A holy town; part of the Char Dham Yatra
Scenic Himalayan vistas
Natural wonders like hot springs
Where history and mythology come alive
WHAT TO KNOW
The Badrinath Temple also known as the Badrinarayan Temple, located in Uttarakhand's Badrinath town, is one of the Char Dhams (four important pilgrimages) in the state. There are four pilgrim-destinations namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively known as Char Dham. These pilgrimage centres draw large number of pilgrims each year, thus becoming the most important hubs of religious travel in the whole of Northern India.Ā
Badrinath is located at an elevation of around 3,100 m. Located in the Garhwal Himalayas, on the banks of the Alaknanda river, this sacred town lies between Nar and Narayana mountain ranges. The temple is believed to have been established by sage Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. With Lord Vishnu as its presiding deity, the temple remains open for six months in a year. In winter it becomes inaccessible due to heavy snowfall.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The ideal time to visit Badrinath Temple is from May to October. The temple is closed from October/ November, and is reopened around April.
Hemkunt Sahib is a pilgrimage site for Sikhs. It is believed that Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth guru of the Sikhs, spent 10 years in meditation at this spot. The gurudwara is located amidst snow-capped Garhwal mountains and snuggled between the peaks of the Hemkund Parvat. This gurudwara is visited by devotees from all over the country. Many pilgrims also visit to repair the trail that is often damaged in winters.Ā
Around 10 km from Badrinath is located the majestic Vasudhara falls gushing down a bare rock-face from around 122 m. A trek of around 10 km from Badrinath will bring you to this beautiful waterfall.Ā
Satopanth Tal is a pristine glacial lake surrounded by mighty peaks like Chaukhamba, Neelkantha, Swargarohini and Balakun. This triangular lake is a challenging trek (25 km from Badrinath) and one of the hidden gems of the Garhwal region. Locals say this lake is where gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva meditated. The lake also finds a mention in tales around the epic Mahabharata. The trek to Satopanth is takes you past Mana, Indiaās last village, the popular Vasudhara waterfall and the Sahastradhara falls.Ā
Narada Kund, Surya Kund and Tapt Kund are the three thermal springs popular among devotees in Badrinath. Narada Kund, named after divine sage Narada, is said to be the place when the sage had written the holy scripture Narada Bhakti Sutra. It is said that the idol of Lord Vishnu was discovered at Narada Kund. Ā