Badrinath: Abode of Lord Vishnu

Badrinath is one of the four sites of the famous ‘Char Dham Yatra’. It is located in the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. This pilgrimage centre is in the Garhwal hills and lies on the banks of the Alaknanda River at an elevation of 3133m above sea level. Adi Shankara established Badrinath in the ninth century. Thousands of pilgrims complete the famous Badrinath Yatra, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is mentioned as a holy and sacred place in the ancient sculptures.

Integral Part of Char Dham Yatra

According to Indian mythology, every Hindu should perform the Char Dham Yatra in order to gain spiritual bliss. The four Dhams in this yatra are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Badrinath, being an integral part of Char Dham Yatra, receives innumerable visitors every year. Tourists and pilgrims can avail pilgrimage tours to Badrinath to visit the holy and divine temples of the region.

Badrinath Temples

Badrinath Temples

There are five temples in Badrinath that are collectively known as panch badris or five badris. Badrinarayan temple, commonly known as Badrinath temple is the main attraction of the town. The temple is considered as one of the most holy temples in India. The temple consists of a meter tall statue of Lord Vishnu, which is considered as one of the eight self-manifested statues of Vishnu. Other four temples of the region are –

Yogadhyan Badri: This temple is located close to the main temple.

Bhavishya Badri: The Bhavishya or future badri is located at Subain near Tapovan, which is almost 17 km east of Joshimath.

Bridha Badri: The bridha or old badri is 7 kms before Joshimath and is located on the Rishikesh-Badrinath motor road at Animath.

Adi Badri: This temple is located very far away from the other four temples. One can reach it from Karnaprayag by road.

Places to See:

Mana Village

Popular for being the last village of India and Tibet and at a distance of 3 kms from the main temple of Badrinath. Located in the district of Chamoli this scenic village of Mana. Known for its picturesque beauty and a colorful past the village of Mana is a great way of relaxing after a hectic day at the temple.

Tapt Kund

This is a naturally occurring thermal hot water spring where the pilgrims are expected to take a holy dip before advancing towards the temple. The Kund is believed to hold medicinal properties and can cure anyone taking a dip in it from their mental as well as physical ailments.

Charan Paduka

Located at just a distance of 3 km from Badrinath Dham this is the place where Lord Vishnu is believed to have set foot first during his descent on earth. This place is marked by a small shrine made entirely out of stones and inside it contains the foot prints of the lord. Apart from the spiritual value the view from up here is breathtaking.

Bheem Pul

This is an iconic rock bridge which has a rich history and it dates back to the time of the Pandavas and when they were on their quest to heaven. With gushing and fast flowing river below, the Pul works as a bridge in closing in the gap between two points. Named after the strongest of the Pandava brothers Bheem he had said to have moved this piece of rock in order to enable Draupadi to cross over.

How to Reach

You can reach Badrinath by air, road, or rail as per your convenience and comfort. The nearest airport for people embarking on the Badrinath Yatra is the Jolly Grant airport near Dehradun and Delhi airport. The nearest railway stations are Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Kotdwar. One can also reach Badrinath through buses starting from New Delhi, Rishikesh, and Haridwar. Various travel agencies offer Badrinath tour packages that help the visitors choose from the above-mentioned options of transportation.

Badrinath Dham Yatra by helicopter:

Your Yatra for Badrinath Dham will commence from the Sahastradhara airport at Dehradun for which you are required to wake up early and reach on time. After covering an hour journey in the helicopter you will be arriving at Badrinath airport. From here your company’s taxi or cab will transfer you to the main Badrinath temple where you will be taking a VIP puja Darshan whose price will be included in your helicopter package. These options for travelling to Badrinath Dham are highly recommended for people suffering from physical ailments or are at a shortage of time.

Eating Options:

There is a number of food stall and eateries available all along the length of the Dham. You will not have any dearth of food to eat here. The small eating joints here offer cuisines from north India and Chinese like Noodles, Dal, Chawal, Rajma etc. there are also a number of tea stalls available here that will quench your tea cravings. You also have the option of savoring on some delicious Pahadi delicacies as well.

Accommodation:

There is a range of low budget hotels, camps, and tents option present in the vicinity of Badrinath Dham. There is a guesthouse from GMVN also which cater to the needs of the budget traveler. Another popular accommodation facility available throughout Badrinath Dham is the option for homestay which can be availed if you are not travelling in a large group.

Pilgrimage Tours

The pilgrimage tour to Badrinath is among the important and respected holy places in Hinduism. Thousands of tourists and pilgrims visit the holy temples of Badrinath from all around the globe. One can avail the various Badrinath tour packages offered by various travel agencies. You can book these Badrinath trip packages through a travel agent or directly by visiting the website. The options when it comes to choosing Badrinath tours and travel packages are immense, and cater to all the needs and requirements of tourists and pilgrims of all ages.

You can add more destinations around Chamoli district in Badrinath package. The surrounding hilly area of the region is known for its scenic beauty. This sacred place is a must visit for all Hindus and lovers of Indian mythology.