Explore Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand – a sacred Char Dham site dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Badrinath Temple, located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, is one of the Char Dham and Chhota Char Dham pilgrimage sites in India. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his form as Badrinarayan, this sacred temple lies on the banks of the Alaknanda River in the lap of the Himalayas, at an elevation of 3,133 meters (10,279 feet) above sea level.
Situated in the town of Badrinath, between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, the temple is surrounded by snow-covered peaks, with the majestic Neelkanth Mountain in the background. Badrinath is the northernmost temple in the Char Dham Yatra and holds deep spiritual importance for Hindus.
According to scriptures, Lord Vishnu meditated here, and Goddess Lakshmi took the form of a Badri tree to protect him. Hence, the name Badrinath.
The present-day structure is believed to have been established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. However, the temple has been renovated and rebuilt several times due to natural calamities and time.
Built in North Indian style (Nagari architecture)
The conical-shaped tower (Shikhara) is approximately 50 feet high
The facade is painted in bright colors, symbolic of Garhwali temple architecture
The sanctum houses the 1-meter tall black stone idol of Lord Badrinarayan in a meditative posture
The main deity is Lord Badrinarayan, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple also houses idols of Nar-Narayan, Uddhava, Garuda, and Kubera.
Daily rituals include:
Abhishekam
Alankaram (decoration)
Bhog (offering of food)
Deep Aradhana (evening aarti)
Only Nambudiri Brahmins from Kerala are permitted to serve as chief priests (Rawals) of the temple.
Badrinath Temple is open only for six months each year (May to November), due to harsh winter conditions.
Major festivals include:
Opening Ceremony: Marked by Akhanda Jyoti, a sacred flame lit at the start of the season
Badri-Kedar Utsav
Mata Murti Ka Mela
Closing Ceremony: Conducted on Vijaya Dashami or Bhai Dooj, where the deity is moved to Joshimath for the winter
Badrinath is the first dham in the traditional Char Dham circuit. A pilgrimage to this temple is believed to wash away sins and grant moksha (liberation). The temple is associated with many Puranic legends, especially those from Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, and Skanda Purana.
It is also part of the Panch Badri circuit, which includes Adi Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Vriddha Badri, and Yogadhyan Badri.
Tapt Kund: A hot water spring with medicinal value, where devotees bathe before entering the temple
Mana Village: The last Indian village near the Indo-Tibet border
Vyas Gufa: Said to be the meditation spot of Sage Vyas
Bheem Pul: A natural rock bridge over the Saraswati River
Charan Paduka: Rock with imprints believed to be Lord Vishnu's footprints
Morning Opening: Around 4:30 AM
Evening Closure: Around 9:00 PM
Aartis and pujas are performed multiple times throughout the day
By Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (approx. 310 km)
By Train: Nearest major railway station is Rishikesh (approx. 295 km)
By Road: Well-connected via NH-7 from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Joshimath
Note: The last stretch from Joshimath to Badrinath (45 km) is a mountainous road; buses and taxis are available.
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