Badrinath

It is one of the four destinations that constitute the chardham, a sacred pilgrimage for every devout Hindu. Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in northern India, Badrinath also happens to be the most revered of the four sacred shrines in Garhwal, the other three being Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnathji. The Himalayan town occupies a place on the banks of the River Alaknanda and is located at an altitude of 3,133 m above sea level.

The Badrinath shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, considered to be the preserver of the universe in the Hindu mythology. The original structure of the temple was destroyed many times due to avalanches. The structure was restored in the 19th century by the royal houses of Scindia & Holkar. The temple complex at Badrinath 15 idols, wonderfully carved out of black stone.

General Information
Altitude: 3,133 mts
Climate: Summer: Cool during the day and cold at night.
Winter: Snow-bound touching sub-zero.
Clothing: Summer-Light woollens, Winter- Heavy woollens.
Languages: Hindi, Garhwali, English.


How to Reach
Air: Nearest Airport is Jolly Grant, around 300 kms.
Rail: NearestNearest Railway Station is Rishikesh, around 297 kms., Haridwar 317 kms.
Road: Taxi: Private taxies are also available between Haridwar and Badrinath on hire. Bus: GMVN operates daily bus services.

Panch (Five) Badris

The five Badris are five different sites in Badrinath. At all these places, Lord Vishnu is worshipped in five different forms and under five different names. The eternal search of the man has never come to an end and never will. As travellers visit these Panch Badris in Badrinath, they will come to learn how Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, is glorified in five different forms.

Vishal Badri
It is the main shrine of Lord Badrinath. Also known as Badrinathji, the Badrinath shrine attracts around six lakhs pilgrims every year. The Badrinath temple is located in the middle of two mountain ranges - Nar and Narayan. Badrinath was anciently known as Badrivan, due to the abundance of wild 'berries' or badris here.

Yogdhyan Badri
The Badri has immense importance. The Yogdhyan Badri is at an altitude of 1,920 m in Pndukeshwar. According to the Hindu mythology, it is here that the Pandavas, after gaining victory against the Kauravas, handed over Hastinapur to Raja Parikshit. The place Pandukeshwar, where Yogdhyan Badri is located, takes its name from Pandu, who is beleived to have meditated at the place.

Bhawishya Badri
At this Badri is enshrined the lion-headed idol of Narsingh. Perched at an elevation of 2,744 m, it is located in the midst of thick forests. To reach Bhavishya Badri, tourists and pilgrims need to get to Joshimath, the entry point to this Badri. While pilgrims reach the place, they also pass through Tapovan, popular with tourists for its hot water springs.

Bridha Badri
Also spelt Vridha Badhri, Bridha Badri means Old Badri. The place is situated at a distance of 7 km from the pilgrimage town of Joshimath. Before the advent of Shankaracharya, the idol of Badrinath was worshipped here for many centuries. Owing to its long age, the idol enshrined here is known as Vridha Badri or the First Badri.

Adi Badri
The sacred site is located at a distance of 17 km from Karanprayag. At the place, you will find a group of sixteen Gupta-period temples. Hindus believe that these temples were founded by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. Visitors can easily distinguish the main Narayan temple, as it is built on an elevated platform.