Best time to visit : Summer
Badrinath is a coveted Hindu holy pilgrimage destination with references in ancient Vedas, religious scriptures and innumerable legends. Located in Uttarakhand, the holy town is surrounded by sacred mountain peaks of Nara, Narayana and Neelkantha. Situated on the bank of River Alaknanda, this North Indian town is the most revered destination of Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage. Apart from highly esteemed religious tourist places, Badrinath has treasures of immaculate lakes, streams, hot springs and immeasurable stretch of picturesque beauty enhanced by snow-clad peaks and inimitable sceneries.
Badrinath Helicopter Service can be availed by calling on 8527255991.
Facts
Badrinath in Sanskrit translates to ‘Lord of Badri’, Badri being a type of Indian berry whose forests are found in abundance in this region. Badrinath Temple is the abode of Lord Vishnu and has undergone a number of renovations over centuries. Vishnu is believed to have been engaged in penance here in the dual incarnation form of Nara and Narayana. The sacred River Alaknanda is considered as one of the many channels of River Ganges. Summers in Badrinath are pleasantly cool, while winters experience extreme cold and snowfall is not rare.
Being a Hindu pilgrimage destination, Badrinath has eating points offering only vegetarian and Indian dishes. Eateries of all kinds can be found across the town. Small shops and dhabas are good options, while Saket Restaurant and Vijayalaxmi Restaurant offer nice hot food. A number of Indian sweets can be tasted in the town.
Badrinath markets have innumerable shops selling interesting stuff, ranging from ethnic jewellery items and brassware to sea shells and items of worship. God idols, especially those resembling the one worshiped inside the temple, are worth purchasing. Woollen items and ancient coins are other items you may be interested in.
Nearby Places:
- Four Badris: Alaknanda Valley is known as badrikshetra for being home to five Badri temples. In addition to Badrinath, other four are Adi Badri, Vridha Badri, Bhavishya Badri and Yogadhyan Badri.
- Satopanth and Alkapuri: Alkapuri is located near Satopanth Glacier which acts as the source of River Alaknanda. Miraculous natural beauty greets the tourists visiting the place.
- Auli and Joshimath: While Auli hill station has exquisite natural beauty and Asia’s longest cable car, Joshimath is well-known for its divine temples.
- Valley of Flowers: The national park is renowned across the world for its alpine meadows and diverse flora and fauna species.
- Hemkund Sahib: One of the holiest Sikh pilgrimages, Hemkund Sahib has an extremely well-regarded Gurudwara and unlimited natural brilliance.
- Govindghat and Pandukeshwar: Govindghat is another site of a popular Gurudwara and Pandukeshwar is a beautiful village associated with Mahabharata.
Best Time to Visit :
May to October, when the holy Badrinath Temple opens for Char Dham Yatra pilgrims. However, the monsoon months from July to September should be avoided because of heavy rainfall and frequent landslides.