Badrinath – Abode of Lord Vishu

Badrinath-Abode of Lord Vishnu

Badrinath Temple:

Badrinath or Badrinarayan is a 15 m tall Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Temple and the town is one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham Pilgrimage sites. The Temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu.

The temple also finds its mention in ancient religious texts like Vishnu Purana and Skanda Purana.
Badrinath Temple, located on the right bank of Alaknanda, has a modern look with its colorful “Singhadwara” (main entrance gate),but it dates back to the 8^th century when it was built by Adiguru Shankaracharya. It has been renovated several times due to damages done by Earthquakes and Avalanches. It is believed that under Buddhist influence the image of Badrinath ji was thrown into the Alaknanda River.It was later retrieved and reinstated by Shankaracharya during the Hindu Revival that followed.
The head priest, or Rawal at Badrinath is traditionally a Nambudiri Brahmin from Kerala. The Rawal moves down to Joshimath during the winters as Badrinath is snow bound and the temple is closed. The priest continues to pray and perform the rituals to Badri Vishal ji ‘Utsav Murti’ at Narasimha temple in Joshimath during the winter season.

Badrinath Temple

Badrinath Temple opens for public each morning at 6:30 am and closes at noon. It opens again from 3 pm to 9 pm.
Before a Darshan, you can opt to take a holy bath in the Tapt Kund, a hot sulfur spring. Taking a bath here before Darshan is revered mandatory by many pilgrims. Suraj Kund,also a thermal spring, is near Tapt Kund.
Narad Kund is a pool on the recess of the River Alaknanda. It is believed that the idol of Lord Vishnu was recovered here by Adiguru Shankaracharya.
For the religiously inclined spots at or near Badrinath are: Panch Dharas, Panch Shilas, Brahma Kapal, Sheshnetra, Charan Paduka etc.
It is believed that Narad Muni who had attained salvation here, continues with the prayer services during winter months and hence the lamp lighted by the priest (in front of the idol in the sanctum) before closing the temple doors is found flickering when the temple doors are reopened after six months.

Badrinath-Tapt Kund

Tales and Legends about Badrinath :

Long ago there were Jujube (Badree) forests here and hence the name Badri-ka-ashram. A lot of religious tales are famous about Badrinath. One of them suggests that Lord Vishnu oblivious of the harsh weather at this place had gone into intense meditation for atonement. Goddess Lakshmi, to save his spouse from the sweltering sun, had acquired the shape of a Badri Tree and spread over him. Realizing the true devotion of his spouse Lord Vishu had named the place Badrikaashram.

Another legend states that Lord Vishu wanted to meditate at Badrinath, but Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were already in Tapayasa at Badrinath, hence he disguised himself as a small boy and disturbed them by crying loudly. Shiva and Parvati asked the boy why he was crying, he said that he wants to meditate here at Badrinath. Shiva and Parvati acknowledging his wish and knowing who he originally was left Badrinath and moved to Kedarnath.

Badrinath

According to Vishnu Puran, Nar and Narayan (sons of Dharma) were divinely inspired to set up ashrams. Wanting to spread religious activities in the Himalayas, they chose beautiful spacious valleys of present day Briddhabadri, Yogabadri, Dyanbadri and Bhabisyabadri. They then discovered the present day location of Sri Badrinath or Badri Vishal and considered it an ideal place for setting up an ashram, as it had river Alaknanda flowing by its side and was blessed with hot & cold springs. Their followers hence forth built the present day settlement.

One of the most popular attractions near Badrinath is Mana Village the last Village of India along the Tibetan Border; it is around 4 km from Badrinath. Further from Mana, a two hour trek will take you to Vasudhara Falls. You can also do a multi day trek to Satopanth Lake or Arwatal.

For information on Mana visit my Blog on Mana.

Best time/ Best season to Visit Badrinath:  

May-June, September- October.
July and August if you want to club Badrinath with Valley of Flowers.
(For More Information on Valley of Flowers visit my Blog on Valley Of Flowers.)

Badrinath Temperature/ Badrinath Weather : 

Average Temperature of Badrinath for the months of May to October is between 18’C and 8’C. Badrinath has moderate weather in the months of May and June. It witnesses rainfall in the months July August September. It is snow bound between the months of November and April.

