The holy Dhama temple of Badrinath,is in the state of Uttaranchal of the Himalaya mountains.The temple's elevation is 10,248 feet (3050meters). Badrinath is above the Alaknanda river,believed to be a headstream of the holy Indian river,Ganges.This place has some special significance from the Indians perspective.According to the ancient believers, the name Badrinath has cropped on the basis of Badri Van, where the lush green Badri trees grow. The word badri is derived from the wild berry that Lord Vishnu survived on during his reparation at Badri Van. Badrinath is an 8th century monastery and a temple to the Hindu god Shiva.The great Indian scholar and teacher Sankaracharya hold the credit to develop this popular pilgrimage.Adjacent to the shrine is the hot spring pool of Taptakund in which pilgrims take a dip before worshipping Sri Badrinatha. Badrinath is one of the four Dhams, a devout Hindu has to visit in his lifetime to attain salvation.
Badrinath- the abode of Lord Vishnu- is nestled in the twin mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan. It is the most visited tourist destination for the travelers and pilgrims of India and abroad. This is considered as the holiest of the four main shrines.
Badrinath in Uttarakhand has a scenic backdrop. Located at an altitude of 3,133 m. above sea level, this shrine is dedicated to Vishnu, the preserver. The temples that were many times renovated because of the avalanches comprise a 15 m. tall conical structure and a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire. The 15 idols of Vishnu and other gods in the temple complex are sculpted in black stone.
The colorful "Singh Dwara" or the main entrance gate has given the temple complex an attractive look. The structure can be divided in three parts:
Garbha Griha (the sanctum sanctorum)
Darshan Mandap (for pujas)
Shobha Mandap (for devotees to assemble)
Mythological legend holds that Alaknanda, one of the twelve holy channels of Ganga, became the abode of Lord Vishnu or Badrinath, one of the Panch Badris. It dates back to the Vedic times. Badrinath in Uttarakhand India is also known as 'Vishal Badri'.
During your visit to the main temple of Badrinath, you should also pay a visit to the four other smaller badri temples. They are:
Yogadhyan Badri
Bhavishya Badri
Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri'
Adi Badri
Besides the Badrinath Temple, you can visit other tourist's attractions in Badrinath which include:
Tapt Kund
Brahma Kapal
Neelkanth
Mana Village
Mata Murti Temple
Alka Puri
Satopanth
Joshimath
Getting to Badrinath:
Badrinath can be accessed by air, rail and road. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant (317 kilometers). The nearest railhead is Rishikesh (300 kilometers) and Kotdwar (327 kilometers). By road, Badrinath is well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Kotdwar and other hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.
Sites To Visit
Adiguru Shankaracharya
Tourists, both foreign and local, flock to the temple of Badrinath, which was built by Adiguru Shankaracharya in the early ninth century AD. This acclaimed abode of Lord Vishnu is one of North India’s “Four Holy Temple Cities” or dhams along with Puri, Rameswaram and Dwaraka. Badrinath is also known as Tapobhumi (land of meditation and penance) and Bhubaikunth (heaven on earth). It is situated at an altitude of 3133 meters above sea level.
Besides the main temple itself, the entrance to the shrine is of special significance. The temple of Badrinathji remains closed from October to April due to the winter snow, when temperatures fall to sub-zero degrees. Before entering the temple itself, the pilgrims take a holy dip in the Tapt Kund, where there are thermal springs with natural curative properties. It is supposed to be the abode of Agni, the Hindu God of fire. Other famous natural spring sites are Narad Kund and Surya Kund.
Brahma Kapal
The pilgrims generally perform the rites of remembrance and reverence for the departed souls of their near ones in the Brahma Kapal, a flat platform on the banks of the river Alakananda. A rock boulder with the impression of Sheshnag, a mythological serpent, called Sheshnetra, is also a place to visit. The footprints of Lord Vishnu are present on a boulder called Charanpaduka, and are of religious significance. Another important temple is the Mata Murti temple, dedicated to the mother of Badrinathji.
Alakananda River
The origin of Alakananda River, Alka Puri, is of special interest to the daring tourists. Satopanth, a triangular lake, is located at a height of 4402 meters above the sea level and is one of the sources of the Alakananda River. It is named after the Hindu trinity-Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
Devprayag
At the convergence of the rivers, there are pilgrim sites that are collectively called the Panch Prayag. Devprayag, at the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alakananda, is famous for its rock inscriptions and the temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Raghunath. Rudraprayag, at the meeting point of Alakananda and Mandakani, is known for the Rudranath and Chamunda Devi temples. Nandaprayag is known for the Gopalji temple. Karnaprayag is the confluence of Alakananda and Pindar rivers and is famous for its temples dedicated to Uma and Karna. The fifth pilgrimage spot is Vishnuprayag, at the confluence of Alakananda and Dhauliganga, where there is a very ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, besides the pool of Vishnu Kund.
Panch Badri
Another pilgrim site is the Panch Badri. Yogadhyan Badri, where there is a meditative idol of Lord Vishnu, Bhavishya Badri, where there are forests nearby, Adi Badri, where there are 16 temples and one big temple of Lord Vishnu, are three of the most famous.
Sites Nearby
Joshimath
Joshimath is another religious place. It was established by Adiguru Shankaracharya and named it Jyotirmath, which later came to be known as Joshimath. There are other temples dedicated to Goddess Durga and Lord Narsingha. Gobindghat, situated between Joshimath and Badrinath, is an important place for the trekkers.
Other places
Other very famous tourist attraction is the Valley of Flowers, with the Pushpavati River and Rataban peak nearby. Lok Pal Hemkund is a beautiful lake in the vicinity of the country’s highest Gurdwara, Hemkund Sahib.
Mana Village, about 4 km away, is the last village in the Indo-Tibetan border.
Other places of interest include Vyas Gufa, dedicated to Sage Ved Vyas; Bhim Pul, the natural bridge over the legendary Saraswati River; the 122-meter-high Vasundhara Falls; Pipalkoti, a place of natural beauty; and Chamoli, a retreat of serene verdure.
How To Reach
The nearest airport is that of Jolly Grant, which is about 317 km from Badrinath. Helicopters and small private airlines are allowed to land there. The nearest railheads are Rishikesh (297 km) and Kotdwar (327 km). Badrinath is well connected to all the major tourist spots nearby, namely, Rishikesh, Hardwar, Kotdwar, Dehradun, and other hill retreats of the Garhwal and Kumaon region. Delhi is 238 km from Rishikesh.
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