8th-9th century. It is one of the most popular temples in Uttarakhand and Lord Vishnu is the presiding deity of the temple. The temple is one of the Panch Badri temples or five sanctified Vishnu temples. It is also known as the ‘Vishal Badri temple’. Badrinath Yatra holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus as the temple is part of the holiest Chota Char Dham Yatra.

One of the frequently asked questions by the tourists is ‘Where is Badrinath Temple’. Well, this holy shrine is situated amidst the Nar and Narayana mountains alongside the banks of the Alaknanda River. People usually plan the Do Dham Yatra which includes only Badrinath and Kedarnath Yatra. It is easier to plan Do Dham Yatra and the journey is less time-consuming. 

The Neelkantha Mountain, also referred to as ‘Garhwal Queen’ and ‘Neelkantha Badrinath’ is believed to be a holy mountain that is located close to Badrinarayan Temple. Did you know that Badrinath region is the source of river Alaknanda? Well, the temple is nestled along the riverside of Alaknanda river. Another mountain known as Narayan Parvat is located behind the Neelkantha Peak. 

You can find the mention of Badrinath Shrine in many Hindu scriptures such as Skanda Purana and Vishnu Purana. Pilgrims and tourists have been enthralled by the wonderful architecture of the temple which is quite visually appealing! The pillars, walls, and doors of the temple are fully painted and feature intricate designs that represent artistic brilliance. If we look at the Badrinath temple images, we can spot the walls of the temples painted in bright hues. The temple has three structures—Gharbhagriha, Darshan Mandapa, and Sabha Mandapa. The Badrinath Temple Inside the area (sanctum sanctorum) houses a shaligram (black stone) idol of Badrinarayan which is believed to be a self-formed deity of Lord Vishnu. 

Millions of devotees of Lord Vishnu visit the holy temple to offer heartfelt prayers and seek blessings. The Tapt Kund (thermal spring) is very near to the  Badrinath Temple. Adi Shankaracharya brought the shaligram idol of lord Badrinarayan from the Alaknanda River and placed it in a cave close to Tapt Kund. Many believe that the Tapt Kund has medicinal properties as it is sacred and blessed by the Badrinath God. Pilgrims take baths in the holy water of Tapt Kund (thermal spring) as the water is believed to be sacred and blessed with the powers of Lord Shiva. 

The mention of the temple in Vaishnavite texts such as Bhagavata Purana, Skanda Purana, and Mahabharata shows that the Kedarnath temple is more than 1000 years old, with a history that dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries. The temple is listed amongst the 108 Divya Desams (108 Vishnu and Lakshmi Temples), which hold great spiritual significance for the devotees of Lord Vishnu. One of the famous festivals, the ‘Badri Kedar Festival’ is celebrated every year in June in the Kedarnath region. From the Bhagavad Gita path to Mahabhishek and recitation of the holy mantras of Lord Vishnu, the festival is celebrated with great fervour and in full swing. The sandalwood paste is offered to the idol of Lord Badrinath and serves as a prasad to the devotees. 

The Legend Of Badrinath Temple 

Do you want to learn about the Badrinath Temple story? well, there are many mythological tales associated with the Badrinath Temple. Goddess Lakshmi took the form of a Badri tree (ber in Hindi), to protect her consort (Lord Vishnu), from the frosty wind and harsh weather conditions. Pleased by her kind gesture and devotion, Lord Vishnu named the place Badrika Ashram. 

There’s yet another story of Badrinath Temple as mentioned in Vishnu Purana. The two sages Nar and Narayana (the avatar of Lord Vishnu) practiced deep meditation at Badrinath for ages. As per Bhagavata Purana, the twin sages Nar and Narayana were incarnated on Earth to preserve the Dharma and protect human beings from evil. Once, Narada Muni couldn’t find Lord Vishnu in Baikuntha, instead, he saw him meditating in Badrinath.

According to another story, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati came to Badrinath valley. One day Goddess Parvati heard a baby crying outside their house. The baby was the avatar of Lord Vishnu. Parvati tried to carry the baby in her arms to stop the baby from crying. However, Lord Shiva stopped her from doing so as nobody knew how who kept the baby at their doorstep. After feeding the baby, Lord Shiva and Parvati kept the baby at home and went outside. Upon returning, they found the door of the house locked. They were surprised to see such an incident and decided to go to Kedarnath. Since then, Badrinath is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu.

While there are so many legends associated with the temple, the Badrinath Yatra is believed to bring the blessings of the Lord Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu into the lives of the pilgrims. 

 

The History Of Badrinath Temple 

The origin of the Badrinath Temple is mentioned in several ancient Hindu scriptures. Devotees offered prayers at the temple during the reign of Ashoka. According to the Badrinath Temple History, the temple was established around the 8th-9th century. The temple’s painted architecture and facades resemble the Buddhist temples. Later, Adi Shankaracharya, the Hindu scholar and philosopher, brought the idol of Lord Vishnu from the Alakananda River and placed it in the Badrinath Temple. He was pivotal in the temple's reconstruction around the 9th century. He lived in the Badrinath region for six years. Badrinath Temple has been a top pilgrimage destination for the devotees of Lord Vishnu and followers of the Vaishnavism sect of Hinduism. 

