Overview
One
of the four pilgrimage sites (Char Dham) of India, Badrinath is situated in
Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Once served as the abode of Lord Vishnu and
other Hindu gods, Badrinath was established as a pilgrimage site in the 9th century
by Adi Shankara. In fact, Badrinath finds its description in mythological
scriptures like Bhagavata Purana and legends dating back to more than 1000
years. Set between Nar and Narayan mountain ranges along the banks of Alaknanda
River amidst pristine natural surroundings, Badrinath thrills visitors with its
unparalleled beauty and pleasant cool climate. The lofty Neelkanth Peak raising
above 6500 meters above sea level provides a magnificent backdrop to the quaint
town of Badrinath. Besides the main shire of Badrinath dedicated to Lord
Vishnu, the holy town houses many other spots of religious importance
especially for Hindus. A trip to Badrinath not only purifies the soles of the
devotees but it also provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a vacation in
the lap of nature.
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| Badrinath |
Fast Facts
Main Languages: Hindi along
with Garhwali is widely spoken by the people of the town.
When to Go: Badrinath
enjoys a pleasant soothing climate almost all through the year. Except in
winters (November to February) when the mercury drops up to freezing point the maximum
temperature during summers (March to June) and monsoon season (July to October)
remains around 15 to 20 degree Celsius. You can visit Badrinath any time in the
year, but the Badrinath Temple opens for devotes between May to mid November.
Local Transport: Because
of hilly terrain you will not find public transport at Badrinath. You can drive
through the narrow roads of Badrinath but it needs lots of expertise. Better cover
the temples and other tourist attractions of the town on foot.
Currency: Indian
Rupee (INR) 1 USD is approximately 48 INR
Voltage: 230V /
50Hz
Time Zone: Indian
Standard Time (UTC +5:30)
Location: On the
banks of Alaknanda River in the Garhwal hills of Uttarakhand
Nearest Metropolis: New Delhi
– 500 km away
Eating
Badrinath
is an important pilgrimage town for Hindus and doesn’t offer a lavish eating
experience to visitors. The area around the temple is dotted with small eating
joints that serve vegetarian food. Most of the eateries offer limited choice
from North Indian cuisine. You can savour some local delicacies of Uttarakhand
as well. Remember non-vegetarian food and alcoholic drinks are not permitted at
the holy town of Badrinath. Also you should not expect about luxury restaurants
or eateries at this small town.
Shopping
Although
Badrinath is not a shopper’s paradise, but you can find some interesting items
in the stalls around the temple. In fact, some of the objects can be bought as
a souvenir for near and dear ones. Chinese goods especially electronic gadgets
are sold at various spots of the town. Sacred threads, beautiful beads and
bracelets, woollen garments, sea shells and ancient coins are some of the famous
items found at Badrinath. You can also buy holy books and booklets on ‘Aarti’
and other related topics in the shops adjacent to temple. Haggling is very
common at Badrinath so you are free to ask any desired price for the selected
objects.
Sightseeing
Set
at an altitude of about 3,133 metres above sea level, Badrinath Temple is the
principal attraction of the holy town. A popular pilgrimage centre of Hindus,
Badrinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Since its construction in the
ancient time the temple has undergone renovations several times. While the
Kings of Garhwal expanded the temple in the 17th century, the Kings of Jaipur
reconstructed it in 1803 after the major earthquake. An architectural
masterpiece, Badrinath Temple looks like typical Buddhist temples. The 15 metre
high temple has a small cupola on the top and covered with gold-gilt roof. The
façade of the temple is built of stone and equipped with arched windows.
You
can reach the temple through a broad stairway that leads up to the main arched
gateway. Enter inside the mandapa (a large pillared hall with delicately carved
walls and pillars) that leads further to the main shrine (garbha griha) which
is adorned with the deity of Lord Vishnu. Darshan Mandap and Shobha Mandap are
other two main portions of the temple. Besides the shrine of Lord Vishnu, the
temple complex houses the shrine of goddess Lakshmi. You can see 15 other idols
of different Hindu gods and goddess in the temple complex. Visitors to
Badrinath spend maximum time inside the temple and worship the principal
deities Vishnu and Lakhsmi.
Just
outside the temple the surrounding natural beauty fascinate the visitors a lot.
