A visit to Badrinath

Badrinath

Badrinath is a holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage and gets its name from the temple of Badrinath. The lovely temple is located at a height of around 10,250 feet above sea level and it's surrounding landscape provides breathtaking visuals. The route to Badarinath is also very fascinating with hilly terrain and scenic Himalayan vistas.

Adi Shankaracharya, the famous Hindu philosopher saint of 8th century, constructed the present temple. It has been renovated and reconstructed a number of times since it was damaged by earthquakes and landslides. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is divided into 3 main chambers namely Garbha Griha (main sanctorum where the idol is placed), Darshan Mandap (where religious ceremonies take place) and the Sabha Mandap (where all devotees assemble).

Badrinath Temple

There are 15 idols in the temple all of which are made of black stone. The main idol of Lord Vishnu is sitting in a meditative pose with cross legs and folded hands. The temple is closed during the winter season since the temperatures drop below zero. It is open from April-May to October- November. It is recommended to take heavy woolens there.

Places to stay:- It is advisable to book the accommodation in advance as large number of people visit it frequently. Besides hotels, there are several ashrams in Badrinath which offer accommodation and food at minimal costs. Ashrams cost less than Rs 100 a day. Luxury suites cost at least Rs 3,000. Tourists can pitch their own tents and can get ready made tents from local shops. However it is advisable to stay in hotels as they provide easy access to the temple and main parts of the town.

Badrinath can be reached in following ways:-

By Air- Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest domestic airport. Nearest international airport is New Delhi.

By Train- The nearest railway station is Dehradun Junction.

By Road- The roads of Badrinath are decently connected with the neighbouring places. Buses and taxis are easily available from places like Uttarakhand, Gaziabad and Srinagar.