Badrinath Dham holds a special place of religious importance in the pilgrimage circuit of India. The temple has Lord Badrinarayan as its deity and Lord Badrinarayan is another name for Lord Vishnu; one of the Gods of the revered Hindu Trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwar. The religious importance of Badrinath Dham is immense. It is not only a Chota Chardham Yatra destination but is also one of the Dhams of the Greater, All India Chardham Yatra circuit. Also, Adi Guru Shankaracharya; the great Hindu spiritual guru and the temple of Badrinath have an intricate connection.
According to ancient religious texts some 2500 years back Lord Badrinath’s idol was retrieved by Adi Shankaracharya from the depths of Narayan Kund. He was the one had consecrated as well as worshipped the Lord. The temple still follows the puja vidhi and rituals as put forth by Adi Shankaracharya. Badrinath Temple receives the footfall of thousands of pilgrims during the Chardham Yatra Season. The route to Badrinath Dham is vivid, scenic, exhilarating but utterly treacherous. To make your Travel to Badrinath hassle-free and stress-free, the Badrinath Travel Guide will be helpful…Read to learn more:
Location
Badrinath Dham is cradled at about 10, 800 ft in the serene and secluded Garhwal Himalayan region in the state of Uttarakhand. The holy town of Badrinath is laid out along River Alaknanda banks. The Dham is in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli District. The temple of Badrinath stands in the midst of Nar and Narayan Parvat.
How to Reach
The airport lying nearest to Badrinath Dham is Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport. The airport of Dehradun is approximately 311Kms away from Badrinath. Flights to Jolly Grant Airport from New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are quite frequent. Once you have reached Dehradun by flight you can then proceed for the rest of the journey to Badrinath Dham by means of road transport. If you choose to reach Badrinath by helicopter you can avail of such services too from Dehradun or from Phata. The railway stations lying close to Badrinath Dham are Haridwar railway station and Rishikesh Railway Station.
The distance between Haridwar Railhead and Badrinath is 317 km approximately while the distance between Rishikesh railhead and Badrinath is 297 km. These railway stations are connected robustly to the rest of the country. After having reached any of these stations, you may opt for cab services or public buses to reach Badrinath Dham. If you prefer to travel by road you may be happy to learn that buses from New Delhi to Badrinath are available almost regularly and the buses ply via NH58. Also, buses to Badrinath Dham are available from the other famous cities of Uttarakhand such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, etc. Both public and private buses ply on these roads.
Route Map
From Delhi to Haridwar/Rishikesh:
- By Road: Approximately 214-235 km (around 6-8 hours drive).
- By Train: There are trains from Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh, which can take about 6-7 hours.
Haridwar/Rishikesh to Srinagar (Uttarakhand):
- By Road: Approximately 110-131 km (around 4-6 hours drive).
Srinagar to Joshimath:
- By Road: Approximately 135-145 km (around 5-7 hours drive).
Joshimath to Badrinath:
- By Road: Approximately 45-50 km (around 2-3 hours drive).
Weather
The summer season in the Badrinath region spans across May to the month of June. Temperatures in the summer months will be around 17-degree centigrade while nighttime temperatures could be as low as 7-degree centigrade. Badrinath region experiences Monsoons around months of July, August, and September. Heavy rainfall is common during that time. Winters are quite extreme in the region. Heavy snowfall and freezing cold characterize winters in Badrinath with winter season spanning across the months October to the month of April.
Month Wise Weather
- Summer (May-June): 15°C-20°C (59°F-68°F) day; 5°C-10°C (41°F-50°F) night. Pleasant.
- Monsoon (July-September): 10°C-20°C (50°F-68°F) day; 5°C-10°C (41°F-50°F) night. Heavy rain.
- Autumn (October-November): 10°C-15°C (50°F-59°F) day; 0°C-5°C (32°F-41°F) night. Clear.
- Winter (December-April): -15°C-10°C (32°F-50°F) day; below freezing night. Snowy.
Best Time to Visit
Month of May to the Month of September is the ideal time for traveling to Badrinath Dham. The route to Badrinath remains open during that time and the weather remains bearable.
Places to Visit
Here are some must-visit places in and around Badrinath:
Badrinath Temple: The intriguing Temple architecture and colorful frontal facade of the temple grabs all the eyeballs. As per puranic tales Lord Vishnu had carried out difficult penance right at this very spot where the temple stands today. Lord Vishnu or Badrinarayan is the deity at the Badrinath temple counted among 108 Vaishnava Divya Desams.
Tapt Kund: Tapt Kund is a hot spring lying just outside the temple. A revitalizing bath in the hot waters of Tapt Kund can alleviate body pain of the pilgrims at the end of a long, difficult journey.
Mana Village: This scenic, a serene village situated on the border between India and Tibet will move you with the tidiness and simplicity of life it showcases. Semi-Mongolian Bhotia tribes inhabit the village.
Valley of Flowers National Park: This is a high altitude National Park featuring some very rare, exotic fauna and flora. Rare Alpine flowers and Trees grow in this National Park. The fauna you get to see here are Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Asiatic Black Bear, Blue Sheep, and Red Fox, etc.
Bheem Pul: This natural rock bridge over River Saraswati is said to have been made by Bheema; one of the Pandava brothers. He threw the rock over the river to make the bridge in order to cross the river.
Charan Paduka: This sacred natural rock lying at a distance of about 3 Km from the temple of Badrinath has on it the imprint of Lord Vishnu’s foot. Pilgrims visit the Charan Paduka to pay their obeisance to the foot.
Mata Murti Temple: This is a Devi temple in the vicinity to Badrinath Dham and is considered as an abode of Goddess Mata Murti who is believed to be a mother to Lord Badrinarayan. A fair is organized around the temple around September.
Ganesh Gufa: This cave is located in Mana village. It is a natural cave where Lord Ganesha is believed to have taken dictations of Mahabharata from Maharishi Ved Vyas as per myths.
Accommodation
There are a couple of hotels around Badrinath Dham…though these hotels cannot provide you 5 Star luxury yet they make a decent and affordable stay option. Also, many GMVN guest houses, tourist lodges, and Dharamshala are there offering good stay options against a nominal fee.
Food Facilities
Badrinath Dham being a sacred town, few restaurants at this place strictly follow the vegetarian cuisine pattern and never serve non-vegetarian food items or Alcohol. Authentic Garhwali Thali and snacks may be savored in some of the roadside Dhabas and restaurants at Badrinath.
Travel Tips
- Visit Between May and November: This is the best time to avoid heavy rains and road closures.
- Dress in Layers: The weather can be unpredictable, so pack warm clothes even in summer.
- Acclimate to the Altitude: Give yourself time to adjust to the high altitude to avoid altitude sickness. Drink plenty of water.
- Check Permits: Make sure you have all necessary permits and travel documents before heading out.
- Prepare for the Roads: Be ready for winding, narrow roads. Travel can be slow, so plan accordingly.
- Book Accommodation Early: The area can get crowded, especially during peak seasons, so securing your stay in advance is a good idea.
- Consider Travel Insurance: It’s a smart move in case of unexpected events or medical emergencies.
- Carry Cash: ATMs can be unreliable in remote areas, so bring enough cash for your needs.
- Respect Local Customs: Badrinath is a sacred place, so be mindful of local customs and religious practices.
- Know Emergency Contacts: Have important contact numbers handy and be aware of nearby medical facilities.
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