Badrinath Tourism (2020) - Uttarakhand > Top Places, Travel Guide

"A mountain for Lord Shiva"

Badrinath Tourism

Perched on the Garhwal hill tracks, near Alaknanda River, Badrinath is situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Badrinath is known for the sacred Badrinath Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage yatras and is one of the most visited pilgrimages in India. Placed between Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, Badrinath Temple is situated in the backdrop of the mighty Neelkanth mountain and is known for stunning natural beauty.

Situated at the height of 10,279 feet, the Badrinath Temple is believed to be originally established by the saint, Adi Shankaracharya. The temple houses a black stone idol of Lord Vishnu which is 1m tall and is considered to be one of the 8 swayam vyakta kshetras or self-manifested statues of Vishnu. It also finds its mention in the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Lord Vishnu in India.

Badrinath Temple remains closed for six months from November to April each year. The temple is closed for worship on the auspicious day of bhatridwityia in October. On the day of the closure, an Akhanda Jyoti lamp is lit to last for six months and the image of Badrinath is transferred to Narasimha temple at Jyotirmath. Badrinath reopens on Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day in April every year.

Badrinath Temple has a Tapt Kund, a hot sulphur spring which is considered to have medicinal values. River Alaknanda is known to originate from here. The vibrant festivals of Mata Murti Ka Mela and the Badri Kedar Festival give you another reason to visit the temple. Badrinath is accessible by road and therefore driving up to this pilgrim spot is not difficult.

Top Places to Visit In Badrinath

Badrinath Temple

Charanpaduka

Vasudhara Falls

Neelkanth

Tapt Kund

Bheem Pul

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Badrinath Packages

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Spiritual Badrinath, Kedarnath, Haridwar & More

10 Nights

Starting from $266

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Devotional Char Dham Yatra - Badrinath, Dehradun, Kedarnath and More

5 Nights

Starting from $330

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Holy Package - Kedarnath, Barkot, Uttrakashi and More

9 Nights

Starting from $508

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Super Saver Char Dham Yatra - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Dehradun and More

5 Nights

Starting from $160

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Religious Do Dham Yatra - Badrinath andKedarnath

4 Nights

Starting from $137

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Devotional Badrinath, Kedarnath, Chopta and More

7 Nights

Starting from $376

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Badrinath Temple Opening & Closing Time

Badrinath Temple opens at 4:30 AM with the Mahaabhishek. It opens for the public at 6:30 AM and closes at 9:00 PM. It remains closed during the noon from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. From November to April end, the temple remains closed due to extreme weather conditions. The best time to visit the temple is 6:30 AM during the morning pooja.

Badrinath Temple Pooja Rates

Though the regular darshan is free for all devotees, there are different amounts charged for performing special poojas or Abhishekams. The prices are-

4:30 PM to 6:30 AM
Maha Abhishek (1 Person)- INR 4300
Abhishek Puja (1 Person)- INR 4101

6:30 AM to 12:00 PM & 3:00 PM
Ved Path (1 Person)- INR 2100
Geeta path (1 Person)- INR 2500

Badrinath Special Puja
Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah Path- INR 35101
Entire Pujas of a day (1 Person)- INR 11700
Evening Aarti/Archana & Path (6:00 PM to 9:-- PM)
Swarna Aarti (1 Person)- INR 376
Vishnusahasranam Path (1 Person)- INR 456
Kapoor Aarti (1 Person)- INR 151
Shayan Aarti (1 Person)- INR 3100

Daily or Periodical Puja/ Bhog & Akhand Jyoti
Akhand Jyoti Annual- INR 4951
Ghrit Kambal Ghee on closing day- INR 4951
Ghee for Deepak on closing day- INR 3511
Akhand Jyoti One day- INR 1451

Puja on Special Occasions
Bhagwan Nar-Narayan Janmotsava (Shrawan Month)- INR 4951
Shrawani abhishek (Shrawan Month)- INR 11701
Shri Krishan Janmastami Utsav- INR 10551

Legend of Badrinath

The history of the Badrinath Temple is vague. According to one belief, the temple was a Buddhist shrine till the 8th century after which Adi Shankara converted it into a Hindu temple. Another belief is that the temple was originally established by Adi Shankara in the 9th century. It is said that he discovered an image of Lord Badrinath in the river Alaknanda and enshrined it near Tapt Kund. He also expelled the Buddhists living in that region.

In the 16th century, the King of Garhwal moved the idol in the present temple. The temple came under the British rule when the state of Garhwal was divided. In the 17th century, it was expanded by the Kings of Garhwal. In 1803, it was destroyed in a major earthquake and was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur.

There are many tales associated with the Badrinath Temple. According to one legend, Lord Vishnu performed penance at this place and during his deep meditation, he was unaware of the harsh weather. His consort, Goddess Lakshmi, turned into a Badri tree and protected the lord. He was pleased by her efforts and therefore, named the place, Badrikashram.

