Badrinath

Badrinath: The pilgrim’s nest

The Badrinath temple nestles amidst the mountains and is one of the most sought-after holy sites by its devotees. Badrinath tourism is the perfect holiday destination for one on a spiritual quest for sanctity.

Highlights of Badrinath: Gaining sanctity

Badrinath Temples and Rivers

The Badrinath temple is most visited by devotees and pilgrims. It is one of the most famous places to visit in Badrinath. With its grand entrance, this pristine abode is bathed with sheets of snow in the winter. The temple is Lord Vishnu’s home and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites. It sits on the Garhwal hill tracks near the Alaknanda River. This sacred shrine is usually open from 4 am to 10 pm. Another temple you could visit is the Mata Murti temple, which is 4 kms away from the Badrinath bus stand. Legend says that the namesake, Mata Murti, pleaded with Lord Vishnu to reincarnate himself by taking birth from her womb. He then came into this world as twins - Nar and Narayan, to kill a demon. The Mata Murti temple is visited during Ashtami and Chaturdashi. It is open from 6 am to 6 pm. If you want to get your adrenaline pumping in Badrinath, head to the Bheem Pul. Fierce waters gush past beneath you, pounding the rocks as you stand on the natural stone bridge between the mountains, to cross the Saraswati River.

Badrinath Cuisine:

With this religious hub receiving a heavy influx of tourists from all over the world, Badrinath makes sure that it has something to titillate one’s taste buds. There are a number of vegetarian restaurants and dhabas in this hamlet. You could head to Brahma Kamal as soon as you step out of the Badrinath temple and gorge on some authentic Indian food. Another place to satiate your taste buds could be the Saket restaurant, where you will be served piping hot North Indian and South Indian food. Do not forget to try the delicious paranthas!

Shop and explore

Trinkets and small souvenirs could be taken back home after a shopping spree in Badrinath. Since this hamlet is perpetually chilly, you will find woollen clothes in abundance. Novelty always catches one’s attention; brass jewellery which may not be as common as gold and silver is also available in this town. Starting from prices as low as Rs 50, you must pick up some if you are a jewellery lover. If you want to gift your grandparents something, you must head to Salagram Sila- a sacred stone of Lord Vishnu. Here you will find religious books, paintings and holy threads.

Interesting facts about Badrinath:

• The Badrinath temple is one of the four pilgrimages of the Hindus and is located on the Alaknanda river.
• The name of this holy hamlet – Badri - actually is a type of wild berry, whereas Nath means lord.
• Rumour has it, that every time a devotee opens the door to the temple, they spot a lamp which has been glowing continuously since the last six months.
• Researchers say that Badrinath is also known as Badri-Vishal.

Location Of Badrinath:

This holy town stands in the Chamoli distict of Uttarakhand. It lies between the Nar-Narayana hills and under the shadow of Nilkanth Peak. It is situated on the banks of the pristine Alaknanda river.

Click here to view Barinath on Google Map

Best time to visit in Badrinath:

The best time to visit Badrinath is between the months of May to June, followed by September to October. Blessed by a perpetually chilly and cold climate, this town can be visited at any time of the year. However, the monsoon season only enhances the misty and mystical beauty of this hamlet, making it a good season to visit.

How to get to Badrinath: The revered destination

By road - Badrinath is well connected to towns like Dehradun, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Private and state government buses are easily available to and from Badrinath.

By rail - The closest railway station to Badrinath is the Haridwar Railway station which is 318 kms away from the city centre. This station is also well connected to all the other major cities in the country.

By air - The closest airport to Badrinath is the Jolly Grant Airport which is 311 kilometres from the city centre. The airport has flights from and to Delhi, Lucknow and Mumbai. Buses and cabs are easily available from the nearest bus station to Badrinath.

History of Badrinath: the holy tales

This spiritual destination has been visited by lakhs of devotees for its temple. The Badrinath temple is a major pilgrimage site. Devotees used to trudge miles to visit this holy temple in the earlier days. The temple has repeatedly stood the test of time and natural disasters. Initially, there were just 20-something huts used by the temple’s staff. However, as tourism in Badrinath gradually grew, the number of pilgrims and tourists started increasing, each year. The Badrinath temple is also a sacred site for the Vaishnavites and is the starting point for various mountaineering expeditions such as the Nilkanth. 

Badrinath is known for its sacred Badrinath temple. For years, tourists and devotees have been flocking in numbers to this hamlet in search of salvation and inner peace. Badrinath tourism is the perfect holiday destination regardless of whether you travel alone or with your family.