The Badrinath Temple is believed to have been reconstructed many times due to avalanches and snowfall. The temple was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur after an earthquake hit the Garhwal region in 1803. According to Ramayana, Lord Rama visited Badrinath to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu after killing the Ravana (Demon King).

How To Reach 

Nearest airport: Dehradun Airport
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh Railway Station 
Base camp for trekking: Joshimath 

By Road
Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Haridwar are the prime cities of Uttarakhand that are well-connected to the Dehradun Airport. You can travel via private or government buses from these cities to reach Badrinath. If you are travelling from Kedarnath, then Kedarnath to Badrinath distance is around 40+ kilometers. 

Popular Route:
Haridwar—Rishikesh—-Devprayag—Srinagar—-Rudraprayag—Gauchar—Karnaprayag—Govindghat.

Hey, trekkers! Joshimath serves as the starting point for a trek to Badrinath Temple. Here’s the trekking route you need to know.

Trek route: Rishikesh—Rudraprayag—Joshimath—Badrinath—Rishikesh

By Air

Dehradun Airport or Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to the Badrinath Temple. It is a domestic airport serving the state of Uttarakhand and is well-connected to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The airport is 314-317km away from the Badrinath. From Dehradun Airport, you can hire a taxi to reach Badrinath Temple.

By Train

Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest railway station to the Badrinath Temple. The railway station is 295 km away from Badrinath. If you choose to travel by railway, then you can take a train to Haridwar, or Rishikesh. 

By Heli

To travel via helicopter to Badrinath, you need to catch the flight from Sahastradhara Helipad. Other helipads that are closer to Badrinath are Phata and Guptakashi. 

Best To Time Visit 

Badrinath Temple remains shut from November–April, for almost six months. During the arrival of winter, the idol of Shree Badrinarayan Ji is shifted to Narsimha Temple in Joshimath. If you are planning your Badrinath Yatra, then you must know that 2nd May is the Badrinath Temple opening date 2025. 

• May and June: This is the peak season when millions of pilgrims throng the Badrinath valley for the darshan. The summer season is a favourable time to visit the Badrinath. These two months are the best time to visit Badrinath Temple. 
• September and October: Another good time to visit Badrinath is around September and October. The Badrinath Uttarakhand weather usually remains pleasant during these two months and it’s not crowded during this time. 
• July and August: It is advisable to avoid travel during the monsoon months. Heavy showers can cause water-logging and obstruct the roads. During July and August, the region can get severely affected by floods and cloudbursts. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid going during monsoon season. 

Here are the Badrinath Temple Timings you need to know: 
4:00 AM to 9:00 PM 

Places To Visit In Badrinath 

To help you plan your trip most amazingly, we have crafted a list of enchanting places to visit in Badrinath Uttarakhand. These places offer pilgrims a tranquil escape like no other place. From trekking to sightseeing and temple-hopping, one can make the journey a soul-enriching experience. Here are a few top tourist attractions that must be on your travel bucket list. Take a look! 

• Mana Village

Located close to the Indo–Tibetan border, Mana Village is popularly known as the ‘First Village of India’. It’s a quaint little village, quite popular as the pathway to trekking routes. The village is very near to Badrinath Temple.

• Vyas Gufa

Vyas Gufa is the holy cave where Maharishi Ved Vyas composed the epic of Mahabharata, 18 sacred Puranas, Vedas, and Brahma Sutras. The cave is situated close to the Badrinath Shrine, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. 

• Tapt Kund 

Tapt Kund is the hot spring water located close to the temple complex of Badrinath Temple. Pilgrims take a dip into Tapt Kund, as a part of the ritual before offering prayers at the Badrinath Temple. The Kund is said to have miraculously healing properties. 

• Charanpaduka 

Charanpaduka is a rock that contains the footprints of Lord Vishnu. It is located at a distance of 3 km from the Badrinath. 

• Narad Kund

Narad Kund is a hot spring located near Badrinath. The kund derives its name from the sage Narada, who is depicted as the devotee of Lord Vishnu and one of the highly knowledgeable sages. 

• Satopanth Lake

The Satopanth Tal is a glacier Lake located at a distance of 22 km from Badrinath. It is another top-tourist attraction to explore while you are on the Badrinath pilgrimage. Trekkers and adventure lovers usually prefer trekking to Satopanth Tal Lake during their journey to Badrinath. 

• Brahma Kapal 

Nestled on the banks of Alaknanda River, Brahma Kapal is a sacred site located close to Badrinath Temple. This sacred site is just a stone’s throw from the Badrinath Temple. It is a sacred ground for performing the rituals of Pind Daan and Tarpan of the departed souls. 

Now that you know everything about Badrinath Yatra, your journey can be a truly fulfilling experience! Travel becomes more relatable and engaging when you know about all the places to explore and exciting things to do. 

Tune in for many such amazing travel guides that not only help you plan your journey but make travel super-interesting for you! Reach out to our team at +91-8510007751 for further details on the Badrinath Yatra.