Char Dham Yatra

Badrinath is part of the sacred Char Dham yatra which includes visiting four of the most religious destinations in India, revered by Hindus. Some even call it a pilgrimage that every Hindu must undertake at least once in their life. The Chardham Yatra includes Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameshwaram and Puri.

There's also a smaller circuit in Uttarakhand of four religious places (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath) to visit known as the Chota Char Dham which is very popular among religious tourists.

Read more about Char Dham Yatra

Badrinath Temple Architecture

The Badrinath Temple, located on the banks of Alaknanda River, looks attractive from outside with the colourful main gate. It is called the Singhdwar which is around 50 metres tall with a small cupola on top. The entire shrine is divided into three structures- the Garbha Griha or the sanctum sanctorum, the Darshan Mandap for the rituals and the Sabha Mandap for the devotees.

The Garbhagriha has a conical-shaped roof covered with sheets of gold and is 15 metres tall. A series of broad stairs lead devotees to the main entrance. Just inside is the mandap, a large pillared hall which has walls of intricate designs. The main shrine has an image of Badrinarayan, a 1 metre tall black stone, holding a conch and a Chakra. The sanctum also houses images of many other gods like Nar and Narayan and Lakshmi and saints like Adi Shankara, Vedanta Desika and Ramanujacharya.

Tips

Liquor and non-vegetarian food are prohibited in Badrinath.
It is advisable to carry ample woollen clothing since Badrinath is always chilly.
Photography is prohibited inside the temple premises.
It is normal to feel a little dizzy in Badrinath due to the low oxygen content in the air.

Restaurants and Local Food in Badrinath

The cuisine of Badrinath does not have any delicacy that stands out or is unique to the area. Other than these the options for eating out here are also, not exactly elaborate and choices tend to be limited. One can find local eating joints and stalls that serve typical Indian food and popular Chinese items. Also since the place assumes much religious significance for Hindus, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited.
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Best Time to Visit Badrinath

Commuting within Badrinath

Badrinath Photos

Badrinath is one of the most popular and religious holy towns of the Hindus located at Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in India.

Badrinath Shrine - Famous Hindu Temple Dedicated to Lord Vishnu

Idol of Lord Badrinath (Vishnu) in Badrinath Temple, Badrinath

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FAQs on Badrinath

What is not so good about Badrinath?

Heavy snowfall during winter and landslides during monsoon season are common causing frequent roadblocks this making Badrinath inaccessible for travellers and pilgrims during most months. And it is crowded with lots of pilgrims during May, June, September and October.

How much does a package cost for Badrinath?

The packages for Badrinath start at INR 10334 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the local food in Badrinath?

The cuisine of Badrinath does not have any delicacy that stands out or is unique to the area. Other than these the options for eating out here are also, not exactly elaborate and choices tend to be limited. One can find local eating joints and stalls that serve trypical Indian food and popular Chinese items. Also since the place assumes much religious significance for Hindus, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited.
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What are the things to do in Badrinath?

The top things to do in Badrinath are Badrinath Temple, Charanpaduka, Vasudhara Falls, Neelkanth, Tapt Kund, Bheem Pul. You can see all the places to visit in Badrinath here

What are the places near Badrinath?

The top places near to Badrinath are Auli which is 24 km from Badrinath, Valley of flowers which is located 10 km from Badrinath, Nainital which is located 151 km from Badrinath, Madhyamaheshwar which is located 29 km from Badrinath, Rishikesh which is located 138 km from Badrinath

What is famous about Badrinath?

Badrinath has amazing scenic beauty, surrounded by snow covered peaks and water bodies like Alaknanda and Rishi Ganga. One of the four Dhams and famous for the Badrinath Temple. Badrinath is located close to Auli, one of the best skiing places in India.

What is the best time to visit Badrinath?

Badrinath is a cold place where it snows most of the year. However, the best time to visit this holy town is from May to June and again from Mid-September to October when the weather is pleasant (Average day temperature is 18-degree Celcius). July and August are monsoon months and should be avoided as the place is prone to landslides. Winter breaks from November to April, bringing chilly weather touching 5 degrees Celsius. The temple remains closed during these months due to heavy snowfall.
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Who should visit Badrinath?

Great for people who look forward to a religious tour of the town.

What is the best way to reach Badrinath?

Badrinath is accessible by road and buses and taxis are available to take you to Badrinath when the roads open in May, June, September and October. Buses are available from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and some other nearby towns till the bust stand on Narayan Palace Road, 1 km from Badrinath Temple. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, about 317 km from Badrinath. The nearest railway stations to Badrinath are at Rishikesh and Kotdwar, which are at a distance of 297 km and 327 km respectively. Helicopter services are also available for Badrinath from Dehradun. When it comes to the local transport, you can easily reach the temple by your car or taxi. However, exploring the town on foot is the best option.

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