Enjoy a breathtaking view of snow-covered Neelkanth Peak (6,597 metre) the
overlooks the Badrinath Temple and the town below. Fondly called the ‘Queen of Garhwal’,
Neelkanth Peak is a favoured spot for devotees, nature lovers and adventure
enthusiasts as well. Further visit Brahma Kapal Ghat, a flat platform along the
banks of Alaknanada River. Located about 100 meters north of Badrinath shrine,
Brahma Kapal Ghat is believed to be the place where Lord Brahma resided. Mata
Murthy Temple, Charanpaduka, Sheshnetra, Tapt Kuna and Narad Kund are other
places of religious significance at Badrinath. Also visit the Vasudhara Falls
that cascades down from a height of 400 feet and amaze visitors with its
unmatched charm and tranquil environs. Don’t forget to include Hemkund Sahib -
a Sikh pilgrimage site located en-route to Badrinath in the itinerary of
Badrinath tour.
Activities
Badrinath
offers a fine combination of leisure and adventure activities to visitors. Close
to Badrinath Temple there is a hot spring, where you can take a dip. You can
take nature walks or treks along the beautiful countryside and experience the
nature at its best. Take a trek up to Vasudhara Waterfall approximately 8 km
away from Badrinath. You can cover first 3 km by a car or bus up to Mana
Village. Later on a 5 km trek takes you to the serene waterfall. Pass relaxing
moments along the fall and also meet with the locals. You can see a small water
stream at Mana Village which is believed to be the source of mythological river
Saraswati.
Events
Badrinath
is inhabited by around 1000 – 1500 people who celebrate a number of festivals
every year. Besides religious and regional festivals the people of the town
organise few special events including fairs. Among the Hindu festivals,
Janmashtami (July / August) is celebrated by the locals with great pomp and
gaiety. Kedar-Badri Utsav is a major cultural event organised during May /
June. The fair of Mata Mruti is held in the month of September that showcases numerous
interesting rituals and celebrations.
Nightlife
After
the sunset the town of Badrinath virtually sleeps and you need to confine
yourself within your hotel premises. Badrinath doesn’t offer anything exciting
or happening to do in the evening. Only during the tourist season between May
and November the area around the temple remains open in the evening for few
hours. Don’t try to explore the far-off areas after the sunset as it may be
dangerous.
Excursions
After
exploring the temple and other attractions of Badrinath, you can pay a visit to
nearby tourist destinations. Situated at a distance of about 30 km, Auli is a
famous skiing destination and thronged by adventure seekers and discerning
travellers in large numbers. Visit Auli to enjoy skiing along the snow-covered
slopes. You can take basic training on Skiing at the government run skiing
institute in Auli. Valley of Flowers (75 km) is a picturesque destination that
deserves a visit. Away from the bustling cities, Valley of Flowers is like a
heaven and provides natural habitat to a variety of floral and faunal species. Pauri
(195 km), Kedarnath (210 km) and Gangotri (250 km) are other destinations that
can be explored besides Badrinath.
Getting There
Air: The nearest airport from Badrinath is Jolly Grant
Airport which is located close to Dehradun. Jolly Grant Airport is served by limited flights from Delhi. Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Airways and Jet Airways
offer flight services between Delhi and Jolly Grant Airport. Taxis / cabs are
available at Jolly Grant Airport for Badrinath that costs around Rs. 3500 –
4000.
Rail: Badrinath doesn’t have its own railway station, the nearest
railheads are situated at Haridwar (315) and Kotdwar (335 km). Both these
stations are connected to Delhi by a number of trains. After reaching at the
railway station you can take a cab or tourist bus for Badrinath.
Road: Badrinath
is linked with the many cities of North India such as Rishikesh, Haridwar and New
Delhi by public and private buses. You can take a luxury or deluxe tourist bus
from New Delhi to Badrinath that charges about Rs 800 – 1000 per passenger.
Driving directions: From New Delhi –
Start from Anand Vihar and take a left on Ghazipur Road that takes you to NH 24
(Grand Trunk Road). Drive on NH 24 and further switch on to Meerut Road (NH 58)
that takes yout to Badrinath crossing Muzaffarnagar, Haridwar, Rishikesh,
Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Auli en-route (500 km, 16 hours approx).
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