Clothing for Badrinath: May to September: Light to Heavy Woolens, Rain cover in Months of July and August.
                                       October: Heavy Woolens
** Carry Vaseline and Sunscreens to save yourself from Sunburns and charred lips & cheeks. Also when you are travelling by road during rainy season in India carry heavy duty rain coats, rain paints, wind cheaters, rain resistant boots etc as there is heavy rain pour and only heavy duty rain resistance/cover will last. Carry clothes that dry soon so even if they get wet they dry quickly.

How to Reach Badrinath from Delhi:

Road Route– Delhi/Gurgaon--Rishikesh--Dev Prayag--Srinagar--Rudra Prayag--Joshimath--Govindghat--Badrinath
                      Delhi/Gurgaon--Kotdwar--Dev Prayag --Srinagar--Rudra Prayag--Joshimath--Govindghat--Badrinath

Train Route– Delhi--Rishikesh  then by road further.
                      Delhi--Kotdwar then by road further.
                      Delhi--Haridar/Dehradun  then by road to Rishikesh and further. No train route ahead of Rishikesh.
                      Nearest Railway station Rishikesh/Kotdwar.

Flight Route– Delhi--Dehradun (Jollygrant) then by road to Rishikesh and further. No flight route ahead of Dehradun.

There are regular Buses for Badrinath from Delhi, Haridwar and Rishikesh. You might get shared taxis and Jeeps for Badrinath from Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Personal Cars and Bikes ply quite often.
Roads open between 8 am to 8 pm. Check post at Pandukeshwar (Near Joshimath) regulates and restricts traffic.

Distances:   Delhi to Badrinath: 537 km
                    Delhi to Rishikesh: 238 km
                    Delhi to Kotdwar: 219 km
                    Rishikesh to Joshimath : 254 km
                    Kotdwar to Joshimath : 278 km
                    Rishikesh to Dev Prayag : 74 km
                    Kotdwar to Dev Prayag :  98 km
                    Dev Prayag  to Srinagar: 38 km
                    Srinagar to Rudra Prayag:33 km
                    Rudra Prayag to Joshimath: 114 km
                    Joshimath to Govindghat: 21 km
                    Govindghat to Badrinath : 25 km
                    Badrinath to Mana : 4 km

Badrinath- Frozen Stream

Other Important Information about Badrinath:

Badrinath Altitude / Badrinath Height: 3133 m

Badrinath Temple Opening Timings: Every year the Temple opens in the month of April-May (Dates are decided on Basant Panchmi) & closes for winters in October-November (Dates are finalized on Vijay Dashmi).

Fooding /Lodging/Hotels on Badrinath route : Meals and Hotels available at Rishikesh, Dev Prayag , Srinagar, RudraPrayag,Joshimath, Govindghat, Badrinath etc. Hotels need to be pre booked during  peak season. GMVN Guest houses and Ashrams are also available.
Only Vegetarian food is available in Badrinath. You can easily get North Indian food.

***Life Savers: In case you don’t get booking anywhere or for last minute plans one can stay and dine at Gurudwaras at Rishikesh, Pankhi (“Gurudwara Sahib”,Garur ganga Distt. Joshimath), Joshimath, Govindghat (“Gurudwara Sri Govindghat”) etc. The Food (Prasad) and Lodging is free of cost.

Petrol Pumps on Badrinath route: Rishikesh, Dev Prayag , Srinagar, Joshimath etc.
Last Petrol Pump on Badrinath route: Joshimath.
ATMs on Badrinath route available at: Rishikesh, Dev Prayag , Srinagar, Joshimath etc,
Last ATM on Badrinath route available at: Joshimath
Bike Repair Mechanics on Badrinath route available at : Rishikesh, Dev Prayag , Srinagar, Rudra Prayag, Joshimath.
Car Repair Mechanics on Badrinath route available at: Rishikesh, Srinagar, Joshimath.

Daily Opening Timings: Badrinath Temple opens for public each morning at 6:30 am and closes at noon. It open’s again from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Phone Network Connectivity: Phone Network is available till Joshimath. Limited network at Govindghat. No Network at Badrinath. One can get land line connectivity (if not hampered by weather) at Govindghat and  Badrinath.

Medical Care: Hospitals available at Rishikesh, Srinagar, Joshimath etc.Primary Health Care Centers also available at Badrinath. Elderly People/Kids might need oxygen due to mountain sickness.

Any Special Permission Needed by Indian Citizen to Visit Badrinath: No.

Places to Visit near Badrinath: Mana Village (Last Indian Village), Vasudhara Falls etc. For information on Mana visit my Blog on Mana.

+ Disclaimer: Information provided above is based on self experience and collected from various other sources.